Rear Sway Bar - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

cwilkie · 02-18-2005, 11:26 AM

Where can I find a rear sway bar for a 1968 stepside shortbox? I have a front one and I would like to purchase a rear sway bar with all the mounting hardward. However, my spare tire is located under the truck bed. Will this cause a problem mounting a rear sway bar? Please let me know. It's getting a little nicer here in cold @ss North Dakota and I would like to start working on my truck again.

Chance

70 longbed · 02-18-2005, 01:01 PM

Do a search for swaybars or rear swaybars and there are some good articles there.

Longhorn Man · 02-18-2005, 01:17 PM

I think there is something on the FAQ board?

GreyHoundSteve · 02-18-2005, 02:56 PM

I know this has been covered many times before but i still dont get the purpose of the rear sway bar? When i spoke with the guy at ECE he told be that not only does he not think its worth spending money on but that he wouldnt install one if it was given to him for free. He told me that it would hurt traction more than it would help handleing.

Its just one guys opinion i guess but he sounded like he knew what he was talking about and ive heard from many people here that ece are true truck guys who know their suspension.

Just FYI.

cwilkie · 02-18-2005, 03:07 PM

I never thought of installing a rear sway bar but I figured I just as well do it since I will be putting a front one in. It would nice to have some other members' opinions because I still consider myself a newbie. Any advice is sure welcome.

Chance

GreyHoundSteve · 02-18-2005, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cwilkie

I never thought of installing a rear sway bar but I figured I just as well do it since I will be putting a front one in. It would nice to have some other members' opinions because I still consider myself a newbie. Any advice is sure welcome.

Chance

I thought the same thing and it certainly isnt a question of money because its a pretty cheap mod but for now im going to hold off until someone more knowledgable than the guy i spoke to can better explain the benifiets of having one.

neonlarry · 02-18-2005, 04:32 PM

Here is a thread form a couple of days ago discussing rear bars:
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php3?t=140662
Also for greyhound a lot of drag racers will set up rear bars to aid traction. If ECE told you they wouldn't use one if it was free its probably because they don't sell them, sorry they have nice parts if a little pricy but I'm not real impressed with their knowledge.

4x4Poet · 02-19-2005, 06:19 AM

Good question. I think there is a difference between wanting to stop launch-induced suspension flex to plant the rear tires on perfectly flat tracks and letting the rear suspension flex to keep tires in contact with uneven pavement or dirt roads.

Edit: Actually, I have no idea.

Just wanted to see if I could talk a good game.

neonlarry · 02-19-2005, 06:09 PM

Check out this article on rear swaybars and launching:
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...02/ai_n9383456

Low69CST · 02-19-2005, 09:26 PM

I've got a 89 Iroc bar on the rear of my truck. Used the mounting hardware off the car too. Had to make aluminum spacers for the frame, but other than that fit like a glove. The rear bar will hinder long travel like on 4x4 rock crawlers. On the rear it will help resist axle twist for launching. It will help stiffen your truck up in the turns.

john_doe · 02-19-2005, 10:47 PM

Low69cst, Did the rear sway bar out of the 89 Iroc bolt in by just adding the frame blocks? I would like to add one but I don't have alot of mechanical ability. Thanks

slogo · 02-20-2005, 10:21 AM

do you think this bar setup would work on lowered trucks? one's with airride and a C-notch?

LUV2XCLR8 · 02-20-2005, 10:23 AM

Low69cst, That Thing Looks Like It Was Made For Your Truck

neonlarry · 02-20-2005, 10:43 AM

john doe here is an article by low69cst about putting on a camero bar:
http://www.low69cst.freeservers.com/CamaroBar.htm

john_doe · 02-20-2005, 11:03 AM

Thanks neonlarry

toddtheodd · 02-20-2005, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Low69CST

I've got a 89 Iroc bar on the rear of my truck. Used the mounting hardware off the car too. Had to make aluminum spacers for the frame, but other than that fit like a glove. The rear bar will hinder long travel like on 4x4 rock crawlers. On the rear it will help resist axle twist for launching. It will help stiffen your truck up in the turns.

What is the diameter of the 89 IROC sway bar?

LONGHAIR · 02-20-2005, 11:51 AM

Be careful here, too much rear sway bar (compared to front) will make your truck "loose" as the NASCAR guys call it. Oversteer (where the back tries to catch up to the front)
Also to stiff of a front bar will give you a harder/stiffer ride in general by taking some of the "independant" movement from the front wheels. It can also lead to a "push" or understeer (where the front wants to stay going straight even with the wheels turned)

neonlarry · 02-20-2005, 03:57 PM

Iroc bars are 15/16", most of the other camero bars are way smaller.

smokekiki · 02-20-2005, 04:23 PM

I think the regular sway bars for a camaro rear are 3/4".Just looking at the pics,it looks like it wouldn't work to well with a c-notch and bags.As long as the bags are independent of each other it will cut down on a lot of sway.

neonlarry · 02-20-2005, 09:42 PM

This might give a better picture of the rear bar in relation to the frame and spring/airbag mounting area.

slogo · 02-21-2005, 05:03 PM

Can you get a pic looking down from the top? from that angle it looks close but can't tell for sure.

