Porsche 914 Front Sway Bar Installation

Here's how I installed a stock front sway bar on my Porsche 914 using Brad Mayeur's kit from 914ltd.com and bushings from 914rubber.com. Make sure your A-arms have the brackets for the drop links. If they don’t, you can install them. Here's a link to Elephant Racing's U-tab kit. You can also check with Brad Mayeur or some of the other 914 vendors.
www.elephantra...
Please keep in mind that I'm not a professional mechanic and no video can replace proper experience. Don't attempt this work if you're not confident in your abilities. It's always best to have a professional check everything. If you found this video helpful, please leave a comment or give it a thumbs up. Be safe and enjoy!

[@IanKarr]

Thanks so much for watching. If you like these videos, please give a 👍, subscribe and hit the 🔔 . I make these videos alone in my garage and your subcriptions motivate me to keep making them. I try to answer all comments quickly. Be safe and enjoy the addiction!

[@courchevelimmobilier5263]

Hello Ian, I am about to implement this bone stock bar and I would like to get the pieces that need to be dwelled. your video is great, thank you for your explanation. I am in France and I want to order those pieces. Where can I get them? Pierre

[@housepumpinpc3983]

Thanks. I got Brad's kit too. Now I have video instructions.

[@IanKarr]

Glad I could help!

[@tedway8906]

Very nicely done! 50 years ago I modified my bone stock 914 for autocross and track use. We did not use rubber bushings but used Teflon material to reduce deformation of the bushing. We also used larger diameter bars - I think mine was 19 mm. I got mine from Richie Ginther - SoCal racing legend. Seldom beat in the 70’s.😊😊

[@IanKarr]

Hope you still have that car...

[@hansjanevertse8851]

Your videos are the best. Giving me the confidence that even I can do this.

[@IanKarr]

Thanks, Hans. Glad you enjoy the videos. You can definitely do this upgrade. The only technical part is the welding, and as welds go, these are as simple as they come. Go for it! Then do what I do...take the car to a gray-haired mechanic so they can check your work and make sure all is safe.

[@rotarybreather]

I really liked this video - very informative. I'm planning to do the same thing in my '68 912.

[@jockellis]

rotarybreather My ‘68 912 was the favorite of my six running P cars.

[@IanKarr]

go for it!

[@johnnyparker2760]

Great video! I am trying to put together the parts list and cannot locate the sway bar links from the bar to h]the control arm. Always wanted to do this job.

[@IanKarr]

Try Bruce Stone or Garold Schaffer or put. A wtb on 914world.com

[@stephandubois5804]

Thank you very much. Very clear and helpfull.

[@IanKarr]

Glad you like it. Go ahead and do this upgrade. Night and day difference.

[@914_werke]

One critique the OE links are not symmetrical. if you notice the link that attaches to the A-Arm is offset approx 15 degrees and is intended to direct the links "in" toward the arm. Oh and ...8Hrs ~ !?

[@IanKarr]

you're right about the links not being symmetrical. But they're really hard to fit if you have them in backwards. Are you thinking that 8 hours is too long?

[@johnkelley7543]

Great video, Ian. I'm putting a Tarett bar on my '74, since it didn't have anything. Your backer kit makes more sense than what I have, though. The half cut-out sits on the "ledge." Going to have to do a little research to figure out how to best install my setup.

[@IanKarr]

Thanks, John. you'll love having a sway bar...

[@johnkelley7543]

@@IanKarr Drives super nice! Started on it yesterday, finished it up today after finding more "surprises" left to me by the previous owner. (he installed the control arm of the GT3 suspension upside down, so I had to tackle that nonsense) Drove it through some winding Washington mountain roads to test. Superb.

[@jockellis]

Finally got the fuel tank out. It became a one man job when I enlisted the aid of a 15” crowbar on and then under the driver’s side.

[@IanKarr]

nice

[@michaelkelly1791]

Great video, I have the Brad Mayeur plates, but nee to the site does not offer the cap screws or metal spacers. Can you tell me where you found the hardware. Thanks

[@IanKarr]

Michael Kelly hi Michael, I got mine from belmetric.com. They even had it in yellow zinc. FYI, you can go a size shorter if you want.

[@TINKERGINEERING]

My A arms dont have the link bracket on them for the sway setup. Think it’s something that should happen? I forgot what Matt said.

[@IanKarr]

Hey there Frances! Some A arms didn't come with brackets. You can buy the brackets alone and weld them on...or buy some that already have em. Good luck!

[@jockellis]

Well, today I got out my Five-year old Weltmeister sway bar kit out of my storage building and found out not only that I needed the install kit consisting of what goes inside the trunk but that the French company that owns the trademark no longer makes Porsche bars. So I called Brad and he is sending me the pieces as soon as the Midwest digs itself out of the snow. So when the snows recede into yesteryear then I can begin my work.

