Help with front sway bar - aftermarket

Terry Gaudet

So I bought a new 3/4 inch sway bar for my 56 bus and have been struggling with getting it on. It seems that the clamps that came with the kit are not working. See photo and let me know if you have had the same problem and how you solved it. I might have to buy one of those stainless steel clamps.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

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Terry Gaudet

1950 Beetle Standard
1955 Canadian Custom
1956 Kombi w/SO23 kit
1965 Kombi walkthrough
1965 Double Cab

quartermilecamel · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 6:12 pm Post subject:

That looks like you have the king and link pin stock front end, so my question is: Is that sway bar also for a link pin bus suspension? Also, It appears as it bolts through the lower control arm as does mine. Do you have it bolted in place? If the sway bar isn't in the right position in relation to your lower suspension arm it will be hell to get that clamp on. I have a 68/69 ball joint front end from a bay window, so not sure if the split window aftermarket sway bar bolts onto the arm also. It also appears as if you have the red urethane bushings on backwards.
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Waiting for santa to drop off funky green. I can wish can't I????

schnidlee · Samba Member Joined: January 23, 2008 Posts: 78

I installed one of these on my bay and it was an absolute pig of a job. I found it easier with the wheels on the ground, it just mad the angles nicer. You will need a pit or alternatively, try parking with one wheel on a curb. Good luck, you will love it once it's on.

quartermilecamel · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 6:36 pm Post subject:

that's odd as mine went right on. I don't remember if I did it front end raised or not.
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Waiting for santa to drop off funky green. I can wish can't I????

earlywesty · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 6:49 pm Post subject:

I wonder if it has to do with it being a wolfsburg bus? Don't quote me but it seems that I heard that the wolfsburg beams were slightly different shape in the mount area. Maybe that is a factor. I think most people say its a bugger to get the clamps on. Hope you are enjoying the bus.

RPGreg2600 · Posted: Sat Aug 30, 2014 11:25 pm Post subject:

who sells aftermarket sway bars?

Terry Gaudet · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 3:50 am Post subject:

Thanks for all the comments. The packaging said that the sway bar fits both k&L and b/j front ends. There is not hole however on the ends to bolt to the lower control arm like on the b/j beams. This is why I suspect this is for a k&L beam. I will try to fit it with wheels on the ground and see if it makes a difference. As for being a Wolfsburg bus, not sure if that is the issue. I bought this sway bar from CIP.

Eric, I'm driving this bus almost every day. Getting it ready for a Texas road trip in October....;0)
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Terry Gaudet

1950 Beetle Standard
1955 Canadian Custom
1956 Kombi w/SO23 kit
1965 Kombi walkthrough
1965 Double Cab

earlywesty · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 4:52 am Post subject:

earlywesty · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 7:25 am Post subject:

See bloogy's post here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3...p;start=20

Terry Gaudet · Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2014 2:39 pm Post subject:

Hey Eric,

Just read that thread and i'm going to just buy a couple of stainless T-bolt clamps. I might even try to source the smaller brackets for the end. I'm sure they are there for a reason....;0)
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Terry Gaudet

1950 Beetle Standard
1955 Canadian Custom
1956 Kombi w/SO23 kit
1965 Kombi walkthrough
1965 Double Cab

Riff Raff · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 6:20 am Post subject:

It looks to me like a 7/8" sway bar and clamps for a 3/4" sway bar.

I recall having a devil of a time mounting the aftermarket 7/8" sway bar on my bus and wound up strategically shaving some of the urethane to get the clamp to fit.
This was on a late beam in a 61 bus.
I also recall vehemently cursing the perfect void of any aftermarket engineering on the product and the utter contempt the designers, marketers, distributors and profiteers had for their customers on that job more than just about any other I have done on my bus.
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The greatest obstacle to discovery is not ignorance, but the illusion of knowledge
- Daniel Boorstin

earlywesty · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 2:40 pm Post subject:

SambaUser1M · Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2014 3:51 pm Post subject:

RobzKombi · Samba Member Joined: July 15, 2003 Posts: 2137

I have a sway-bar (like the one pictured above) installed on my bus and unlike some of the OG sway-bars mine did not come with end clamps like the ones pictured below. Are these clamps available aftermarket? I've done some searching and can't seem to find any. Are they even needed?


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