Hotchkis

Hotchkis sway bars, lowering springs, shocks and chassis parts for classic GM, Mopar and Ford muscle cars. Hotchkis anti-sway bar kits here cost $447 to $915, lowering coil springs $276 to $535 and Street Performance shocks about $255 to $268 each. Each listing shows the Hotchkis part number, and most sway bar listings give the bar diameter.

Who Hotchkis is

Hotchkis Sport Suspension is a performance suspension brand based in Mooresville, North Carolina. It sells sway bars, shocks, springs, control arms and complete bolt-on packages, and says its parts are "designed, sourced and made in the USA." The company is led by John Hotchkis and says it builds over 30 years of racing experience into its parts. Its range covers muscle cars, trucks, European cars and Japanese sport compacts, though most of what we carry is for classic American cars.

Hotchkis is best known for its sway bars. The company describes them as "lightweight hollow Sport Sway Bars" that improve cornering and straight-line stability by reducing body roll. For a classic muscle car, a Hotchkis sway bar is one of the most noticeable handling upgrades you can bolt on.

Hotchkis product lines on our store

We list 76 Hotchkis products. Check each listing for whether it is one part, a pair or a kit.

LineWhat it isListingsOur price
Anti-sway bar kitsFront and rear sway bars with mounting hardware12$447 to $915
Lowering coil springsSport springs, some listing a drop of 1 or 2 inches12$276 to $535
Street Performance and Adjustable shocks1.5 Street Performance, Adjustable and Tuned 1.5 Adjustable shocks, plus a set of four19$255 to $1,017
Subframe connectorsWeld-on connectors that tie the front and rear subframes together10$496 to $879
Trailing arms and bracesUpper and lower trailing arms, trailing arm mount braces8$319 to $662
Other suspension and chassisStrut rods, panhard rod, control arms, leaf spring packages, tie rod sleeves, braces, shock mounts15$137 to $1,427

Hotchkis sway bars: how to choose

A sway bar links the left and right wheels so the body leans less in corners. A thicker or stiffer bar gives less roll. Changing the front bar against the rear bar also shifts the balance: more rear bar makes the car turn in more eagerly, and more front bar makes it more stable and prone to push.

Front, rear or a set

Most Hotchkis bars here are sold as a front or rear kit, with part numbers ending in F or R. If your car has no rear bar from the factory, a rear bar alone is a big change. If it already has a thin front bar, upgrade the front and rear together to keep the balance.

Fixed vs adjustable

Some bars on our store are fixed, and some rear bars have 2 or 3 adjustment positions. An adjustable rear bar lets you tune the balance after you drive the car, which is useful if you also change springs or tires.

These are the Hotchkis sway bar kits with sizes listed on our store:

Part numberPositionDiameter and typeFitment namedPrice
2236FFront1.375 in, hollow, fixed1970 to 1981 Pontiac and Chevrolet$446.99
2207FFront1.125 in, hollow, fixedNot listed$446.99
2207RCRearHollow, 2-position adjustable1967 to 1974, not with traction bars$914.99
2255FFront1.375 in, hollow, fixedNot listed$500.99
2254FFront1.250 in, hollow, fixedNot listed$555.99
22385RRear1 in, hollow, 3-position adjustableMopar A-body$614.99
2282RRear1.313 inNot listed$614.99
22114RRearNot listed1964 to 1966 Ford$555.99

The other four kits (2202F, 2236R, 2254R and 2255R) cost $496 to $615. Hotchkis lists the 2255R rear bar for 1966 to 1972 Mopar B-body cars. Since many listings don't name a vehicle, check the Hotchkis part number for your car before you order. On a lowered car, adjustable end links keep the bar at the right angle.

Other Hotchkis parts worth pairing

  • Lowering springs: Hotchkis springs on our store list drops such as 1 inch or 2 inches. Pair them with shocks that suit the lower height.
  • Shocks: the 1.5 Street Performance shocks, sold one per listing, cost $255 to $268. Several Hotchkis shock titles here say "by Fox."
  • Subframe connectors: unibody muscle cars flex, and connectors stiffen the chassis so the suspension does the work. Ours are weld-on, so plan on a shop if you don't weld.
  • Trailing arms and braces: for GM A-body and similar cars, stiffer rear trailing arms and mount braces reduce wheel hop and rear steer.

Fitment coverage

Only about 19 of our 76 Hotchkis listings name a make. Every named fitment is a classic American car:

Make named in listingListingsExamples on our store
GM: Chevrolet, Pontiac, Buick, Oldsmobile121964 to 1972 trailing arm braces, 1967 to 1974 shocks, 1970 to 1981 Chevrolet and Pontiac springs and bars
Dodge and Plymouth61965 to 1976 shocks, 1966 to 1976 subframe connectors and strut rods
Ford41964 to 1970 shocks and subframe connectors, 1964 to 1966 rear bar

For these cars, also see our Camaro suspension, Mustang suspension and chassis bracing collections.

Hotchkis vs other brands we carry

Hotchkis vs QA1. QA1 also sells sway bars for classic cars, at $352 to $1,186 on our store, plus adjustable coilovers. Hotchkis bars are hollow and sold as complete bolt-on kits; QA1 is the pick if you are building around coilovers.

Hotchkis vs BMR and Detroit Speed. BMR Suspension is a lower-cost option for GM and Ford muscle cars, at $46 to $897. Detroit Speed sells complete premium chassis systems. For a wider range of sway bars for modern and import cars, see all sway bars and end links.

Install notes

  • Most sway bar kits bolt on with the included hardware. Tighten bushing brackets with the car at ride height.
  • Get an alignment after changing springs, arms or strut rods.
  • Warranty terms are set by each brand.

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Hotchkis FAQ

Are Hotchkis sway bars hollow?
Hotchkis describes its Sport Sway Bars as lightweight and hollow, and most of the kits on our store with details listed say hollow. A hollow bar saves weight while keeping most of the stiffness of a solid bar.
Should I buy a front or rear Hotchkis sway bar?
If your car has no rear bar, a rear bar alone makes a big difference. If it has a thin factory front bar, upgrade front and rear together so the car stays balanced.
What does an adjustable Hotchkis rear sway bar do?
Some Hotchkis rear bars have 2 or 3 mounting positions. Moving the end link changes how stiff the bar acts, so you can fine-tune how the car turns in.
Where are Hotchkis parts made?
Hotchkis is based in Mooresville, North Carolina, and says its parts are designed, sourced and made in the USA.
Do I need new end links with a Hotchkis sway bar?
Most kits include mounting hardware. On a lowered car, adjustable end links help keep the bar at the right angle.
How much do Hotchkis sway bars cost?
Hotchkis anti-sway bar kits on our store cost $447 to $915, depending on the car, position and whether the bar is adjustable.