why would a tri-point bar be better than a 1.25 inch suspension techniques bar?

besides being adjustable, what are the pros?

i run the ST bar now with mazdatrix end-links


the tripoint bar has 5 holes. which hole/setting is comparable to the ST bar?

 

From what I've been told the selling point is the adjustability. I would guess very few here are at the point where such a bar is necessary. I just picked up a tanabe front bar and will be giving it a try this weekend at road america.

 

1. Different hole settings for fine tuning.

2. Choice of 4 different thickness main bars. The .188 is most common but thicker and thinner bars are available.

3. Choice of lubable solid or poly bushings.

4. Optional sway bar mount supports that bolt to the cross-member.

 

It's probably also a bunch lighter with its hollow bar and aluminum arms.

 

Because it costs FOUR times as much!


-Ted

 

i'm trying to organize a group buy for this. PM or email me if interested.

 

A group buy for the TP bar? I still haven't gotten around to measuring the components, but I think a group buy from Speedway might be cheaper.

And then another GB for the Widefoot mounts for this bar, which are far superior to the mounts TP sells.

 

PM me your email address because i got a group buy with david/widefoot also for his bronze bushings.

 

Thanks, but I already have them.

The TP bar with Widefoot bronze bushing mounts is a great setup. I've been running it for over a year now with no maintenance, and it's still just as smooth and quiet as it was when I first installed it. I figured with the bronze bushings, I'd have to clean and re-grease them periodically to keep them from getting rough and noisey, but I've been lazy. I removed the bar recently to get at something else and the bushings were still greased and perfectly clean.

I like things that just work without me having to do any extra work to keep them working!

 

http://www.1speedway.com/Swaybar_Arms.htm

Someone would need to measure the offset to see if they have an off the shelf arm that works on the FD. Otherwise, the Tri Point would be cheaper off the shelf and a proven commodity.

 

Okay, I took some measurements on my TP bar. It's 1.25" OD, 48-spline. I didn't get bar length yet, but I can get under the car tomorrow.

The arms are offset 2.75", and the length to the middle hole is just about 7.5".

 

I would wager that every part on the TP bar is sourced from a manufacturer, like Speedway or another, so it's all a matter of how much you want to pay for leg work.

 

^ I agree with the possible exception of the arms. Speedway sells arms that you can bend to fit your needs. TP probably bends the arms themselves to fit the application. I can imaging how big that machine would be

 

^^^

I don't think you want to bend forged alluminum arms after the fact.... you'll note that speedway seels prebend arms that look nearly like the TP's, and are close in dimention to the measurements posted. Could just be someone elses

 

Arms are available in both aluminum and steel. They say to bend and then heat-treat the steel ones. Someone obviously bent these aluminum ones for the TP bar. Not sure where they got them, but there are several manufacturers making splined arms like this.

Every one of the components of this bar are available from HRP, Pegasus and McMaster, with the exception of the arms. The bar costs $92 from HRP (#SW608-188-xxxx, same price regardless of length), total for good rod ends is around $120, and then bolts, nuts and spacers will add maybe another $30. Unbent alum arms run about $40 each, just need to find bent ones which will likely be more expensive. That's about $240 (plus shipping) without the arms. As long as the arms cost you less than $300 you're saving money over TP. They do include some crappy mount bushings, but I'd go with the Widefoot mounts and never look back.

 

the group buy is $440 if placed before 12/1. no hassles

 

Sorry didn't mean to interfere with your GB, I've just wanted to see someone take the Speedway route for a long time now to prove the theory. $440 is pretty reasonable and you don't have to deal with tracking down individual parts.

But if you don't mind doing the legwork, I'm certain you can save a good deal of money. FWIW I just called Speedway and asked them about custom-bent arms, and they said it's $36 for a steel arm and another $6 to bend it to your specs. They can also do aluminum, they just say to heat it with a torch before bending with a press and it's much easier than the steel.

 

any updates on piecing together a adjustable sway bar?

 

I've had the bar for sometime now and I am very happy with it. I'v done about 120miles of testing with it and all I can say is you get what you pay for.
I have the .188 bar and the ability to adjust is great. It lets me run different settings depending on tires I use.

 

I still haven't gotten around to measuring the bar length. My car is up on stands while the shocks are getting serviced, so I'll get under there soon.

Bar diameter, thickness and number of splines (see previous post) match up with Speedway bars, just need to get length. These are available from HRP for $92 + shipping regardless of length.

You'll also need locating collars, HRP has them for $19/pair (part #GEN-GA3288).

For the endlinks, I would follow Alan's excellent instructions here:
https://www.rx7club.com/suspension-wheels-tires-brakes-20/custom-fd-end-link-tri-point-sway-bars-how-696003/

Somebody mentioned a cheaper source for rod ends in another thread, but I haven't checked it out.

Then all that's left is the arms. As I mentioned above, Speedway will custom bend arms for you for cheap. Just have them drill three link holes in the arms if they don't already have them. No need for 5 holes, the outer two on the TP arms are useless anyways. I can provide measurements for the arms.

 

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