Full air-ride suspension: Swaybars..yes or no?

[chevyrestoguy]

I am in the process of building a 3-link set up for the rear and converting my Camaro front clip to bags on my '55 truck.

I have alway been a fan of swaybars on heavy vehicles, and I would really like to have bars on the '55, but being a newbie to air suspensions, is a swaybar a good idea or does it not work well in an air-ride application? I could see it working OK in the rear because the suspension is fixed at both wheels due to the rear axle housing, but it's the front that makes me curious.

I would prefer to go with a splined bar with bolt-on arms because I like the way they look and I can order the bar length I need. I need to make my decision soon because I need to determine where to mount the bar before I possibly take up that space with compressors and tanks.

[lolife99]

Sway bars are fine on bagged vehicles.
RideTech.com has developed a whole line of sway bars for air ride equipped cars and trucks.

[andrewmp6]

If you want normal air ride you can use sway bars.If you want something to lay frame a sway bar might get tricky.The style your talking about is a Nascar style sway bar.

[chevyrestoguy]

Yep, that's what I'm looking to use because I like the way they look and I can order a custom length to ensure that it's not hanging way out and interfering with everything.

Laying frame is not super-important to me. On my '55, the rockers lay on the ground long before the frame will. I'm just wondering how the front suspension will react. I'm thinking that if I keep the front bags at even pressures, the torsion effect of the swaybar won't come into play and I may not even notice it at all on straight and level driving. I'm only going to adjust the side to side to keep the truck level.

Where are you from in Louisville? I was born and raised in the South End by Iroquois Park.

[N2TRUX]

chevyrestoguy I believe your over thinking it. I highly recommend adding a sway bar to your front suspension. I have found that they make a huge difference in handling, especially with an air suspension.

[smashingchuck]

The Air ride one is a very nice piece. I'm running a Bel Tech on my truck - it lays frame.

[andrewmp6]

I grew up off where Taylor blvd and Berry blvd meet.I live in La grange now i just say Louisville so people have a clue where I'm at.

[chevyrestoguy]

andrewmp6:
My Grandma used to live on Taylor Blvd and the "projects" were right behind her house. Awesome house in an area that became pretty dark as the years went by.

My Dad used to own an Insurance agency on Berry Blvd. named Harper-Welsh Insurance Agency. It was a converted house, and it was right next to Flower Lane Florist.

I went to DeSales High, all my buddies went to Iroquois.

[Irishpilot]

I love my air ride, but I use a sway bar up front which makes a huge difference in cornering. I highly recommend using one.

[andrewmp6]

My mom still lives on Powell ave the house is paid for and won't move.I think i remember your dads insurance place.