TR2/3/3A Front Sway Bar on a 56 TR3

jfarris

Jedi Trainee

Offline

• Sep 5, 2017

• #1

Since i sold my Boxster, I've driven my TR3 in a couple of auto slaloms, what a humbling experience. I would like to reduce the body roll just a bit.
Who has added a front sway bar to an earlier TR3?
What brand or vendor supplied it?
What are the frame attachment points (the lower spring pan assembly or wishbones appear to be the suspension attachment point).
Anyone got a set of installation instructions they could scan and email?
farris dot jd at gmail dot com
Thanks in advance,

 

charleyf

Luke Skywalker

Offline

• Sep 5, 2017

• #2

Jim,
The lower spring pan is the attachment point and then the front bumper supports is the frame location. That is on an Addco sway bar. Now you just have to find one. I have been trying to for about a year now. I am getting the impression that they have quit making the one for the TR3.
Charley

 

J

Jerry

Darth Vader

Gold

Offline

• Sep 5, 2017

• #3

They have kits for the TR3. Look at someones TR4 for mounting points. I think they are the same. I do have one on my TR3 and prefer the limitation to the role. By the way, I have done autocross in two different TR3s and neither can make the turns fast enough. At both events, someone had a car tuned for autocross that turned like a mini and the time differential was huge. But it is fun and I would like to do autocross again.
https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcf/showthread.php?44560-TR3A-front-sway-bar-pics

There are ideas at this link.
Jerry

 

W

WiscTR

Senior Member

Silver

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• Sep 5, 2017

• #4

Summit Racing shows Addco kits for the TR3 at around $200.

 

martx-5

Yoda

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• Sep 5, 2017

• #5

WiscTR said:

Summit Racing shows Addco kits for the TR3 at around $200.

Click to expand...

Yeah, with a shipping date of the middle of December...layful:

 

M_Pied_Lourd

Darth Vader

Offline

• Sep 5, 2017

• #6

I have one on my 60 TR3A that mounts to the bumper support brackets. I know the brackets are different for the earlier 3's though...but, if you want some pics, I'll see if I can dig some up. Mine is an Addco bar as well.

Cheers
Tush

 

OP

jfarris

Jedi Trainee

Offline

• Sep 5, 2017

• #7

Thanks for all the info.
I didn't see the Addco bar on Summit racing, but the bar on Rimmer Bros was $313 USD, ouch. The TRF bar is for a TR3A.
On the embedded link, I liked Karl's idea of some square tubing welded between the bumper brackets for rigidity and optional mounting points.
Oh yeah, I don't have a front bumper, so, no bumper brackets.
Tush, I would love to have a couple of pictures of how yours mounts to the frame - don't kill yourself doing this as it appears to be a little more difficult than I first thought.
You folks are the BEST!
Maybe, I just need to be nicer to the wife and slalom her Mini?

 

M_Pied_Lourd

Darth Vader

Offline

• Sep 5, 2017

• #8

Hi Jim,

Here's a few photos from when I got the car.







Cheers
Tush

 

CJD

Yoda

Offline

• Sep 5, 2017

• #9

Tush's car has the later style bumper brackets, which are much more substantial than the early brackets. On the later cars Tush's is the way to go.

On the early cars the most common way would be a separate bracket that mounts to the frame using the bumper through bolts. Like this one:

https://www.rimmerbros.co.uk/Item--i-GRID200387

 

TR4nut

Yoda

Offline

• Sep 6, 2017

• #10

The Rimmers kit is nice, haven't installed it yet but it has the separate brackets so no drilling on your bumper supports

 

Tr3aguy

Jedi Knight

Offline

• Sep 6, 2017

• #11

So just for tighter handling would the front be sufficient or would you need the rear as well??

 

M_Pied_Lourd

Darth Vader

Offline

• Sep 6, 2017

• #12

Tr3aguy said:

So just for tighter handling would the front be sufficient or would you need the rear as well??

Click to expand...

IMO, You need the rear as well...

Cheers
Tush

 

OP

jfarris

Jedi Trainee

Offline

• Sep 7, 2017

• #13

Thanks JP, you guys are killing me. We haven't gotten the front fixed and you're already talking about the back.
I, too, wondered if the addition of a front bar would just highlight the need for a slightly smaller bar at the rear. And the slippery slope begins.
The folks at Rimmer Bros were nice enough to send me their spec and installation sheet via email. The RW3082 definitely looks like the way to go.
Thanks for all the ideas, I'll purchase the bar and try to get it installed this fall and report back.
Now it's time to enjoy this mid 70's September weather before Irma's rain gets here.
We have a local car show on Saturday as part of my city's Bicentennial Celebration. I'll probably have the only British car there, should be fun.
Ciao!

 

M_Pied_Lourd

Darth Vader

Offline

• Sep 7, 2017

• #14

we like spending your money. I have a rear bar on both my 59 and 60. If you need pics of that install later on, please let me know. This should be the same at least.

Cheers
Tush