4x4 sway bars

[zeusflash]

Anyone have a reccomendation for front and rear sway bars for my 72 3/4 ton 4x4? Does Addco still make them for this rig? Going to be hauling a camper and would like to run sway bars. Also interested in any suggestions for rear air bags.

[Billhilly]

Hey Zeus,
If you have a look at my build thread, post 61 ish, you can see what I did. Thread here - http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=217490&page=3
May be some better (easier) options for you being LHD. If you run a stock front bar I would recommend quick disconnects from ORD. Let's it 'move' properly.
I looked into the airbag assist deal (even added an additional cross member for bracing) but didn't end up putting the Firestone bags that I had got in because they limit travel sooo much. These - http://www.thecarlisuspension.com/do...elairbags.html
are the only bags I have found on the market that wouldn't limit the travel. Bags only were from memory about $200 each.

[msgross]

stock 70's style front sway bar will work but you need to modify the crossmember or pull the original with the sway bar.

not sure on the rear...

[Stocker]

fwiw, I once called JC Whitney to ask if their sway bars were made by either Addco or Hellwig. The guy said they weren't allowed to say what the brand was, but I would recognize it. Turned out to be Addco -- so if they show a listing for your truck, it should be a good brand.

[zeusflash]

Thanks for the info guys. Gives me a few directions to try.

[KrazyRay]

I have added a sway bar to my 72 K20 by taking all of the sway bar pieces off a 4x4 square body. That includes the u bolt plates, the sway bar, and the front crossmember (which has all of the goodies on it for the sway bar to mount to). Almost every time new bushings need to be ordered as the used bushings are usually worn out. Plus they are easy to replace while everything is apart. On my truck I removed the 72 cross member first. Then I installed the bar to the u bolt plate. Next I loosely fit the square body cross member into the frame. Then I attached the sway bar to the cross member. I made sure it was straight and drilled some holes in the frame, bolted it up and its ready to go. It ended up being approx. 3 1/4 inches from the front cross member bolt to the rear rivet on the leaf spring hanger. Measured center to center.

[Rodk65]

Thanks Ray. Cant wait to get the sway bar. Yours look so nice I should just drive the truck to your place and let you install it. ROAD TRIP.

[KrazyRay]

Originally Posted by Rodk65

Thanks Ray. Cant wait to get the sway bar. Yours look so nice I should just drive the truck to your place and let you install it. ROAD TRIP.

Better yet. I could deliver it up to your house, help you install it, and then head on over to the trailer races that they do every year in WI.

[Rodk65]

If you are talking about these races, they will be starting this fall. Come on over. We only live a few miles from the race track.

YouTube- One of the craziest races you will ever...

[KrazyRay]

To the top for Big Mac.

[KrazyRay]

ttt

[Mr. 250r]

They had a rear i think as an option i found one at the junk yard i plan on picking up, there was one for sale on here and i also found it in my 85 service manual i like its design but ford has a design i like as well in their 9th generation trucks i believe...

[KrazyRay]

ttt

[andrewmp6]

Yeah the front is a must the rear was more of a option for years.Most i seen a rear swaybar on was 1 tons.

[snj8198]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

Yeah the front is a must the rear was more of a option for years.Most i seen a rear swaybar on was 1 tons.

I'm a little late to this party. I put a sway bar on the front of my '71 and I really like what it did for the feel of the truck. It locked it down and gave the truck a more controlled, stable feel on road. As for the rear; are rear sway bars to control load sway? Im curious about this as I tow a lot and now I've got a flatbed planned for this spring which is going to add a lot of weight to an already 6,000lb rig.

Does any body have pictures of their rear swaybar setup; and from what application did they get the rear swaybar from?

Thanks a bunch

Steve

[Billhilly]

Speedway Engineering 1" bar. I made up the mounting tube. Quite a bit of fiddle to get it to work, and the driveshaft would actually hit the mountin gtube at full compression..... You get the idea anyway!
Have added air bag assist as you can see. "Floating' Bottom mount.

[GhostTown]

Question: For a light truck, such as my K5 Blazer, a good set of Bilsteins 5125's should be sufficient for enhanced street handling. A sway bar would be overkill... right?

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by GhostTown

Question: For a light truck, such as my K5 Blazer, a good set of Bilsteins 5125's should be sufficient for enhanced street handling. A sway bar would be overkill... right?

Wrong. Swaybars and shocks have completely different jobs. Suspensions are complex, but the basics boil down to this: Shocks help control jounce & rebound so the vehicle doesn't go boing boing boing down the road after every bump. Swaybars help keep the vehicle flatter (less leaning) while cornering. If you're satisfied with your rig's cornering and don't think it leans too much, forget about the swaybar. But if you'd like it to lean less and handle better, try a front swaybar. For further improvements, add a rear swaybar. Just don't add a rear bar without a front bar. Handling can get spooky.

[KrazyRay]

ttt

[taylorbg]

Did you ever figure out a sway bar option? I would like to add a front and rear to my 72 4x4 suburban also.

[Stocker]

Originally Posted by taylorbg

Did you ever figure out a sway bar option? I would like to add a front and rear to my 72 4x4 suburban also.

This thread might help: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=647811

[budman k20]

I suggest using a73-78 front bar and crossmember. They show up in the classifieds a lot. I also found a burb rear bar again in the classifieds that works really well with a cab over camper. I have a 2 in lift and the truck has no noticeable body roll. I also put air bags on but I don't think I needed them. The max pressure I run is 10 psi. The best mod for handling by far!

[72_K10_Vegas]

Its all in the Geometry. The factory cross members from the 73 up that the front sway bars attach to are not "exact" 90 degree / perp when installed in the 72 frame rails. Sliding the cross member in the rails, you have to use a wedge washer to mate it up tight. I used the 79 Blazer-K5 front sway and cross member supports with a modified steel cross support.

[The Grinnin Possum]

I am putting a sway bar from a mid 70's truck in my 72 blazer 4x4 but unfortunately I have the 2.75 inch axle tube dana 44 and the spring plates came off a 3 inch tube. Does anyone make a spring plate with 2.75" ubolt holes and the sway bar mounting holes?

[1972 Jimmy]

Originally Posted by The Grinnin Possum

I am putting a sway bar from a mid 70's truck in my 72 blazer 4x4 but unfortunately I have the 2.75 inch axle tube dana 44 and the spring plates came off a 3 inch tube. Does anyone make a spring plate with 2.75" ubolt holes and the sway bar mounting holes?

Was wondering if you ever got an answer to your question on the 2.75 vs 3.0 u bolt plates. I'm running into the same problem as well. Have not been able to find 2.75 plates with sway bar bolt hole.
Eric