Hello all, I'm interested in upgrading my sway bars. I checked out a few cataloges and was told only the front bars can be changed. Maybe my information was wrong but I thought there were 2 sway bars (front & rear). Anyway if both are able to be upgrade can some one direct me to the website or right direction on on this matter. Thx a mil.

 

What year is the truck and is it 2x4 or 4x4. 2003 and up have IRS rears and I don't think they have rear sway bars.

 

What powderhounder asked. Before 2003 there were 2 sway bars on the 4X4's. Not sure what the 2X4's have in the front. I replaced the rear bar on my 99 4X4 with a Hellwig unit. They felt the front stock bar was adequate and did not offer a replacement for that year/model. Try Hellwig's site or Google "sway bars" and plug in year/model into a supplier's search/application function. If you can't change the front bar at least upgrade the sway bars links - the stocks units are prone to breaking off. Hopefully you're doing shocks all the way around - that will probably make more of a discernable difference than the sway bars will. Just my $.02. I did all that and eliminated the wallowing boat like feeling around turns that had bumps. it's not my AWD Subaru but it's a hell of alot better than it used to be.

 

Im with you on the Subaru part Darth. I often miss my 95 Legacy Wagon, dropped on H&R Springs and 16" WRX takeoff rims shod with Toyos when i hit a twisty road with my expy. Oh well at least now I have a huge gas guzzler which can carry 8 people!(lol)

 

They do have rear sway bars.

 

thanks for the replys guys, 99 eddie bauer 4x4 expy

 

Replace the rear bar first. The darn thing is HOLLOW! Get a quality Hellwig unit. I bought one for my Excursion from JC Whitney for $139 delivered.

 

I check out a few sites and kept coming up with HELLWIG, but to make sure of 1 thing: I understand clearly that the rear sway bar can be upgraded but is there no upgrade for the front. What do I do about the front, leave it alone, and yes I'm going shocks all around. I just want to do everything once. It may be me, but I feel the front sway bar needs something (already changed the links).

 

Energy Suspension front sway bar kit - New poly bushings and end links (w/poly bushings) for the front sway bar. About $50. Quick and easy upgrade that firms up the front end. If you've got the original end links, they probably should be replaced anyway before they break.

 

Gee, then I must have had a special one on my 99. Mine was solid cause I tried to cut it in half to fit in the garbage can. Once well scored, a sledge hammer finished the job. Trust me, they are not hollow.

 

Check that price quote. My ES kit (99 4x4, both sides) was less than $20.00. The stealership gets $40.00+ for the stock crap.

 

It was a year ago when I replaced mine, memory on the $ has faded... A check of my maintenance log shows the ES end links and poly bushings kit was under $30 shipped from Summit. ES Kit # for 33mm front sway bar set is 4.5145G, fits 97-01 expy.

 

Hmmmm...My info was from a former Expy owner (NoMo here on the boards) I'll have to get the details from him. That is one thing I always remember him telling me...

 

Think about how the bar functions - it twists and torques in order to stabilize. Solid would work better than hollow and hollow could collapse the tube walls in extreme situations IMO. Having said that - are torsions bars hollow or solid? I have no idea but would expect them to be solid. Just trying to learn and understand and perhaps educate others. Won't be the first or last time I've been wrong.

 

Hollow bars resist torque better than solids. I know it is counter-intutive but it is true from what I can recall.

I'll see if I can find the science behind my statement.