SWAYBARS

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Sep 22, 1999 | 09:26 AM

Rob

Thread Starter

Junior User

Joined: Jun 1999

Posts: 56

Likes: 0

SWAYBARS

Has anyone installed swaybars on there p/u.
Does it improve handling much? I been looking
at them lately in the JC catalog(100ea).
I was also wondering if Ford ever put them
on the 73-79 p/u. I have 78f150 and was wanting
to cure some of the sway i get when i make
turns. I was thinking of going to junk yard
and check some 80models for the rear bar since
the majority come with 9" rears. thanks for
any input.

Sep 22, 1999 | 12:09 PM

jowilker

Fleet Owner

Joined: Jun 1999

Posts: 24,552

Likes: 74

From: Creedmoor, North Carolina

SWAYBARS

Rob, I am wondering about your shocks, do you have gas or the heavest duty shocks on the truck that you can get? Your truck shouldn't be doing a lot of swaying if the shocks are good, and your tires are properly inflated. You indecate that you have a 1/2 ton truck, do you have LT tires on it, with at least 35lbs. of air?

John

Sep 22, 1999 | 12:42 PM

rob_2

New User

Joined: Aug 1999

Posts: 15

Likes: 0

SWAYBARS

It has gabriel truck shocks and 30/9.5 truck tires
with 45lbs.

Sep 23, 1999 | 06:06 PM

ole65

Senior User

Joined: Jun 1999

Posts: 222

Likes: 2

SWAYBARS

Sorry to disagree, but shocks can't and don't control sway; in fact, shocks (regular, gas-charged or gas only) don't support any weight, air and coil-overs excluded. Shocks only dampen out the natural rebound action of springs. Sway bars are one way of controlling the sprung weight of a truck in a curve; this is especially true with coil springs, not so much with leaf springs. Coils are good in compression but poor in elongation which doesn't help in reducing body lean.
Beyond the sway bar, other ways to control lean in cornering is to reduce the sprung weight (what are you carrying?) and reduce the height of the center of gravity i.e., lower the body (relatively easy to do). And since most trucks are front heavy (a 66 2 WD shortbox styleside has nearly 60% of its weight on the front tires), moving the center of gravity back will also help (relatively hard to do). Oh yes, keeping the tires inflated to the max pressure sidewall number is imperative.

Sep 24, 1999 | 01:52 PM

TomC

Senior User

Joined: Jul 1999

Posts: 126

Likes: 0

SWAYBARS

They would probably help out with the cornering quite a bit. I know my '72 has lots of body roll in a brisk cornering attempt. The sway bars may even help keep the outside tire wear to a minimum. They sure do a good job on my VW bus. To just try them out at $100.00 a pop is a lot but maybe you could get your money back if you are dissatisfied...

Tom C.

Sep 24, 1999 | 02:03 PM

ole65

Senior User

Joined: Jun 1999

Posts: 222

Likes: 2

SWAYBARS

Do you currently have a front sway bar? If not, I would suggest starting there rather than the rear. Ford started offering fronts somewhere in the late 60s or early 70s but it appears to be a rare order. I found the JC Whitney offering and would question what the diameter is as it isn't stated; it needs to be at least 7/8 inch. Also, rubber bushings are okay but poly are much firmer and will last alot longer. I am very interested in what you do and find, let us know as I want to add one to my 65.

Sep 25, 1999 | 05:00 PM

Caleb

Guest

Posts: n/a

SWAYBARS

as far as I know basically all 2WD F-250 Camper Specials came with sway bars, Hedman Headers says their headers for the FE (360,390) wont fit in a F-250 with swaybars, so there must be some old trucks out there, if you go to a U-Pull-It be sure to get all the brackets and stuff, it may need some kind of special brackets or holes drilled in the frame if you didn't have them stock, but I suppose any little bit helps, I agree that lowering your body will help, you can also go with aluminum wheels that are larger in diameter (eg 17" or greater) if you are really set on improving cornering
Caleb