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I have a 1973 f-250 2wd trailer special. Was wondering if any of you guys had used one of the aftermarket sway bar kits like Summit sales on your 2wd trucks. I really need one on this truck.
An OEM 75-79 swaybar setup is better than the aftermarket systems from ADDCO or Hellwig. Your best bets are Camper Specials and SuperCabs although I have found some installed on plain ol' rigs.
OEM is better due to the way the end links mount. The aftermarket versions require drilling through the I-beams or installing a weak bracket system. The OEM set up uses a bracket secured by the RA/I-beam bolt as pictured below which is retrofitted to my '70.
I didn't have any luck, locally, finding a front or rear sway bar for my '69 F100. I put a want ad in at Fordification and a guy from up north had one from a '78 F250 Camper Special I bought from him.
Later on, I got my '79 Bronco rear sway bar from a wrecking yard listed on Car-Parts.com. --although, a factory rear sway bar for a Dana rear end will be shaped and mounted differently from a factory rear sway bar designed for a 9-inch rear end.
I just pulled a set of I-beam brackets and rod ends from a 1990 E350 based on advice from another thread on the forum. They suggested that the E350 had them through 1991. It was the only vehicle at Pull-a-part that had them as far as I could tell. About $15, and 3 hours of wrenching - though I've never taken an I-beam suspension apart before. I'm sure it would go faster if you'd done it before.
As a suggestion, you'll need a long 1 1/8" wrench for part of the removal. I got a 16" ball hitch wrench at Harbor Freight for $9 (1 1/8" on one end, 1 1/2" on the other). Worked fine and if you don't like cheap Chinese tools I don't imagine they have a patent so you can probably find something similar elsewhere. Don't forget your spray lube. I did and ended up having to drain some motor oil and pour it over one side to get the pin out of the bushing.
Now I need to find a compatible bar and replacement bushings, but I'll put that in a different thread.
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