mojavemonster

I couldn't find the post people were talken about makeing their own sway bars for there small nitros. For small scales they where using piano wire.I'm wanting to build my own rear sways for my scratch build and was wondering if any of you 5 scalers have done it?

If so what is a good thickness to start with and where do you get the wire?

Lunar Wolf

i'd try piano wire from 2.5mm - 3.5mm thick. really depends on how long the sway bar is going to be(longer = softer) and the vehicle in question though. Also there's the limitations of what your using to mount the bars to what size wire they can take.

mojavemonster

Ok...I just wikipedia "piano wire". It says....."Also known as Spring Steel".

It also goes on and says- " It is also commonly used in hobby applications such as model railroading and both control line and radio-controlled aircraft."

So I must be able to find it at the local HS???


News Flash....This just in... LHS is half hour away by car but my truck just got stolen today. That's alot further by foot now. Ain't that some shshshwatch yo mouth

mojavemonster

OK...so with a couple minutes research I'm starting to answer some of my own questions. Looks like Hobby People carrys music wire from .025" to 3/16". I'll check my ruler in the morn to see what 2.5 mm is. Stuff is pretty cheep for 3 foot peices. Can afford to try a couple different strengths. Alot cheeper than buying the Hpi Baja sway kit of $38 - $50

Thanks for the help

Lunar Wolf

ya don't get hung up on exact sizes, the thickness is going to depend on the wight of your car, length of the bar and the terrain your running on. Also what effects you want to get from them. Piano wire is cheap so i'd suggest getting a few lengths and make various sizes to play with. The wrong thickness can make it worse then not having a sway bar and the right combo can be a good night and day difference in your handeling.

badz

My Feedback: (1)

yeah all the control rod we use in planes is piano wire

wan6176

get from daves abt swaybar save ur time..it come in 3 different size.
http://www.davesmotors.com/store/product1876.html $47.00

csp1971

Amazes me that is 47 bucks. Wow.

mojavemonster

I have time. What I don't have is money to waist on all of this. I only need a rear swaybay for a scratch build. All the connectors I will fabricate myself. I don't even know the length of these......So Piano Wire It Is.

Swaybar ends will be connected to bell cranks at the ends on resemble real Trophy Truck sways. I figure for under $10 I can fab a few different tensions to play with.

Lars from Norway

The sway bars that for example FG makes are 4 or 5 millimeters,and made of spring steel.I made my own of regular steel wire just to try it,also made the links out of aluminium.I was going to buy some spring steel at a local machine shop,but i never got that farSo i ended up bying the original ones.I saw how the shape on FG ones are,and copied them.Preety easy to do as long as you have the right material

Anomie

Mojave, I have two 3' lengths of 1/8" spring steel I can send to you for nothing, if they will work.

Just let me know.

mojavemonster

NEWS UPDATE. It's unbelievable. My truck has been found last night. Never thought I'd see it again. It's funny how it turned up. The gas gage is broke and reads as a full tank. It accually only had a few gallons. Numb Skulls ran out of gas. They cleaned it out pretty good. Stole my stereo, all the trash in the back, and all the sunflower seeds on the floor.

Anyways now I can get down to the LHS tomorrow for some wire. I do apreciate the offer though Reiko. Thanx.

So the past few days I've been thinking how to do it and it dawned on me. I have X-Factor parts laying around. I'll use the canilever system. One of the 3 points is the pivot riding on a bearing, one point with link running down to axle. On the 3rd I'll have the sway slip in the hole, bend towards pivot and then bend towards otherside. 2 pieces of angle alumi drilled for sway.

As far as bending I'll heat it up to bend then quench it. Fallowed by a couple more heat and quench to bring back strength at the bends.

Tomorrow will bring some pics.

Thanx everybody!!!

Anomie

Glad to hear about the truck! Those types of things can go so badly sometimes.

It sounds like you have a handle on the sway bar situation, too. Can't wait to see your work!

mojavemonster

To those who helped...

I ended up using 7/16 wire....I think. Incorporated some X-Factor parts and savage steering turnbuckles. It really does a great job keeping that axle under controll. Thanx again for the input

1st pic with out......rest with

Lunar Wolf

wow thats intresting.

rangerfredbob

My Feedback: (13)

that looks a lot more like 7/64" since 7/16" is just under 1/2"

and for further information, many hardware stores have K&S racks with the music wire too, I think even Home Depot has some...

mojavemonster

3/32" !........( "Sampsonite. I was way off" <Name that movie )

My LHS is 1/2 hour away. After getting back with my Music wire I stopped at the near by TRUE VALUE HWS and seen they had some K&S @ 1/8". It didn't exactly say Misic Wire or Spring Steel. And when I tested a piece it seemed to bend quite easielly. I hope the next guy wanted it bent there. It could be the same grade but this is what I'm telling myself as not to feel like a complete moron.

Lunar Wolf

Dumb & Dumber!

Lars from Norway

I agree,Lunar Wolf!You cant hate Jim Carrey

Snaut Rocket

Good thing you didnt make a quote from the toilet scene.

Lars from Norway

Trrrrrrrratatatatatatschpoisssschhh-faaaaaaart-ratatata