Obs Sway Bars...hotchkis Or...

silversport · August 10, 2010

Is it worth it to change the stock sway bar end links and bushings to something like the synthetic Energy brand (or similar) end links and bushings...instead of buying something like all new sway bars with bushings like the Hotchkis (or similar set up)???

The difference in price would be almost $400 but if it's not worth it or the benefit to an OBS Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade is so small, I may just pop for Hotchkis...

Your thoughts and experiences would be appreciated.

Bill

dlstewart01 · August 10, 2010

I added the Energy suspension bushings and end links to my front sway bar and added the hellwig rear sway bar. Works well for me.

The Hotchkis uses a hollow bar. The stock front sway bar is hollow as well.

Wires · August 10, 2010

Is it worth it to change the stock sway bar end links and bushings to something like the synthetic Energy brand (or similar) end links and bushings...instead of buying something like all new sway bars with bushings like the Hotchkis (or similar set up)???

The difference in price would be almost $400 but if it's not worth it or the benefit to an OBS Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade is so small, I may just pop for Hotchkis...

Your thoughts and experiences would be appreciated.

Bill

You'll get a lot better results swapping the front/rear bars for Hellwig or Hotchkis. They are thicker and stiffer that OEM, and will really take the lean out. You'll notice a huge difference in handling. The OEM bar flexes more to give you more understeer. I wouldn't spend the money to upgrade the links on the OEM one. The bars will make your rig handle like a small car....

Stex · August 10, 2010

^ how about the ride?

Jennabear · August 10, 2010

I had Eibachs on my Tahoe, loved em!

silversport · August 11, 2010

did anyone have Eibach or Hellwig on an OBS SUV???...I had Hotchkis on my Avalanche and was very happy with the set up...I seem to remember then that Helwig and Eibach had better prices than Hotchkis but they needed more parts than what came with the Hotchkis package making their prices nearly the same.

Any suggestions for the best price to get bars be they Hotchkis, Helwig or Eibach???

bluegmctruck · August 11, 2010

i just bought a hellwig replacement front sway bar from summit racing.

Wires · August 11, 2010

^ how about the ride?

Doesn't change the ride. Just deals with the body roll. Only time you will notice is if one wheel drops in a pot hole or something like that.

silversport · August 12, 2010

so using stock sways and Energy (or similar) poly sway bar bushings won't help enough or at all???

Bill

bluegmctruck · August 12, 2010

so using stock sways and Energy (or similar) poly sway bar bushings won't help enough or at all???
Bill

depends on how old your stock sway bar bushings are. the stock ones are rubber and they will rot. i replaced mine with Moog poly bushings which will not rot.

Vortec-Z71 · August 12, 2010

I added the Energy suspension bushings and end links to my front sway bar and added the hellwig rear sway bar. Works well for me.

The Hotchkis uses a hollow bar. The stock front sway bar is hollow as well.

Do you have the part numbers of the bushings and end links that you used? Energy Suspension's catalog isn't that great.

dlstewart01 · August 12, 2010

This is the 4X4 listing..

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/produ...verado+4WD+2003

This is what I put on my truck. It is a two wheel drive...

http://www.energysuspensionparts.com/prodd...p?prod=3%2E5213

Wires · August 12, 2010

so using stock sways and Energy (or similar) poly sway bar bushings won't help enough or at all???
Bill

depends on how old your stock sway bar bushings are. the stock ones are rubber and they will rot. i replaced mine with Moog poly bushings which will not rot.

Exactly. Typically, performance guys use the poly as it takes the slop out of suspension. So during cornering, instead of the rubber collapsing a bit, and then getting hard, the poly is hard all the time. Putting the poly bushing is will make the handling a little tighter/more repsonsive, but personally, unless the old ones were shot, I don't know if I'd go to the effort of swapping them. If you were swapping the sway bars, then I'd do them just to make it handle really.

silversport · August 12, 2010

sure...I understand that...mine is an OBS and is 10 years old so they could probably do with an update...the difference is about $30 bux for new endlinks and sway bar poly bushings or $500 plus for the sway bars...if there is something to be gained by using stock sway bars (I have both) and new poly buchings...I'd do that first...if it is not really an upgrade or won't change much...then I'd consider the Hotchkis or similar full set up...that's why I posted here...and I appreciate your responses...very helpful so far...

Bill