Sway bar bracket issue?
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Senior User
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Sway bar bracket issue?
Hey guys, I have small problem. I have a 73 F-100 but I took the suspension of a 78 F-250 to swap in to it. I am positive I took the sway bar brackets off the 250 but now when I try to put them on the 100 they won't work. If you look in the picture you can see that the bracket has a tab and the radius arm has a notch. My bracket fits the drivers side, but in the picture it shows the tab and the notch are opposite each other for the passenger side. What gives? Am I just crazy? My 100 had the other style radius arms, the ones that looked forged. It would be impossible to get the two mixed up. Plus my 100 did not have the sway bar brackets so again, it is impossible to get them mixed up between the two trucks suspension.
Also, the 250 has different size springs both in length and in thickness. I know that the springs are made to support the divers weight and still keep the truck level. But which spring goes on the drivers side...the longer one or the thicker one?
Also, the 250 has different size springs both in length and in thickness. I know that the springs are made to support the divers weight and still keep the truck level. But which spring goes on the drivers side...the longer one or the thicker one?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
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From: NorCal
What picture???
I don't recall the early cast iron radius arms having the indexing notch. The later radius arms have the notch at the top and bottom and the C-brackets can also be swapped side-to-side
Here are the steel RAs and C-brackets from a 78 F150.
I don't recall the early cast iron radius arms having the indexing notch. The later radius arms have the notch at the top and bottom and the C-brackets can also be swapped side-to-side
Here are the steel RAs and C-brackets from a 78 F150.
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sorry...I forgot to load the darn pictures.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59451236@N06/8448296604/http://www.flickr.com/photos/59451236@N06/8448296604/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/59451236@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59451236@N06/8447208753/http://www.flickr.com/photos/59451236@N06/8447208753/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/59451236@N06/, on Flickr
In the second picture see how the notches are on the same side of the bracket? Am I missing something very obvious here?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59451236@N06/8448296604/http://www.flickr.com/photos/59451236@N06/8448296604/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/59451236@N06/, on Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/59451236@N06/8447208753/http://www.flickr.com/photos/59451236@N06/8447208753/ by http://www.flickr.com/people/59451236@N06/, on Flickr
In the second picture see how the notches are on the same side of the bracket? Am I missing something very obvious here?
Fleet Owner
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 20,678
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From: NorCal
Did you pull the parts or were they pieced together by someone? The notch occurs on both the top and bottom of the RAs... at least on the my donor. I don't know if F250 arms were different but it appears so. Are you sure the RA is oriented correctly?
Regardless, you can still make it work by cutting-grinding a notch on the RA to receive the indexing pin.
Regardless, you can still make it work by cutting-grinding a notch on the RA to receive the indexing pin.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 4
From: South west Idaho
Sorry to hijack , but are those brackets reproduced by an aftermarket supplier ? I have the sway bar from a f-150 i scraped out ,but i forgot to save the brackets. I have a f-100 that i would like to put it on and there are no brackets on it . Thanks JIM.
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HiO, check the picture above. Is my RA installed correctly? Another picture on this site has the "C" shape opening up to the outside of the truck, mine open up to the inside of my truck.
Jim, I do not know of any body making those brackets. LMC and NPD both sell all the parts except for the bracket. I am sure a good fabricator could make something work for you. These are not complicated pieces.
Jim, I do not know of any body making those brackets. LMC and NPD both sell all the parts except for the bracket. I am sure a good fabricator could make something work for you. These are not complicated pieces.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 4
From: South west Idaho
HiO, check the picture above. Is my RA installed correctly? Another picture on this site has the "C" shape opening up to the outside of the truck, mine open up to the inside of my truck.
Jim, I do not know of any body making those brackets. LMC and NPD both sell all the parts except for the bracket. I am sure a good fabricator could make something work for you. These are not complicated pieces.
Jim, I do not know of any body making those brackets. LMC and NPD both sell all the parts except for the bracket. I am sure a good fabricator could make something work for you. These are not complicated pieces.
