I’ve had a stock 1990 244 for my new-driver daughter for the past 1-1/2 years. After her recent incident losing rear end traction on a turn on a wet road, and my stumbling across Brickboard postings on sway bars (Fitz Fitzgerald #696227), I belatedly realize the car is unsafe. It is equipped with a *BIG* IPD rear sway bar, and an apparently stock front sway bar.

My local bone yard has an 81 242 turbo, with apparently intact sway bars (although the front seems to measure only 19mm diameter; where to measure?). My question: Is it a better option to replace the front sway bar with an IPD to match the rear, or to replace both with the 81 242 turbo sway bars?

Since I also need to replace a bent front control arm on the passenger side, and tired front struts, I’ll replace all four front bushings to boot. What is a good compromise for new-driver safety/ handling/ ride, and any recommendations for sway bar size/ bushing type (rubber/ poly) or struts (make or type)??

So many choices… Thanks for any help!
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Jim (90 244DL 165K miles)