A little commentary, and then a bunch of pictures.
I had been waiting for the right opportunity to have the brackets welded on--being sure I had the right shop do it was first on my list. Atlanta is a big place, but I was looking for a shop that does fabrication work on cars, has lifts, etc. I had gotten to know Sam Mahdavi of Mahdavi Motorsports in Lilburn GA--he also does radio & TV work with Sam Memmolo...the "Sam's Garage" guys. Sam was completely amenable and knew he and his guys could handle this job without breaking a sweat.
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I also need to thank Mike Avery, the machinist/fabricator who created the brackets, and Dan "Super Tech" Malkowski at Bill Holt Chevrolet in Canton GA for his invaluable assistance and patience for several rounds on a lift, test fitting the brackets and allowing me time and access to take photos earlier in this process.
As far as the results, the car now is much more responsive, with much better turn-in--steering wheel inputs and transitions are much more balanced/neutral compared to the stock front/rear bar.
In this case, I have yet to change the front bar (from 24mm to 26mm), as I wanted to experience the changes one at a time. I may or may not change the front bar in the future.
Some have expressed interest in having the brackets like I used for this installation--I am having the fab shop make 6 sets of the brackets, which can be used on both PPV & G8. I'll post something to let everyone know when these brackets are available.
Any questions generated from this post/pictures, don't hesitate to ask!
Now to the pictures--I'll be adding remarks to each photo.
- First photo in series--car on lift, stock rear bar already removed. For access to the stock bar mounts, the exhaust system needed to be dropped (not removed) at the rear, and the muffler heat shields were unbolted to make it easier to get a grinder into the areas to prep for welding.
- bar install1.JPG (52.31 KiB) Viewed 12231 times
- Photo shows original bar bushing/clamp pad on crossmember/cradle prepared for welding, using a disc grinder, to remove paint. Perhaps not completely necessary, but not a concern here in GA--it could be something to give more thought to in other parts of the country.
- bar install2.JPG (44.53 KiB) Viewed 12231 times
- Left side bracket in mock-up to determine correct position vertically. Note that the top hole in the bracket is slotted, and it was moved up about 3/8" from the original holes, which were made based on the clamps used with the new bar. The upper bolt is the original bolt that holds the stock PPV bushing clamp/bracket in place. The lower bolt is larger, as specified for the 2-bolt clamp setup found on the SS sedan.
- bar install4.JPG (41.88 KiB) Viewed 12231 times
- Welding was along each side and through 2 holes drilled in the bracket.
- bar install6.JPG (40.9 KiB) Viewed 12231 times
- Another view showing welding - this is left side bracket.
- bar install9.JPG (39 KiB) Viewed 12231 times
- Final prep before paint included grinding the rosette (plug) welds flat--this is where the new sway bar bushing will rest, so it's important for the surface to be flat.
- bar install11.JPG (37.32 KiB) Viewed 12231 times
- Paint after welding--this is right (passenger) side bracket.
- bar install12.JPG (44.92 KiB) Viewed 12231 times
- Bar and clamp installed--right side shown.
- bar install15.JPG (44.5 KiB) Viewed 12231 times
- Sway bar end link (GM part) is a simple 3-piece design. Link connects to lower control arm just inside of the rear wheel--requires the 1LE Camaro or 15-17 SS control arms.
- bar install16.JPG (43.44 KiB) Viewed 12231 times
- Not shown clearly, but the end link (left side) has been installed in this picture. Routing of the bar behind the shock/spring assembly is clear.
- bar install17.JPG (47.84 KiB) Viewed 12231 times
- Slightly better view--right side--socket & wrench is still in place at top of link.
- bar install18.JPG (46.8 KiB) Viewed 12231 times
- View across car showing offset in center of the SS bar to clear the spare tire well.
- bar install19.JPG (45.88 KiB) Viewed 12231 times
- Exhaust system back in place--showing adequate clearance between bushing clamp and exhaust system flange.
- bar install21.JPG (48.98 KiB) Viewed 12231 times
- Close-up side view of clearance between sway bar bushing clamp and exhaust flanges. Remember, exhaust system grows as it heats up, and clearance will increase.
- bar install23.JPG (37.44 KiB) Viewed 12231 times
- close-up view of new bar end link, shows proximity to caliper
- bar link1.JPG (52.08 KiB) Viewed 12133 times
- picture of the bar, link and control arm, showing relationship. Both pictures are with suspension fully extended (tire time!), so the normal bar position will be level rather than at the angle shown.
- bar link2.JPG (56.72 KiB) Viewed 12133 times