Hey guys, I tried a search but didn't come up with much. I'm looking to put a bigger sway bar on my '73. Something in the 1" department. I was able to use a stock 15/16" Granada bar on my '68 Mustang. Anyone know if the same will work on the Mav? Maybe a '65-'66 Mustang/Falcon bar? If worse comes to worst does ADDCO make a Mav bar? Thanks. John
PST has a 7/8" one www.p-s-t.com it might not be listed on their site but they do have one, I called.
Addco makes front and rear bars. I have a 15/16 Granada/Versailles bar on my Maverick, its not a perfect fit-but it will function correctly.
The standard size front swaybar for Mavericks was 3/4"...Later models had an optional 7/8" bar. I got a 7/8" for mine off a 76 Maverick in a junkyard for $10 and bought new bushings for it. Before I did that, I tried the 15/16" Granada/Versailles bar and it DOES NOT fit properly so don't bother. You can get the 7/8" front and 3/4" rear bars from Addco or there are some specialty suspension companies that can get you a 1" or even 1-1/8 inch bar...
Bah, we've had this arguement before. It fits. I know the physics of a swaybar and how the geometry must work and it is just fine. I've run it for 40k so longevity is not an issue either. And I'm not going to say anymore because I hate arguing with TL, but that's my experience, FWIW
I've been through two roll bar issues on two cars like you Charlie. It often depends on how capable one is in doing some things. I mounted a front Mav bar on the rear when replacing the front with a new heavier unit. Mounted a Mustang 1-5/16 bar on the front of my Lincoln LSC that people said could not be done
I hate when people give others false information and can't help but to respond. The Granada 1" bar does NOT, I repeat N O T fit properly on a Maverick. The reason for this is that the Granada frame is wider than the Maverick. I HAD THE DAMN THING ON MY CAR and I KNOW HOW TO INSTALL A SWAY BAR. I was working on my Maverick when Charlie was like 3 years old or something (I'm 34, he's around 19). Rather than get into a stupid argument, just let me suggest that you DO IT RIGHT by installing a CORRECT size swaybar. I also reccomend PST bushings...
21 now eh?? You go BOY!... What it has to do with it is that you were 11 years old when I installed my 15/16" Granada bar--the point being that I have the EXPERIENCE to back up what I am saying. I respect your knowledge or Fords & Mavericks, most guys your age are just punks who want to road-racr in "rice rockets". But don't think that you cannot be corrected about something. The Granada/Versailles bar on a Maverick is a bad idea. The aftermarket offers much better alternatives...
Well OK maybe we can be civil here hell I know you can't beat experience. I know a lot more than I did even a few years ago, about everything. But I've gone through the problems of the Granada/Versailles bar just like you did, the fact that you tried it 10 years ago doesn't matter in this particular case. There's no reason to play that card, if I disagree with you I won't say you're wrong because you're old. I never said there aren't better aftermarket alternatives, but the question was will the bar fit. Mine was free with my Versailles, so I gave it a shot. Yep, it's wider. About 1" wider. That makes a difference at the ends. The possible problems are contact with the frame or suspension at full travel or the bending force at the links being too strong. There are no clearance problems at full travel with the Versailles bar, and my links haven't buckled or bent. Since the link is a two force member, the angle it meets the sway bar's lever does not affect the rate of the sway bar, so everything works out fine. The only real problem is it's tough to get everything lined up before you tighten the links down.
Of course we can be civil...I like you Charlie, and you have answered some questions for me in the past that I didn't know the answers to. I would much rather "compare notes" with someone like you than to argue. Like I said, I find it refreshing when I run across someone of your age who has good taste in cars and appreciates classic American cars rather than the aforementioned rice-rockets that are so popular with todays youth. I have seen the photos of your Maverick and it kicks a$$...
Sway bar size!!!!!! No really, Where can I get a 1" or 1 1/8" bar for my car. I'm looking for brand new stuff not junkyard stuff. Addco only makes a 7/8" bar for the front. I'm not sure what size PST makes. A little less bickering and a little more straight forward answers would be nice.
I don't think you can find any 1' or larger as a bolt on for these cars unless one is custom made or you get a bar and fab you own end levers. 1" is pretty heavy for a Mav unless your going to do some type of road racing. Looking at the Addco site and looking through many Ford cars to see what they had only, reveals a few cars and the higher setting SUV truck using a very heavy bar. My Lincoln LSC weighs about 3900 and with an 1-5/16 bar in front and the stock in the rear make this car corner quite flat for it's weight. A Mav set up with very heavy bars needs very sticky tires to corner fast because the weight tranfer to the outside is severly limited due to the cars light weight. The combination of the spring rates, tire grip and anti roll bars has to be balanced or the results are a front end push, rear come around to quicky or a non bite drift outward on the turns which is the best of the whole deal. Sorry to get into this but don't know what you want to accomplish.
