Dual Front sway Bars Installed

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Apr 5, 2011 | 03:57 PM

65F1005.8

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 277

Likes: 3

Dual Front sway Bars Installed

I have a 98 E-250 super with a raised roof, and soon will be stacked to the ceiling with tools and equipment, I already installed a 1.125 (1 1/8) rear sway bar and had a stock 1in bar in the front with all new polyurethane and thermoplastic bushings, I then installed an additional stock 1in bar in the front with all Thermoplastic bushings, the area of 2 1in bars is the same as a 1.4in bar but the force is applied among to outside edges making it perform more like a 1.5 I think.

E-250 dual Bar pics:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_w...405111421a.jpg

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_w...405111423a.jpg

My Brothers 03' ranger dual bars:

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_w...0320111642.jpg

Apr 6, 2011 | 07:36 PM

Henry10s

Elder User

Joined: Jun 2010

Posts: 627

Likes: 0

From: NY, NY

I have never done this. What is the advantage of a double bar, on top of each other, rather than a 2nd sway bar, maybe one behind, the other in front of the axle?

I understand that strut-braces, ie. elevated sway bars give better handling, although I am not sure how it can be done on a van, not on a ricer.

Neil: last year when we discussed options for the top, I think we touched on improvements of shaking/handling that come with reinforcing the top, sort of roof sway bar. Any thoughts on these?

Apr 6, 2011 | 10:00 PM

65F1005.8

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 277

Likes: 3

it makes do difference were a sway bar is as long as the moment or lever remains the same and the bar thickness and material. what you are referring to is a "strut bar or brace" in a unibody such as a classic mustang or a honda civic the body is the frame. when cornering aggressively the body/frame will flex causing body roll and twist reducing traction, they come factory or the acura integra Type R's and the classic mustangs. all it does is strengthen the frame or unibody, you could get the same effect by bulding a roll cage that goes down to the frame, i have talked about adding in a X brace to reduce chassis twist in my van.

a sway bar is a spring that when the body rolls and the control arm compresses on one side it increases spring force on the outside and reduces force on the other control arm making for more level cornering. two sway bars just increases the spring force.

no benefit to stacking them besides it was easy to install.

Apr 7, 2011 | 05:21 AM

JWA

Fleet Owner

Joined: Aug 2010

Posts: 21,253

Likes: 1,656

From: Reynoldsburg, Ohio

Like Henry I was curious why add a bar instead of simply using one that is 1.25" or 1.5" in diameter? I'm using Hellwig front and rear bars myself. To me and just me perhaps that's a lot of work adding the second bar.

What I liked about the Hellwig front set up is they utilize a vastly different mounting system and location on the I Beams. The soft factory bushings wear out quickly and even when replaced with urethane still aren't that effective. Its better than nothing at all though...........

I do like the final appearance of this install---quite ingenious and nice finish!

Apr 7, 2011 | 06:04 AM

65F1005.8

Thread Starter

Tuned

Joined: Apr 2010

Posts: 277

Likes: 3

The work involved was actually very little, removed a salvage one, cut the ends off, cut tubing for sleeves and a 1/4in plate and drilled holes. in all it took me about 3 hours work time. the cost was under 70 which is more than i wanted to spend but the sway is almost eliminated, I can bounce in the driver door well and it falls about 1/8in before the whole truck follows as a unit. I will be tacking it all together to make removal easier and tack a washer on the end of the bar to prevent the bushings from working their way off.