[@914_werke]

Yup Rose Passion isnt going to continue the "Weltmeister" line. Once the their stock is gone thats it.

[@jockellis]

914 werke Wonder why they bought the name? Turns out Brad’s Kit didn’t work so it was back to Auto Atlanta. They had one install kit left.

[@kneedragger5255]

@@jockellis perhaps for just the remainder of their other P-car inventory. Curious why didnt it "work"?

[@jockellis]

Knee Dragger Didn’t fit the bar. I don’t like returning things so I guess I’ll have to get another 914 that needs a sway bar.

[@IanKarr]

cool!

[@jockellis]

Did you weld the drop link mounts to the control arm or were they already on there. Also, do you have to adjust anything? I doubt it since the sway bar is just to push the inside wheel up, but I’m not sure. And should these instructions work for the Weltmeister (cc)? Oh, and were those stick or MiG welds? If stick, what size rods did you use? I went to welding school for four semesters to learn to repair my two current 914s, Rusty and Rustier. You have to remove the gas tank to do this, right?

[@IanKarr]

Hi @jockellis. The drop link mounts were already on the control arms...though my car didn't originally come with those. A generous fellow 914World member hooked me up. You can see me install them with new bushings in the A-arm video. I'm pretty sure you can buy the brackets separately and convert the regular A-arms. Nothing needed to be adjusted except centering the bar. The stock setup doesn't allow for any adjustments. Not sure how other sway bar installs would compare, but I assume the drilling and prep part is the same, if the bar goes in the same spot as stock. Regarding the welding, I used my Hobart 110 MIG welder. Not pretty, but they got the job done. I've been meaning to sign up for some night welding classes... Good luck with your projects!

[@jockellis]

Ian Karr Thanks, Ian. What wire and amperage did you use? Glad I bought a MiG welder to do homework when not in class. You did have to remove gas tank, didn’t you?

[@IanKarr]

@@jockellis I believe the wire is .30. Not sure of the amperage. It's just tacks, so pretty basic. Yes, you def need to remove the gas tank to install the brackets.

[@jockellis]

Ian, thank you so much. Have you, by any chance, done anything to your torsion bars? I’m putting on M21s before I do the sway bars. When I bought my first one in 1973 at Brumos the salesman said that for an additional $500 they could reset the torsion bars and lower the front to give me 5 more mph. Since I want to do hillclimbs with it eventually I’d like to have it as low as legally possible.

[@IanKarr]

@@jockellis I kept the stock torsion bars. You can lower or raise whatever bars you have with the adjustment screw. Pretty sure the stock height was set by US DOT to comply with bumper safety issues. If you're going to track it, I suppose you can go as low as you like.

[@dennisvogel]

Does the bottom bolt actually secure anything? It appears the inside bracket only exists for the top two holes. The bottom nut on the outside bracket doesn't seem to capture anything other than the bushing a bit. I've watched your video a few times. What am I missing?

[@IanKarr]

Which bottom bolt are you referring to? All bolts should have matching nuts

[@dennisvogel]

@@IanKarr The lowest bolt of the three inserted through the bracket in the fender well. The bolt heads are seen in your opening shot. The nut appears to be present on that bracket but not sandwiching anything?

[@IanKarr]

@dennisvogel It sandwiches the metal between the wheel well and fuel tank, like the other two top bolts. Then the bracked is welded to the wheel well for added strength.

[@gtbarnes11]

Sure wish you would show us how to rebush the rear bar end links!!!!nooooone seams to know how to put those bushings in!!!

[@IanKarr]

Coming soon... when I add the rear sway bar to the Bumblebee. I'm told the trick is to drill a very small hole in the cup so air can escape as you push it in on the car. To get the bushing in the drop link, try boiling them and coating with glycerin before putting in a vise or shop press.

[@gtbarnes11]

@@IanKarr Thanks Ian, I found the trick to be a heat gun. Pick up 6 bushings though cause you will prob over heat the first ones. Just the right temp and the fit is factory tight.

[@IanKarr]

@@gtbarnes11 great tip. thanks!

[@jockellis]

Ian, got my front suspension on the ground. Unfortunately, it isn’t apart and I need to loosen the weird nut underneath the control arm. Any suggestions easier than making a socket with the four prongs to fit the indentions in the nut?

[@IanKarr]

Do you meant the ball joint nut? Looks like a large ring with four notches. If so, and you don't have the special tool, just use a chisel placed in one of the slots and a BFH (big F'in hammer) to bang it counter-clockwise.

[@1955ID]

Super, SVP OU ACHETER LA BARRE ? MERCI

[@IanKarr]

Essayez Garold Shaffer ou Bruce Stone sur 914world.com. Merci!