Write-Up: Front/Rear (Addco) Stabilizer/Sway Bar Installation

Energy Suspension Front (1 1/4") bushings and bracket assy P/N is 9.5165 Greasable and 9.5172 non-greaseable.
Summit's corresponding number for the greaseable one is ENS-9-5165. Only 15.95 pair.

Mr.Riviera wrote:

will the STS brackets work on the riv or do i need to get different ones?

Yes they fit. You can also use your current brackets with the sts bushings if they are in better shape. The sts bar and bushings are 30 mm. Aftermarket bushings will require a mounting plate because the bottom is shaped differently (aftermarket is flat, OEM has a convex bottom) and will inevitably squeak.

The bar will fit. Installing the front bar isn't a very fun job though...

The GM part numbers for stock sway bars are the same for 95 and 96,
but different numbers for 97-99.
It will be interesting to see how the STS bar matches up to your 96.
Brackets are the same for all years, 95-99
Bushings are different...... 95-96 same, 97-98 same and 99 has it's own P/N.

The Rear Bar, Bushings, Brackets and End Links are the same P/N 's for all years.

then i'll be sure to take pics and measurements when i do mine. i measured the rear sway bar and it's about 17.2mm diamiter. (C=2πr still right?)

You don't need to measure Circumference, just Diameter for comparison.

Quote :

Brackets are the same for all years, 95-99

The front brackets and bushings changed in design since the cars were manufactured. You can't buy the original design anymore to my knowledge, as they've been replaced by a larger bushing and larger bracket. This doesn't effect the installation of the Addco bar unless you are trying to use a fresh OEM rubber bushing (you can do this) instead of the supplied poly. Since the new bushings are larger, you must also buy new brackets if going this route.

Rickw wrote:

You don't need to measure Circumference, just Diameter for comparison.

yea, but i dont have a micrometer to accurately measure diameter. i'm using fishing line wrapped around the bar i figure 30lb test doesnt stretch too much.

got the bar in the mail today. missing one of the brackets, but has both oem rubber bushings. they are in good shape too. i'll probably just reuse them.
in the process of painting it red to match the other red things on my car (brakes, STB, poly links, etc).

i might get antsy and install it sometime this week. hope i dont understeer too bad

Front or rear? I have some extra front brackets and poly bushings.

i bought the front bar, but i'll have the rear one soon (if i can find one).

are they greasable bushings?

deekster_caddy wrote:

Front or rear? I have some extra front brackets and poly bushings.

Do you have the spacer plates that I've read about on this thread or did you just make some from flat stock or are they even necessary?
That was three questions in one.!!!

Mr.Riviera wrote:

i bought the front bar, but i'll have the rear one soon (if i can find one).

are they greasable bushings?

Matt, where are you finding these bars? I was looking a while back and kept coming up empty.
I looked at Carpart.com for nationwide junk yard search and EBay for a few weeks and found nothing.
I was promised a rear STS bar a short time ago but that fell through so I ordered a rear Addco from Summit for about $150.00 and 4 week back order, just received it. Came with no brackets, just OEM bushings, not Poly.

i got lucky with the sts front bar on ebay.
gmpartsdirect lists the front for $98, but i dont know if they still stock it.

so you have the rear bar and i have the front bar...rock paper scissors?

Hang on, are you guys talking about the addco sway bar, or the caddy strut tower brace?

I was talking about the Sway Bars.

Rickw wrote:

I was talking about the Sway Bars.

For the front sway bars I have extra poly bushings (not greasable) and the brackets. The brackets come with a flat spacer that holds the bushing up, so the bushing doesn't fall down into that hole where the OEM bushing sits. It's a regular D shaped poly bushing.

deekster_caddy wrote:

Rickw wrote:

I was talking about the Sway Bars.

For the front sway bars I have extra poly bushings (not greasable) and the brackets. The brackets come with a flat spacer that holds the bushing up, so the bushing doesn't fall down into that hole where the OEM bushing sits. It's a regular D shaped poly bushing.

Derek,
A while back you gave me a box with front brackets and bushings for an Addco bar, did not include the flat spacers though. That's why I was asking if you just made them or what.
I know when ordering the new Addco bars for the front they will NOT come with the brackets anymore. You guys had to fight with Addco and NEA to get what you needed at the time of the GB.

i was talking about the caddy seville sway bar.
it's a 30mm bar for the front, not as good as the addco bars, but much more affordable.
if your bushings are for the addco bars then i dont think i can use them b/c the addco bars are 32mm IIRC.

Rickw wrote:

deekster_caddy wrote:

Rickw wrote:

I was talking about the Sway Bars.

For the front sway bars I have extra poly bushings (not greasable) and the brackets. The brackets come with a flat spacer that holds the bushing up, so the bushing doesn't fall down into that hole where the OEM bushing sits. It's a regular D shaped poly bushing.

Derek,
A while back you gave me a box with front brackets and bushings for an Addco bar, did not include the flat spacers though. That's why I was asking if you just made them or what.
I know when ordering the new Addco bars for the front they will NOT come with the brackets anymore. You guys had to fight with Addco and NEA to get what you needed at the time of the GB.

hmmm. I'll take a look in the garage. I thought they all had the flat spacers. The thing is useless without them. But in all reality, it's just a simple thin piece of flat stock with holes (slots) for the bolts to go through. Not rocket science.

It's really too bad Addco was doing the right thing, then they stopped.

Woot! just finished installing my caddy STS front sway bar.
Spent some time trying to finesse the bar out, took a long think break, and some more wiggle time to get the old bar out. I did end up lowering the sub frame. I dont have headers, just the zzp 3" DP and there wasnt enough room to get it out.

Defiantly a beefier bar, and i'll take it for a test run in the morning.

sorry Rick, but it fits the 96's like a glove. i'll keep an eye out for another one for you. now if i could only find a rear bar...

I painted it red to match the other stuff on the car that is red (calipers, end links, other stuff i cant think of).



Hope i dont understeer into a guard rail now

I'm glad it worked out for you. Definitely let us know how it feels after driving it for a while.
Did your stock brackets work with the larger bushing or did you get larger brackets with it?

i used the stock brackets and the larger bushings that came with the bar. the rubber was in good shape still and i dont need any more suspension squeak from poly.
oh, and now that i'm not selling it i'll let you guys know what i paid for it...$29 SHIPPED!

i couldnt wait till morning, and just went on a quick trip around the block. Seems to corner easier, at about 3mph higher than before, and it seemed to lessen the jarring of little bumps. (last one could have been my imagination)
i'll give another update after driving on it for awhile through some hard turns.
i'd say it is compareable with the improvement of the STB. i'd like to see how much the rear helps too.

The rear will be more noticeable as it helps with the inherent understeer these cars have. Will carve the corner better.

after driving on the front bar for a few days, i really like the improvement. The car handles like it is lighter, even in parking lots. There is slightly more understeer due to having the stock rear bar still, but it's nothing too bad. (after all, the car understeers from the factory)

The nose of the car is completely flat in a corner, even under hard turns the car sits very flat.

what site had the addco rear bars??

I recently replaced my Addco front poly bushings with the Energy Suspension 9.5165 greasable bushings ($21). I like the way these feel, and much easier to lube. Easy swap, too. Thanks to Eric and Jason for the tip.

Did the Energy bushing assembly come with the flat steel spacer plate?

Good question. No, they did not come with the plates. You must keep the spacer from the Addco kit, or make your own. They will work together fine. If anyone needs dimensions, I can provide them.

Note: the grease nipple points at part of the chassis, so you need a 90º or flexible hose on your grease gun.