Bending a sway bar.

[abowie]

I bought an uprated sway bar for my Mk2 a few years ago.

When I came to fit it it was the wrong shape. See photo of it with the standard bar.

Can I heat it up with an oxy torch and bend it to be the correct shape? Will heating it damage either the material or the temper?

[angelw]

Hello Andrew,
Yes, it will change the heat treated state of the material.

Take the part to a heat treatment plant, or anyone you may know with a hardness tester, to establish the heat treated state before you start heating it. Then have it heat treated again after heating and reshaping it.

If the heat treating oven is tall enough, ask that it be hung vertically. Failing that, the part would have to be well supported during the heating stage.

Regards,

Bill

[abowie]

Thanks Bill.

We have a business here that makes suspension springs for 4WD and race applications.

I'll take it to them.