STS sway bar

**map** · 06-25-2022, 02:41 AM

I installed the STS 51600 sway bar on my '18 and it does make the car feel slightly different. There seems to be a bit less body roll, tying the 2 wheels together. Mostly I notice a slightly more rear drift on hard pack gravel.

Installation was one of the easier mods I've done in years. I rented a 1/2" cordless, marked the center with the large bit, then used my 3/8" to drill the pilot hole and the 1/2" cut thru like butter.

**Haring** · 06-25-2022, 10:22 AM

I’ve had mine for 2 years now waiting to install. Hopefully one weekend I’ll get to it.

**Fabio13** · 06-25-2022, 11:03 AM

For me it made a dramatic change in body roll. Installed about six years ago.

**map** · 06-25-2022, 02:55 PM

Originally Posted by Haring

I�ve had mine for 2 years now waiting to install. Hopefully one weekend I�ll get to it.

The longest part of the install was getting the car on the ramps. They just slid when rolling onto the ramps, so I jacked her up and slid them in place. The instructions recommend letting the axle dangle instead of using ramps, probably to give easier access to the nuts. (The springs are in the way of getting the first couple nuts installed on the bolts.) After renting the 1/2" Makita cordless drill, I think it took about an hour, including clean up. I drilled the pilot hole using a 3/16" "Quad Edge" bit mounted in my small impact driver.

I wonder if Fiat changed springs on the '18 & '19 Pop models. I notice Fiat offers 4 different springs for the rear, listed as performance, heavy duty, sport-tuned, and high-perform. Body roll is noted on reviews of early model 500's but I've not noticed it being excessive on mine prior to the install. My '18 has the "sport tuned" suspension. Euro 500's had a 21mm sway bar added after 2009, so maybe this one does a similar job.

http://www.fiat500usa.com/2010/09/ex...uspension.html

**Fabio13** · 06-25-2022, 06:16 PM

Lucky me then, no ramps needed. Had to lie on my back though.

**aelfwyne** · 06-26-2022, 01:50 AM

I've got one sitting here that I never installed on the T if someone wants to make me an offer to pick it up in the Beaumont/Houston area. Shipping isn't worth it for the crazy prices on bulky items these days.

**map** · 06-26-2022, 02:39 AM

I guess it's where you buy it. $238 (w/ shipping) at some shops, $300 off Ebay. I'm not sure why but the prices skyrocketed, then recently dropped again. It's a nice piece of flexible 1/2" rod with a couple brackets welded to the end. If I had a pattern, I could probably whip one up for $50 in parts and an hour's work. <g>

I guess I should have asked if anyone had one before I purchased.

**aelfwyne** · 06-26-2022, 07:06 PM

Originally Posted by map

I guess it's where you buy it. $238 (w/ shipping) at some shops, $300 off Ebay. I'm not sure why but the prices skyrocketed, then recently dropped again. It's a nice piece of flexible 1/2" rod with a couple brackets welded to the end. If I had a pattern, I could probably whip one up for $50 in parts and an hour's work. <g>

I guess I should have asked if anyone had one before I purchased.

Price probably went up so much because if shipping. Shipping has gotten out of hand recently.

I was going to buy, for example, a midpipe for my 124. Around $350 which is pricey but whatchagonnado ... Everywhere that had them though was asking $150 for minimum shipping. Decided to have a local shop delete the resonator on my factory pipe with booger welds instead.

The Sts bar was $180 shipped when I got it. Shipping now would basically mean I'd have to give it away free.