I checked LMC and a few others and found it all but the brackets. But now that i see what they look like and how they are attached i believe i can make some in my shop. Thanks, just thought i would ask. JIM
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If you need better pictures with some measurements let me know and I can email you what you need sir.
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Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
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From: Simi Valley, CA
1973/74 F250 2WD & F350 is not the same! Stabilizer bar bolts directly to radius arms, no brackets required. Parts catalog pic: Illustration Section 53 .. Page 18 ~ 1973/74 F250 2WD & F350.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D5TZ-5C499-A .. Mounting Bracket-Front Stabilizer Bar to RadiusArm / Right/Left is the same / Obsolete
Applications: 1975/79 F100/350 2WD / 1975/89 Econoline.
DAMSKOV FORD SALES in Omak WA has 2 = 509-826-2000.
USD INC. in Phoenix AZ has 2 = 602-253-7111.
GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 2 = 800-543-4959.
B & B AUTO PARTS in Bronx NY has 4 = 718-597-3383.
DON SANDERSON FORD in Glendale AZ has 5 = 623-842-8643.
Tuned
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Highland CA
Just a thought what if you take the Radius arm off and turn it so the notch is on the bottom like I said just a thought
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I considered flipping the RA but if I did then on one side I would have smooth side out and on the other side I would have smooth side in. This is just a work truck but still, that small detail would bother me, I think I have OCD like that! I will just notch the RA and call it a day.
Cargo Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,038
Likes: 4
From: South west Idaho
Ask mikeo0o0o0 to scan and post this parts catalog pic: 1973/79 Ford Light Truck Parts Catalog / Illustration Section 53 .. Page 14 ~ 1975/79 F100/350 2WD Front Stabilizer Bar & attaching parts.
1973/74 F250 2WD & F350 is not the same! Stabilizer bar bolts directly to radius arms, no brackets required. Parts catalog pic: Illustration Section 53 .. Page 18 ~ 1973/74 F250 2WD & F350.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D5TZ-5C499-A .. Mounting Bracket-Front Stabilizer Bar to RadiusArm / Right/Left is the same / Obsolete
Applications: 1975/79 F100/350 2WD / 1975/89 Econoline.
DAMSKOV FORD SALES in Omak WA has 2 = 509-826-2000.
USD INC. in Phoenix AZ has 2 = 602-253-7111.
GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 2 = 800-543-4959.
B & B AUTO PARTS in Bronx NY has 4 = 718-597-3383.
DON SANDERSON FORD in Glendale AZ has 5 = 623-842-8643.
1973/74 F250 2WD & F350 is not the same! Stabilizer bar bolts directly to radius arms, no brackets required. Parts catalog pic: Illustration Section 53 .. Page 18 ~ 1973/74 F250 2WD & F350.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
D5TZ-5C499-A .. Mounting Bracket-Front Stabilizer Bar to RadiusArm / Right/Left is the same / Obsolete
Applications: 1975/79 F100/350 2WD / 1975/89 Econoline.
DAMSKOV FORD SALES in Omak WA has 2 = 509-826-2000.
USD INC. in Phoenix AZ has 2 = 602-253-7111.
GREEN SALES CO. in Cincinnati OH has 2 = 800-543-4959.
B & B AUTO PARTS in Bronx NY has 4 = 718-597-3383.
DON SANDERSON FORD in Glendale AZ has 5 = 623-842-8643.
I found that part number on a few places now and the next question i was going to ask was . Will it fit the 73 f-100 and i see you have that answer for me , it's different. So i guess i need to take another look under it to see if i can find some mounting holes. Thanks for the information , JIM.
Ford Parts Specialist
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 88,826
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From: Simi Valley, CA
Ford did not offer a stabilizer bar for F100's until 1975. D5TZ-5482-A = Same 1975/79 F100/350 2WD. So will these brackets work on a 1973/74 F100? I dunno.
Ask Mike to post the parts catalog pic...then you will see what I'm talking about.
