REAR SWAY BAR for ASTRO - SAFARI. (The Rest of the World Edition)
In the USA they sell Astro REAR SWAY BAR kits for around $260.
For UK owners that price increases to nearly $450 !!! ( = approx £335 British pounds).
Nice,, if you can afford it !!!
I have found another option if you have a few simple skills and some common sense available.
Total cost was less than $30.
It works beautifully on my Gen1 88 shorty with stock suspension, but I'm not saying it'll fit every Astro, it's up to you to discover if it'll suit your particular Astro !!
I have an LPG tank fitted behind the rear axle, so I needed a bar that fitted forward of the rear axle.
I've done a thousand+ miles, so far, on winding Welsh roads without any problems and corning is a breeze.
I'm not going to walk you thru' a long article of 'how to'.
If you need that, it's probably beyond your capabilities and you shouldn't do it.
The 'difficulty level' is about 3 out of 10. with some measuring, drilling, sawing, bending,
flattening and a few inches of welding. plus a bit of spanner work, etc.
Caution, once fitted, your vans handling characteristics + Understeer (tight) & oversteer (loose) can be affected. Drive safely and well within your own ability.
Parts needed are,, the suitable* sway bar with rubber mountings & housings along with two ball joint end links. (EbayUK JY £14.50 including shipping).
4x 70mm exhaust Ubolt clamps (cut as saddles).
2" angle iron, for link anchors, adjustable.
2" wide flat 1/8" steel, for axle strap clamps.
Some strong Nuts & Bolts for fixings.
(I added 2x small ex clamps to prevent the sway bar migration to either left or right).
Take a look at the photos,
see how the bar is positioned so there is clearance everywhere to allow the Sway bar to pivot without contacting,, axle tubes, diff cover, exhaust, dampers, leaf springs & chassis rails.
Note the angle of the clamps around the axle tubes.
See the end links are cut & welded short, so the leaf springs can flex upwards without any contact.
Check and adjust route of brake pipes and parking brake cable as necessary for clearance. Then go around checking everything again !!
Which Sway Bar is pictured ???
It is from a BMW E53 X5 4.4L '01 FRONT ANTI ROLL SWAY BAR (28mm or 1.10inch Dia).
(I believe many BMW E53 X5 were produced in Spartanburg, South Carolina)
Happy Cornering
In the USA they sell Astro REAR SWAY BAR kits for around $260.
For UK owners that price increases to nearly $450 !!! ( = approx £335 British pounds).
Nice,, if you can afford it !!!
I have found another option if you have a few simple skills and some common sense available.
Total cost was less than $30.
It works beautifully on my Gen1 88 shorty with stock suspension, but I'm not saying it'll fit every Astro, it's up to you to discover if it'll suit your particular Astro !!
I have an LPG tank fitted behind the rear axle, so I needed a bar that fitted forward of the rear axle.
I've done a thousand+ miles, so far, on winding Welsh roads without any problems and corning is a breeze.
I'm not going to walk you thru' a long article of 'how to'.
If you need that, it's probably beyond your capabilities and you shouldn't do it.
The 'difficulty level' is about 3 out of 10. with some measuring, drilling, sawing, bending,
flattening and a few inches of welding. plus a bit of spanner work, etc.
Caution, once fitted, your vans handling characteristics + Understeer (tight) & oversteer (loose) can be affected. Drive safely and well within your own ability.
Parts needed are,, the suitable* sway bar with rubber mountings & housings along with two ball joint end links. (EbayUK JY £14.50 including shipping).
4x 70mm exhaust Ubolt clamps (cut as saddles).
2" angle iron, for link anchors, adjustable.
2" wide flat 1/8" steel, for axle strap clamps.
Some strong Nuts & Bolts for fixings.
(I added 2x small ex clamps to prevent the sway bar migration to either left or right).
Take a look at the photos,
see how the bar is positioned so there is clearance everywhere to allow the Sway bar to pivot without contacting,, axle tubes, diff cover, exhaust, dampers, leaf springs & chassis rails.
Note the angle of the clamps around the axle tubes.
See the end links are cut & welded short, so the leaf springs can flex upwards without any contact.
Check and adjust route of brake pipes and parking brake cable as necessary for clearance. Then go around checking everything again !!
Which Sway Bar is pictured ???
It is from a BMW E53 X5 4.4L '01 FRONT ANTI ROLL SWAY BAR (28mm or 1.10inch Dia).
(I believe many BMW E53 X5 were produced in Spartanburg, South Carolina)
Happy Cornering