Corolla Torsion Bar

[Mark57]

I recently purchased a 1986 Corolla sedan, 2bbl. I've replaced the half-shafts, tie rod ends and ball joints. While doing this work I thought something was missing on the suspension - and it was. There is no torsion bar on this car. Could someone let me know if it was built this way or has it been removed?
Thanks, Mark

[EverAE]

why would a corolla have a torsion bar? theyre mostly used on heavier trucks/SUV's. your corolla uses macpherson struts on all for corners. torsion bars are springs. your springs are coil springs, mounted on the struts.

[Mark57]

Thanks for the reply.
Maybe torsion bar wasn't the right part name. I looked in my Haynes Ford Escort book and found sway bar designated as the part that I think I'm missing. I don't have a Corolla manual at this time.

Mark

[4agetercel]

Yeah youre thinking of the swap bar, or stabalizer bar or whatever people want to call it, the fact is that maybe your car didnt come with one, i think they were an option, my Tercel has all the holes for a sway bar but doesnt have one

[Mark57]

Thanks for the reply. I believe your explanation of "being an option" is most accurate. I also have all of the holes, but no evidence that they have ever been used. I would love to know why Toyota chose not to use the bar.
Mark

[4agetercel]

Cost id imagine, why else do muti-million dollar industries do what they do?

[EverAE]

yep, unfortuneatly i have the same car, and we got the short end of the stick on that one. basically, they didnt install one in the factory, because we were the base, economy, commuter car. we had the single cam carb'd engine, and enough room to uncomfortably seat a family. however, alot of ae82's (chassis code in case you didnt know) did come with sway bars, both front and rear. overseas they offered the sedans (including four door hatches, 3 door hatches, 5 door seca's, etc.) with 4A-GE's, and stiffer suspension, sway bars f/r, etc. In the US they have the Corolla FX-16 (and GT-S) which is the 3 door hatch, with a 4AGE, sportier suspension, and the works. this is the based on the same chassis as your car, and you can install the swaybars from it.

if you would like a swaybar kit, Addco, and Whiteline Australia both make front and rear kits, to install stiffer swaybars, on vehicles originally not equipped with them (including links, bushings, brackets, etc.), since the mouting positions are already designed into the chassis.