been seeing sway bars a lot while surfing the net for parts, just curious what do they do exactly? I'm thinking it has something to do with turning corners and the leaning that happens when you do. are they worth getting?

Wolf

 

Oh heck yes they are worth it. A sway bar is a torsion bar (spring) that runs from one wheel to the other. It allows you to run softer springs for a better ride, but increases the spring rates for cornering. As you enter the corner, the outside wheel goes up and the inside tries to go down, thus the torsion bar is twisted and thus acts like an additional spring on the outside wheel.

Does that help? Simple part, serves a great purpose, but there is a science to sizing them.

Kenny

 

well, i guess i should ask, is it worth getting? i mean, u did just say yes, but what else is it good for? will it make my MPG go up or down or neither? are they hard to install? this is one of those things i like to have but will have to wait until i get the problems fixed on my truck that need immediate attention. I got breaks and steering linkage to deal with first, and an issue with gas tank (front tank works but gauge for it registers below "E") , but if im goting to be replacing calipers, pads, rotors, drums, steering linkage, fixing steering fluid leak, i figure what the heck, when im underneath i could add sway bars..... im guessing factory issue doesnt come with them. what benefits would i get out of a set of sway bars? i dont do any racing, but i do seem to take corners at rather decent speeds *blush* i cant help it, its a stick shift so i feel like im at daytona or something like that, im a rather aggressive drive i guess you could say, but i do try n take care of my baby (truck). i did notice that even tho its supposed to be 2w drive, that only the right tire only seems to spin, and when i take right hand turn i get less traction then a left turn, like its only 1 wheel drive right rear. im sure thats a topic for a different thread, but if im thinking if i throw a sway bar on the back end ill get a lil better tracking. would i be correct in this assumption?

Wolf

 

Sway bars came stock on many versions of the F Series. You could probably find a set at your local pull and save yard if you are patient. If the front is sloppy you should fix it first, think of the bar as a fine tune adjustment...if the rest is not up to snuff, the bar will not really help you.

My 1981 F150 2WD came with front and rear, though it was optional, you just have to hunt.

Now for the 2wd issue, yes it is 2 wheel drive, it just has an open differential. If you have a traction lock, limited slip, detroit locker, then both tires like to spin at the same speed. Open differentials put more power to the wheel with less traction, though it drives both wheels as long as they have equal traction.

Kenny

 

see, im kinda new to the scene so i dunno what a detroit locker or anything like that is, tho that is one of my many question, i was under the impression that only the right wheel spins until it looses traction then the left kicks in... *sighs* i feel so ignorant....steering linkage and breaks are first on the list, im pretty sure i need to replace the suspension system too cuz with these new tires i feel ever darn lil bump, and that is why im asking about sway bars. altho all the info i find on sway bars reffers to racing.

 

by the way, if u dun see my signature, ive got a 96 f150 inline 6 5 speed, if that help ur answers at all