Is this flat-ish bar only present with the front Sway Bar? Or does it come with 4x4's also? I've never looked for it on a 4wd that didn't have a sway bar.

My main question is can I remove it and drive the truck (moderately in town) without concern or is it providing any frame reinforcement at all? Assume it's not as I figure it's an option
but want to be sure.

Replacing my sway bar bushings and figure this thing could probably use some cleanup and por15 or the like while I am at it.

 

My truck is only a 1/2 ton 2wd, but it did have that front crossmember without factory swaybars. I bought another one at the junkyard and had it blasted and powder coated so I could swap it out when I install my front swaybar.

 

Good thinking. Without knowing if it would allow any unwanted flex while driving without it, your plan sounds like the best option.

 

That "flatish" plate looks different than my 1/2 ton 4x2 is there a different one for 4x4 trucks?

The front bumper also acts as a cross member to keep it from flexing.
Dave ----

 

Seems like they must have made numerous styles of both the cross member and sway bars (or else some are aftermarket?). I looked under every 80-96 truck in the junkyard and found a number of variations. Didn't take down any notes though to see if there was any consistency between version and type of truck. It did seem like 80-86 mainly had sway bars mounted to the frame or to a small bracket on the frame (not a full bar) whereas the later trucks more often had the twisted style like yours. First time I saw the twisted one I wasn't sure if it was a skid plate or lower spoiler

 

FYI this twisted one is on my 1981 truck and my parts truck (an 81 also) also used the same type neither had a sway bar.
Maybe it is the later years that use the flatish cross member?
I also think I had seen posts where the sway bar frame mounts bolted to this twisted cross member.
Dave ----

 

Oh interesting. 81, I don't think I saw any on that early at the jy.
Yeah, with the twisted ones I am almost positive I saw sway bars mounted to them both inside and outside the twist.
My flat is an 86 and I pulled one of I think an 85 that is very similar to mine except that it has a upward bow to it.
That 85 also had a steering stabilizer on it like my dad's 94 1 ton so who knows where the parts came from. My 86 was a 9/86 and it has some things about it that seem more inline with the 87+.

 

I also wonder besides the years if there is a difference between 4x4 and 4x2 trucks?
Both of mine are F100 4x2 trucks
Dave ----

 

Very well could be. Might be a rhyme or reason to them somewhere.

 

Here is a photo of the curved one I pulled from the 85. I measured center to center across the bar on the holes and they both came out to the same as the one currently on my truck.
​@FuzzFace2 Do you recall if yours had a stamped Ford oval on it or any numbers? I wire-wheeled this one but didn't find anything at all.

 

That twisted front crossmember was where the swaybar bushings were mounted on the F100 and F150 4x2 trucks, but the crossmember was there regardless, swaybars or not.

The flatter one pictured above is from an F250 or F350 4x4 truck, and there was another style where the bushings were mounted right on the bottom of the frame rails...F150 4x4 and Bronco, and F250/350 4x2 (I think...somebody can correct me if I'm wrong).

 

I am not sure about all the 150's having them regardless of sway bar but yes, all of the 4x2 F250's I saw with a sway bar either have the sway bar brackets mounted directly to the frame or they are on 'little' flat pieces that move the brackets a couple inches inward.

 

I can see the twisted one used on the 150 trucks be it 4x2 and maybe even the 4x4.
I can also see the flatter one used on the 250 / 350 4x4 trucks.

I think we would need to look at the suspension or a closer look the springs between the trucks & models.
IIRC all 150 trucks be it 4x2 or 4x4 use coil springs so thinking they use the twisted one.
Now the 250 & 350 4x4 trucks use leaf springs and thinking the flat one so the springs clear it.
I also think the 250 / 350 4x2 trucks have coil springs but I cant see why they could not use the flat one also but is just a guess.

So what do you guys think?
Dave ----

ps: I don't remember any stampings on either twisted cross member but then again I was not looking and did not use anything to clean it other than a hand wire brush before putting paint to it.
The one in the truck is now covered with rusty water stains for the radiator so makes it even harder to see any stampings.