Rear Anti-sway bar

[Ariel Guerra]

I have just found that the '02 Envoy has a rear anti-sway bar that is 31mm thick. How much bigger is the HOTCHKIS one, and is there really that much of an improvement. Also, if there is a difference, does it have more to do with the Polyurethane Bushings than the actual bar itself?

Sorry for asking if this info is already here, but thanks in advance anyway.

Ariel

[fauxSS]

I'm sorry don't have spec but it is larger and works great on my 05 faux SS.worth the 165 I spent on it!!!!

[ScarabEpic22]

Ive had my Hotchkiss swaybar for about a year now and love it. It was the first suspension upgrade I did and did Moog swaybar links at the same time. Now, I did Eibach springs and HD Bilstein shocks. My TB handles better than my mom's Lexus RX300 and near what my dad's Audi A6 does. Turns are absolutely FLAT, and the ride is definitely stiffer but not overly harsh.

[ZTBSS]

ScarabEpic22, did you just put on the rear swaybar or front or both?

I'm looking for better handling myself and found this on Ebay... item # 290072678848http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/globalAssets/rtCurve.gif
What you think about this compared to your Hotchkiss?
I have an '02 TB....

[tblazed]

Some things-observations I see in the ad that lead me to think the seller doesn't know what he's talking about:

"Solid tubular vs stock XX (Hollow)" ?? Solid is solid, tubular is tubular, and the stock OE rear is NOT hollow.

"03-Up Trailblazer 2wd" Why wouldn't it fit '02s, and 4WD too?

Doesn't appear to have the nice glossy black baked exoxy paint job the Hotchkis has either. (One "S" in "Hotchkis", BTW :) Link (http://www.hotchkis.net/cgi-bin/EDCstore.pl) to Hotchkis web site)

[PediDr2]

ScarabEpic22, did you just put on the rear swaybar or front or both?

I'm looking for better handling myself and found this on Ebay... item # 290072678848http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/globalAssets/rtCurve.gif
What you think about this compared to your Hotchkis?
I have an '02 TB....
Addco makes some nice F-Body sway bars. If I didn't have a rear Hotchkis on order I'd look into this set. Wonder how the sizes rank vs. stock, SS, Hotchkis??

[webxfx]

I have just found that the '02 Envoy has a rear anti-sway bar that is 31mm thick. How much bigger is the HOTCHKIS one, and is there really that much of an improvement. Also, if there is a difference, does it have more to do with the Polyurethane Bushings than the actual bar itself?

Sorry for asking if this info is already here, but thanks in advance anyway.

Ariel

31mm realy?

cause the Hotchkis is 1 1/16" (27 mm) and the Belltech is 1 1/8" (29 mm)
I think the stock one is 24 mm (I might be wrong on this)

[Underdog]

31mm realy?

cause the Hotchkis is 1 1/16" (27 mm) and the Belltech is 1 1/8" (29 mm)
I think the stock one is 24 mm (I might be wrong on this)

What he said.
Was measuring up my stuff and got 23 MM Rear Stock

[ScarabEpic22]

ScarabEpic22, did you just put on the rear swaybar or front or both?

I'm looking for better handling myself and found this on Ebay... item # 290072678848http://pics.ebaystatic.com/aw/pics/globalAssets/rtCurve.gif
What you think about this compared to your Hotchkiss?
I have an '02 TB....

Hotchkiss only makes a rear swaybar, they stand by their statement that the front oe bar is perfect, the rear one just helps level everything out plus new bushings all around really help the front one.

Eibach sells both as a kit, IMO you dont need the front one.

[webxfx]

What he said.
Was measuring up my stuff and got 23 MM Rear Stock

Anyone know what size the stock front one is?

[tblazed]

I have just found that the '02 Envoy has a rear anti-sway bar that is 31mm thick. How much bigger is the HOTCHKIS one, and is there really that much of an improvement. Also, if there is a difference, does it have more to do with the Polyurethane Bushings than the actual bar itself?

Sorry for asking if this info is already here, but thanks in advance anyway.

Ariel


My stock rear bar measures 24mm, my Hotchkis (again, with one S) measures 27mm. Yes 3mm more makes a lot of difference. If yours measures 31mm then I'd leave it alone! Maybe it already has an aftermarket bar on it since you bought it used. I wonder where that bar came from?

