sway bar help
 

ok, this should be an easy thing to put together but im lost. I have a 1 1/16 sway bar off a 69 2wd half ton. I ordered the lowered brackets from early classic and poly bushings along with the other parts i needed. It was all fine but the bar sticks out of the bushing 3-4 inches where it is mounted on the control arm and rubs my air bag. i have turned the bar and brackets different ways with no solution. WTF am i missing? i knocked the rivets out of the crossmember and have studied the FAQ section with the write up on this swap.

Sounds like your brackets on the frame are mounted to far to the rear? Just did this mod, and had no problems.

:flag: :gmc: :burnout:

If you trimmed the ends of the bar, would it work then?

I have no idea of what it would take to trim a swaybar though. I think they are made out of the same steel as the door hinges of Hell are.

Correct original sway bar should extend no more then an inch beyond the lower A frame mounting bkt. Make sure you have the frame brackets in the correct place and are mounted correctly---. They usually are a pretty easy install--bolt up. If still an issue, post a picture so we can see what you are dealing with and can advise---be sure to show which mounting holes you are using on the frame. Huck

the truck has a 77 front crossmember under it and a 68 frame, would the newer front end be more forward maybe?

My truck has the 1 1/16 bar on it if you want to take a look at the factory install. I won't be home this weekend but the truck will if that helps. If you decide that you need to cut the bar I've got the stuff to make it a snap. I haven't forgotten about the front end alignment and scales for your truck, some stuff came up and got real busy. BTW Do you have the alignment specs that we would need? Like I said the truck will be out in the driveway if you want to scope it out. Take care, Bart

ttt

One last pic for lost.

thanks jzero

Trim an inch off the ends and you should be good to go.

I have no idea why your bar hangs out of the back of the brackets like that. It's obviously installed correctly.

Wo baby----not liking what I see here. Will take a picture of a stock setup and get back with you--- don't cut that bar just yet~~~~!

It looks to me that as the frame is lowered (moving the front of the bar down) and the lower control arm becomes closer to the frame (control arm moves "up", raising the rear of the bar), the rear of the sway bar would rotate up, closing the distance between the mounting point on the arm and the end of the bar. In other words, as the bar rotates up, the end of it naturally will swing farther back until it reached a level point, then move away from it again.

Clear as mud? :D I can picture the motion in my simple little mind, but not sure I am explaining it well enough. But, imagine having the truck up on a lift, with no air bag installed, and the lower control arm in this position:

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d=107065&stc=1

Now, start pulling down on the control arm and the sway bar should start to pull through the bushing closer to a normal position as it rotates down. I'm thinking that shortning the sway bar a little should do the trick, so long as there is not too much trimed off so that it could slip out if the front suspension reached full extension.

Just my $.02

i had the truck on jack stands(not in these pics) and the a arms just hanging and it still was long.

the front of mine is bagged...and as I recall...mine was rubbing on the bag as well....I simply trimmed off the back edges a little at a time till I found what I needed...

rigo

Looks like the center frame brackets are mounted in the wrong holes. The rear hole in the frame brackets need to be in the hole that front lower crossmember rivet was in.

edit: I can't tell for sure if the brackets are mounted in the correct location, all that silver has my eyes playing tricks. But it's sure nice to look at. :D

Well, what I would do then is get the front end up on jack stands (on the frame) so that the suspension is at full extension. First, be sure all the mounting hardware for the sway bar is fully tightened. Then mark the end of the bar so there is at least 1/2" to 1" still hanging out the end, and cut them there. At least that way you know they will not come out of the bushing when you Dukes of Hazzard the next bridge! :metal:

I'm pretty sure they are. I pulled out some pics of mine and they are in the same spot. I'm kinda puzzled as to why is would be too long, :confused: but I think he would be OK to trim them after some careful measuring.

It may be my eyesight or just the prespective ( my bar is 1¼") but that sway bar looks like the arms are longer than my bars. Mine measure 14 1/8" from the front of the bar to the end of the arm, check the measurement on yours.

My frame mounting brackets drop about 2 3/4" in the rear which look like it is more then yours. They mount---rear hole in the front crossmember hole on frame and the front bracket hole aligns in the first circular hole behind the ovel one. My sway bar extends maybe 3/4" beyond the lower A frame mounting bushing.