sway bar end links need to be perpindicular?

[gkring]

Looking at my pic below of the rear in a challenger. My sway bar needs to move a little further back in the frame rails to clear the upper link on the rear. This will put my sway bay end links tilting closer to a 10 oclock position instead of straight up 12. Is it better to have the end links tilted, or keep them straight down and move the tabs mounted on the rear to where they are at a 10 oclock poition?
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img215.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg2353mediumpi0.jpg)



Greg Kring
Arlington, tx
1970 challenger convert

[David Pozzi]

the links are best when straight, the more angle, the more they pull the bar front to rear. Your bar mounts are pretty solid looking so that isn't a big deal, and your link angle is not going to cause any problems as-is. Look at the full motion of the suspension and strike an average so the link is as straight as possible most of the time. If you plan on making the bar adjustable with several holes, then you might put several holes in the housing end mounts that match the bar angle at ride height.

If I were doing an adjustable bar on that rear setup, I'd make the mount come off the rear of the axle and make the link longer so there less angle change per adjustment hole. For a fixed setup, you are fine.

[gkring]

Thanks for the help. The picture shows the current setup. Notice the bar bushing itself is not welded yet. I will need to move the bar back in the frame rail about two inches. When I do those nice straight up and down endlinks will move rearward. From your advice I should move the mounts on the axle tubes to the rear of the tube so they are pointing towards the back bumper? Either the links are going to be at an angle or the mounts on the diff tubes are going to be at an angle. This is a speced out XV motorsports kit, so I don't want to start making adjustable mounting points in the arm just so it is visually pleasing.

[David Pozzi]

OK, I get it now. I was thinking front to rear, but you are asking about left to right and the bar will be inboard of the mount. I'd call them and ask about it. It seems to me you want the axle mount underneath the arm mount when standing still.
David

[gkring]

OK, I get it now. I was thinking front to rear, but you are asking about left to right and the bar will be inboard of the mount. I'd call them and ask about it. It seems to me you want the axle mount underneath the arm mount when standing still.
David

Okay-picture is worth a thousand words. XV says to do it like picture "A", and I should expect a slight backwards tilt to the end links. I was wondering if I did it like "B" it would allow a more even upward pull on the rear axle, but would there be a strength issue? I have to move the bar up and back a little to clear the rest of the suspension, otherwise it would be perfect where it is at right now. if I leave it where it is now at full compression the upper third link could contact the sway bar slightly.
https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img150.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg2353amediumxc3.jpg)

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/noimg.gif (http://img215.imageshack.us/my.php?image=cimg2353bmediumzv0.jpg)