Hotchkis stb

[espey_16]

Have any of you that bought the Hotchkis stb had any problems putting it on? I just got mine the other day and when I went to install it, I couldn't get it to line up with the brackets at all it was way off.

[96blackmaro]

Re: Hotchkis stb

My brother has one on his Camaro and no we didn't have any issues installing it.

[espey_16]

Re: Hotchkis stb

The brackets fit, but I can't get the bar in for the life of me.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: Hotchkis stb

I think I had to use a screwdriver to align it when I installed. Having being installed for years now I can remove and replace with no issues.

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[espey_16]

Re: Hotchkis stb

I figured it out last night, I just had the brackets on the wrong sides of the car. What an improvement, car handles way different now. I'm very happy with this purchase.

[ssms5411]

Re: Hotchkis stb

How thick are the mounting brackets on the Hotchkis STB?

[espey_16]

Re: Hotchkis stb

They look like about an 1/8" thick, that's just an eyeball guess though. The tubes on the brace are smaller than I expected based on the pics of other stb's I've seen, but the difference it made is awesome. I wasn't expecting much if any change in handling with the 35mm sway bar you sold me, but wow. The front end rides so flat through turns now its crazy. Kinda scared to push it through the turns now because the rear feels like it wants to walk around now with the stock rear sway bar. Time for a 19 or 21mm bar, and to get my sfc's welded in.

[ssms5411]

Re: Hotchkis stb

Thanks for the info, I might try a Hotchkis STB. Glad you are using the 35mm sway well.lol SFC's will stiffin it up even more, you'll feel the difference for sure. I would go with a 21 mm rear it worked pretty much perfect for me.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: Hotchkis stb

They look like about an 1/8" thick, that's just an eyeball guess though. The tubes on the brace are smaller than I expected based on the pics of other stb's I've seen, but the difference it made is awesome. I wasn't expecting much if any change in handling with the 35mm sway bar you sold me, but wow. The front end rides so flat through turns now its crazy. Kinda scared to push it through the turns now because the rear feels like it wants to walk around now with the stock rear sway bar. Time for a 19 or 21mm bar, and to get my sfc's welded in.

If rear wants "to walk" , the LAST thing you need is a bigger rear sway bar.

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[FirebirdGT]

Re: Hotchkis stb

Thanks for the info, I might try a Hotchkis STB. Glad you are using the 35mm sway well.lol SFC's will stiffin it up even more, you'll feel the difference for sure. I would go with a 21 mm rear it worked pretty much perfect for me.

Steve,

What front spring rate do you have?

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[ssms5411]

Re: Hotchkis stb

Steve,

What front spring rate do you have?

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They are QA-1's I think 300lb spring rate.

[espey_16]

Re: Hotchkis stb

That's kinda what I was thinking, its probably the bushings I have in my lca's. I'm just not sure I want to have such a big difference from stock front and rear in sway bars. Because with the front and rear being 30/17 stock, I kinda wanted to keep it close with 35/21.

[espey_16]

Re: Hotchkis stb

Don't make fun of me for the engine bay being super dirty, but this is the final product.

[ssms5411]

Re: Hotchkis stb

Looks pretty clean , better than mine with nitrous wires running every where.

[FirebirdGT]

Re: Hotchkis stb

That's kinda what I was thinking, its probably the bushings I have in my lca's. I'm just not sure I want to have such a big difference from stock front and rear in sway bars. Because with the front and rear being 30/17 stock, I kinda wanted to keep it close with 35/21.

No - doesn't work that way.

I run 35/19 with 351 lb front and 80/137 lb rears.

Sway bar sizes are NOT independent of spring rate.

What spring rates are you running?

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