Best sways?

[1fastsedan]

I've been looking into getting some beefier sway bars for my 300. I've seen several different brands and was looking to hear about peoples different experiences with each. I heard the Hotchkis' were hollow and that the bushings often squeak because of the harder rubber, can anyone confirm or deny this? I also heard that the Eibach sways were solid, correct? I also saw a set from stsuspensions.com (which apparently is owned by KW now) that I don't know much about. Solid, hollow, good, bad? Any help is greatly appreciated.

[fatchance]

I've had the Hotchkis for about 7 month and have had no problems. There was a huge difference in the cars handling once I installed them as for the others I don't have any experience with.

[DUBSTER]

What fatchance said!!!

[joey]

Something is squeaking on my car when I drive over speed bumps and I am guessing it is my Hotchkis sways. I am trying to find out if I can apply grease without loosing/uninstalling them. I also read that synthetic grease is supposed to be used. I am gonna call Hotchkis and find out.

[joey]

I called Hotchkis and they said to use non-lithium grease. I later found this buried in their website.

IMPORTANT:Be sure to grease the sway bar bushings at least once a year (15,000 miles) or whenever excessive noise occurs. Use a non-lithium grease to lubricate the bushings. Lithium grease can wash out with water and should not be used.

Synthetic grease likely has lithium, and is not recommended.

I had a Chrysler dealer install my sway bars and it is likely they used their own dealer grease, which is lithium based.
I called a couple of auto parts stores and none carry non-lithium grease.
It took a little research, but bicycle shops should use non-lithium grease.
I believe grease from Park Tool is carried by a number of bicycle shops and is non-lithium. I am going to call Park Tool tomorrow to verify it is non-lithium.
Park Tool Website

Hotchkis says a grease gun should be able to lube up the bushings without loosening/uninstalling the sway bars. Kragens has grease guns for around $10.

[Chase300]

Hotchkis has the potential to squeak because they use Polyurethane bushings...which have much less flex than OEM rubber bushings. Any performance suspension system or parts should use polyurethane bushings if possible, they are much better. Usually the grease is included, to apply during install. I've never had to reapply or regrease any of my polyurethane bushings i've used in other cars, but as said the good suspension companies will include zerk fittings to easily grease if needed as Hotchkis does.

Hollow bars are better for reduced weight...yet you can still increase the strength of the bar on a hole. Best of both.

From what I understand, the difference between Hotchkis and Eibach is in the size of the sway bars, with the Eibach using a larger rear sway than Hotchkis. If the sway bars are different in size and strength from one another, there's no doubt a Hotchkis car and Eibach car will handle differently from one another.

Personally, I don't think you can go wrong with Hotchkis, their reputation for developing performance handling suspension products is second to none.

[Chase300]

Opps, looks like Hotchkis uses polygraphite bushings not polyurethane...but same concept...much stiffer, less flex so the suspension components can go their job.

[phillips2024]

HOTCHKIS!!! they dont make them for my awd which sucks! but i had them on my expedition..no body sway it was amazin

[Chase300]

I just did a little research as I'm also looking to add a set of bigger sways to my C.

Stock sways are suppose to be 30mm front, 15mm rear.
Eibach sways are listed at 30mm front, 16mm rear.
Hotchkis sways are listed at 35mm front, 19mm rear, 30% and 150% stiffer respectively. So it looks like the Eibach sway are not much better than stock for the C or SRT. With a V6 300, it would be an improvement as they don't have rear sways.
Bottom line is it looks like Hotchkis is the only real option between the 2.
PS. They are using polyurethane bushings in the sway bars!

[Chase300]

looks like the going rate for the Hotchkis bars is $375? Is that what everyone is getting them for?