The front bar on my '02 measures 44mm and it is tubular.

[PediDr2]

Anyone know what size the stock front one is?
Someone posted this in the Gen Tech forum.
http://www.gmperformancedivision.com/content/pulse/36/Trailblazer_Comparison.pdf

[trailblazingold]

The Addco bars are 28mm rear and 31mm front.

[ALLNTRL]

Anyone using the 29mm Belltech?

[ALLNTRL]

Anyone have the Part # for the Belltech swaybar? can't find it on their site. :undecided

[webxfx]

Anyone have the Part # for the Belltech swaybar? can't find it on their site. :undecided

5530

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=BEL%2D5530&N=700+4294908216+4294907071+4294806411+4294925130+ 400013+115&autoview=sku

[ALLNTRL]

Thanks webxfx. :cool: Anyone think the Belltech would be a better choice over the Hotchkis? :undecided I have had Hotchkis in the past and been happy with their products.

[webxfx]

Thanks webxfx. :cool: Anyone think the Belltech would be a better choice over the Hotchkis? :undecided I have had Hotchkis in the past and been happy with their products.

No idea, lots on here having been very happy with there Hotchkis. When I go to lower our in the spring I think I'm going to try the Belltech one just to be different. Either way its going to be an improvement over stock.

[Lunchbox RR]

Just installed the Belltech Rear Sway Bar, install was straight forward and it is SOLID! Handles alot better too! Changed out the endlinks to MOOG!:yes:

[ALLNTRL]

Lunchbox RR, does the belltech come with the Moog endlinks or did you order them from some other source? How did it affect the ride?

[tadgh]

Could you advise what all is involved in installing a rear sway bar? Thanks

[ScarabEpic22]

Could you advise what all is involved in installing a rear sway bar? Thanks

Raise rear end & support, unbolt both sway bar end links from swaybar, remove one control arm from axle, unbolt bushing holders, remove bar, replace parts with Hotchkiss/Eibach parts in reverse order. Was a little tough, but really shouldnt take more than a couple hours.

[PediDr2]

Raise rear end & support, unbolt both sway bar end links from swaybar, remove one control arm from axle, unbolt bushing holders, remove bar, replace parts with Hotchkiss/Eibach parts in reverse order. Was a little tough, but really shouldnt take more than a couple hours.
Correct, and to add the directions were pretty decent with the Hotchkis bar. For me the hardest part was getting the trailing arm back lined up with it's mount and inserting the bolt. Took me about an hour with air tools and a lift.

[ALLNTRL]

What about the end links? Does the Hotchkis kit change out the end links as well? I'm assuming the Moog end links are poly bushings? :ugh:

[PediDr2]

What about the end links? Does the Hotchkis kit change out the end links as well? I'm assuming the Moog end links are poly bushings? :ugh:
Hotchkis reuses the stock end links (just bar and bushings in kit).
FWIW I'm getting my front Hotchkis bushings bored out to 36mm to use with my stock SS bar. Hotchkis Tech said they are 90 durometer vs stock SS of 65(IIRC) :cool:

[ylab]

remove one control arm from axle

For me the hardest part was getting the trailing arm back lined up with it's mount and inserting the bolt.

Why are you guys having to remove the trailing arm in order to replace the rear sway bar? I was able to just unbolt the end-links at the bar, pull the bushing retainers off and maneuver the bar out from under the turck. (I simply reversed the proceedure to install the Hotckis bar). - I also found that its possible to swap the bar without putting the vehicle on a lift and just did a shimmy to get under the my Envoy......at least its possible at standard height, not sure if an SS sits high enough, although the tightest area was sliding under the axle.

[PediDr2]

Why are you guys having to remove the trailing arm in order to replace the rear sway bar? I was able to just unbolt the end-links at the bar, pull the bushing retainers off and maneuver the bar out from under the turck. (I simply reversed the proceedure to install the Hotckis bar). - I also found that its possible to swap the bar without putting the vehicle on a lift and just did a shimmy to get under the my Envoy......at least its possible at standard height, not sure if an SS sits high enough, although the tightest area was sliding under the axle.
I was just trying to be smart and follow the Hotchkis directions. I didn't look like the sway bar would come out w/o removing one of the LCA's. Good find if it works your way.
Since I have a lift I don't 'shimmy' on the floor anymore :D