Suspension Theory
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Junior User
Joined: Apr 2005
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Suspension Theory
I have a hot rod project. I bought a rear sway bar for the car, but subsequently decided to switch from leaf spring to tri- 4 link. The 4 link is an aftermarket deal for hot rods...its not like a ford passenger car tri 4 link with plenty of space to attach the rear sway bar. So my sway bar attachment points (leaves) are completely gone! I was thinking I'd have to sell it on eBay for 1/10th what I paid ;( , then I happened to be looking at my truck.
It blew me away that it used a rear sway bar at all (a supercab truck!? it aint going to be taking corners fast -- ever!), and the overall attachment: it was attached to the rear axle with things that sort of looked like muffler clamps, pointing forward, encircling the link. Then I spotted the link ends and that was the big shocker. They run striaght up to each frame rail. Sure, they've got bushings, but still, the end links do not pivot on the suspension (except VERY indirectly via the frame). They bolt straight up! Wow. So here's my question: is this legitimately doing anti-say work or is it just making the payload ride harshly?
It blew me away that it used a rear sway bar at all (a supercab truck!? it aint going to be taking corners fast -- ever!), and the overall attachment: it was attached to the rear axle with things that sort of looked like muffler clamps, pointing forward, encircling the link. Then I spotted the link ends and that was the big shocker. They run striaght up to each frame rail. Sure, they've got bushings, but still, the end links do not pivot on the suspension (except VERY indirectly via the frame). They bolt straight up! Wow. So here's my question: is this legitimately doing anti-say work or is it just making the payload ride harshly?
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Joined: Apr 2005
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Sway bars do just what their name implies. They help to limit sway. A pickup truck, loaded with a bed full of weight, sways far more then any car going around turns fast. For one thing, the truck has about twice the suspension travel as a car. For another, put a slide in camper on the truck and at 5 mph you will see how much it can sway. So, yes, keep the sway bar. Now, for your four link, there are brackets available to mount the four bar links to the frame. They are from Summit or Jegs and pretty cheap. All you need are the plates and a place to weld them. Get a welder to do the job. This is not an area where you want less then excellent welding work.
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Thanks for the info. you inspired me to NOT pirate my truck's sway bar hardware.
checked out jegs/summit. they have oem replacements which is an option (order end links for the hot rod as if ordering for the truck). the "universal"/aftermarket types are not like the truck. to me, the end link style on this truck is very unusual. I've never seen an upper attachment like that.
what i'll probably end up doing for the hot rod's upper link is fabricate a couple L's out of flat plate steel, then weld the L to the frame. meanwhile, i'll need to keep my eye out for the axle attachments -- specifically look for the closest radius of the axle and the bar.
checked out jegs/summit. they have oem replacements which is an option (order end links for the hot rod as if ordering for the truck). the "universal"/aftermarket types are not like the truck. to me, the end link style on this truck is very unusual. I've never seen an upper attachment like that.
what i'll probably end up doing for the hot rod's upper link is fabricate a couple L's out of flat plate steel, then weld the L to the frame. meanwhile, i'll need to keep my eye out for the axle attachments -- specifically look for the closest radius of the axle and the bar.
