S197 Anti-Roll Bar Upgrade Install

[GlennF]

My Stillen adjustable ARB kit for my Roush Sport arrived a few days ago and today I finally got around to installing it. I chose the Stillen kit because I just couldn't see paying the price that Roush wanted, in fact this kit was only slightly more than 1/2 the price of the Roush bars. The kit is also adjustable front and rear, something the Roush is not. Here is a picture of all the contents. As it turned out there were several items included that were not used, more on that later.



The first item of business was that the red poly bushings that looked to be for the front sway bar were 7/8 inch instead of 1 3/8 inch. The instructions didn't specify any new bushings so I re-used the stock poly bushings. They were a tight fit but with persuasion and silicone grease they went over the new bar.



The install was pretty straightforward and here is an underbody picture of the sway bar in place. I set the adjustment to the second from end hole as a preliminary setting. Ford recommends replacing the self-locking nuts on the end links, so I will keep an eye on them and get new ones if they seem to loosen up.



Next item was to remove the rear bar. The bolts on the ends of the bar will not be re-used since the new bar is shorter and uses a different mounting position. The kit comes with axle tube mounts to support the center section of the bar along with some black poly bushings. No, that is not me in the picture, it is one of my students lending a hand. It's easy to tell us apart, I don't have fishing hooks in my hat.



The links that support the center of the stock bar will now be used to support the ends of the Stillen bar. The red poly bushings that came in the kit were 7/8 inch and too large for the bolts and sleeves that you are instructed to use to fasten the bar to the links. I re-used the stock poly bushings again and the fit was perfect. However, I noticed that there was not much support on the outward side of the link to prevent it from possibly walking off the bar if subjected to a lot of stress.



I then selected a large 1/2 inch fender washer to use as a retaining device for the bushing on the outward side and I felt much more comfortable about the install. I don't think it can pop off the end of the bar now.



Here is how the Stillen bar fits, notice it is oriented quite differently than the stock configuration. It also has 3 holes for adjustment, something the stock bar does not have.



I called up Stillen and spoke to the tech/salesperson, Brian Rozier, and let him know about the issues I ran into with the non-fitting bushings and the lack of adequate retention for the rear end link bushing. I emailed him the pictures I took of my install. He talked to his R&D department and got back to me within the hour with more info.
It seems the build sheet for the kit incorrectly called for a set of new rear poly bushings that are meant to be used with an OEM style replacement bar, not the adjustable bar I had purchased. This explained the 4 non-fitting bushings in the kit. I was correct in re-using the stock front bushings and rear end link bushings. The kit was supposed to come with a large fender washer to retain the end link bushing onto the bar and not the small washer that was supplied.
Brian thanked me for explainng the inconsistencies in the kit and for the digital pictures I emailed him and assured me that the corrections will be noted on the build sheets for future kits.
I took the car out for a ride and took a few corners with gusto and it did feel a little more stable in the turns with a more balanced feeling and less body roll. I can't say for sure how it will handle when driven in anger, but I hope to have some autocross driving impressions within a few weeks. With 4 adjustment positions in front and another 3 in the back I should be able to fine tune the handlng characteristics.

[Mustanger]

Nice clear write up & great pics! Thanks man for the good job. Enjoy sliding sideways!

[GlennF]

Thanks for the compliment. I have been wanting to do writeups for my mods for quite some time now, but I never seem to have any help. Trying to do the work while taking pictures is such a pain in the ass.

[Rangersfan]

Nice writeup, but two things concerns me, those clamps on the axle look like they might shift under heavy load. The front bar also seems to be missing stops that would keep it located and from shifting around under heavy cornering.

[Yelleroush]

Awesome writeup with great pics.

[GlennF]

Originally Posted by Rangersfan

Nice writeup, but two things concerns me, those clamps on the axle look like they might shift under heavy load.

I will be keeping an eye on that in case there is any movement. Thus far, after my wife and I both autocrossing it this past weekend, there was no movement.

The front bar also seems to be missing stops that would keep it located and from shifting around under heavy cornering.

The ASB on my 95 track car doesn't have stops either and it hasn't moved in 6 years of autocross and open track. The S197 uses a different design end link though, so I will be keeping an eye on it as well. In any event, a stop would be simple to fabricate and install on the bar if needed.

[PNicholson]

Hey there,

Okay - its been going on a year since you installed your sway bar setup. Your thoughts at this point? I just started with Stillen as a Senior Product Specialist in the American Performance Division (Brian left – I took his position). Hoping to help out with concerns/needs here.

Thanks

Page

[Roushinator]

Originally Posted by PNicholson

Hey there,

Okay - its been going on a year since you installed your sway bar setup. Your thoughts at this point? I just started with Stillen as a Senior Product Specialist in the American Performance Division (Brian left – I took his position). Hoping to help out with concerns/needs here.

Thanks

Page

Not a year but a month.

[GlennF]

Originally Posted by PNicholson

Hey there,

Okay - its been going on a year since you installed your sway bar setup. Your thoughts at this point? I just started with Stillen as a Senior Product Specialist in the American Performance Division (Brian left – I took his position). Hoping to help out with concerns/needs here.

Thanks

Page

Hi Page, thanks for posting and letting us know you are taking over Brian's position.

In any case it has only been just over one month but I did drive the car in two autocross events since the install. The car feels well balanced with the upgrade and very predictable at the traction limits. The handling is quite neutral with no tendency to either under or oversteer. I find myself wanting to put 10" wide wheels and some really sticky tires like Kumho V710's on the car to see what it will really do. Unfortunately, that just isn't in the budget at this time.

All in all I think it was a very worthwhile upgrade at a very affordable price point. If someone is looking for better handling for a mostly stock suspended Mustang, the Stillen kit may be what they need.

[Blaircastle]

This is a great write up and very interesting information ..now Grandma had one of her "Need information" moments from her Roush teachers ....


"If someone is looking for better handling for a mostly stock suspended Mustang, the Stillen kit may be what they need."
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Does the above statement mean our Roush suspension has a similiar component or would this work as a mod on the stage 3 or ???? Remembering how Brandii responded on the track last year when really pushed I'd be interested in understanding this better ..............

[GlennF]

Originally Posted by Blaircastle

.... "If someone is looking for better handling for a mostly stock suspended Mustang, the Stillen kit may be what they need."
__________________



Does the above statement mean our Roush suspension has a similiar component or would this work as a mod on the stage 3 or ???? Remembering how Brandii responded on the track last year when really pushed I'd be interested in understanding this better ..............

I'm not sure about the sway bar sizes on the Roush Stage 3 so I can't comment with any certainty. I would imagine that it is similarly sized as the Stillen kit and selected to compliment the Roush springs and shocks.

My car is a Roush Sport, so it came with regular Mustang GT suspension parts. I upgraded to Tokico D-Spec shocks/struts (adjustable) and Vogtland springs. The Stillen sway bars were the finishing touch to my custom suspension package.

The advantage of the Stillen kit is that it is adjustable. You can use an adjustable sway bar to fine tune the handling characteristics of the car as it nears the traction limits while cornering. If the car seems to push (understeer) you can tighten up the rear bar by moving the end links to bolt holes further away from the end. If the car is loose (oversteer) you can either tighten the front bar or loosen the rear bar to dial in the correct manners.

As an update to my last post I would like to add a footnote. The factory nuts that secure the front sway bar end links should not be reused. The service manual recommends discarding and replacing them any time they are removed. I reused mine and they have loosened up on me twice. This will result in a clunking noise in the front end when the car goes over road bumps and surface irregularities. I have since removed the OEM fasteners and installed aftermarket nylock nuts and washers in place of them.