Frank_Zeller · 02-21-2005, 05:09 PM

I have the ADCO rear sway bar. Got it from brothers. They go on sale a couple times a year. I like it.. greatly improves the rear end stability on rough roads too.

uk72step · 02-21-2005, 07:08 PM

CPP do a front and rear sway bar kit. I just got one from them with new springs (lifting my truck up by 2"), drop shocks, adj panhard and all the brackets etc very reasonably priced...
Looks like it fits correctly. They have an ad in Classic trucks magazine..

www.classicperform.com

Cheers
Lee

Low69CST · 02-22-2005, 12:55 AM

John Doe: It basically bolted in. I just sat the bar ontop the rear end, with the endlinks and frame brackets bolted up to the bar, measured the distance between the frame brackets and the frame on each side. Got the average and had some aluminum blocks made to that. The only hard part was I welded the perches for the bar ontop of the axle. If you are profitient (spelling?) with a welder and a little measuring you'll be fine.

slogo: My truck is lowered, i just custom made the endlinks to the length needed on my truck. With airbags, you'll probably get some binding when they rest on the bumpstops, just because of the angles and the endlinks design. You could probably change the frame side of the endlink to some type of sphereical bearing to make it move freeer and be easier on the rubber end links. It should be fine with a c-notch too, just make sure the bumpstops work before the bar bangs on the frame.

toddtheodd: the bar is 15/16ths. the 93-02 camaro's may have a thicker one, i just ended up with this one. I thought about checking on a hotchkis replacement bar, but never got around to it.

longhair: LOOSE IS FAST!!! and alot more fun to drive!!!

Canada20 · 02-22-2005, 02:06 AM

I think if you have a slide-in camper, rear sway bars are a good thing, aren't they?

Greg

02-18-2005, 11:26 AM	#1
cwilkie Chance Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Belcourt ,ND, USA Posts: 750	Rear Sway Bar Where can I find a rear sway bar for a 1968 stepside shortbox? I have a front one and I would like to purchase a rear sway bar with all the mounting hardward. However, my spare tire is located under the truck bed. Will this cause a problem mounting a rear sway bar? Please let me know. It's getting a little nicer here in cold @ss North Dakota and I would like to start working on my truck again. Chance

02-18-2005, 01:01 PM	#2
70 longbed Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 490	Do a search for swaybars or rear swaybars and there are some good articles there. __________________ Keith 70 CST longbed in progress. Hoping to get it back on the road soon.

02-18-2005, 03:07 PM	#5
cwilkie Chance Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: Belcourt ,ND, USA Posts: 750	Rear Sway Bar I never thought of installing a rear sway bar but I figured I just as well do it since I will be putting a front one in. It would nice to have some other members' opinions because I still consider myself a newbie. Any advice is sure welcome. Chance

02-18-2005, 04:32 PM	#7
neonlarry Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vacaville, CA Posts: 2,746	Here is a thread form a couple of days ago discussing rear bars: http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s....php3?t=140662 Also for greyhound a lot of drag racers will set up rear bars to aid traction. If ECE told you they wouldn't use one if it was free its probably because they don't sell them, sorry they have nice parts if a little pricy but I'm not real impressed with their knowledge. __________________ 70 C/10 Light Red 350/TH350, HEI, Duals w/40 series Flows, 91 seat, LED taillights 99 Pontiac S/C GTP, SLP Ram Air hood, GMPP Konis & springs 95 Neon ACR, MP PCM, AFX UDP, 3.0 CAI

02-19-2005, 06:19 AM	#8
4x4Poet Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: "Under Montana skies." Posts: 1,836	Good question. I think there is a difference between wanting to stop launch-induced suspension flex to plant the rear tires on perfectly flat tracks and letting the rear suspension flex to keep tires in contact with uneven pavement or dirt roads. Edit: Actually, I have no idea. Just wanted to see if I could talk a good game. __________________ '71 GMC K20 Suburban, '71 GMC K10 Suburban, '72 Chevy C10 CST Suburban, '72 Chevy K20 clunker pickup. Last edited by 4x4Poet; 02-19-2005 at 06:21 AM.

02-18-2005, 01:17 PM	#3
Longhorn Man its all about the +6 inches Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Hilliard Ohio Posts: 2,693	I think there is something on the FAQ board?

02-18-2005, 02:56 PM	#4
GreyHoundSteve Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: DFW TX Posts: 769	I know this has been covered many times before but i still dont get the purpose of the rear sway bar? When i spoke with the guy at ECE he told be that not only does he not think its worth spending money on but that he wouldnt install one if it was given to him for free. He told me that it would hurt traction more than it would help handleing. Its just one guys opinion i guess but he sounded like he knew what he was talking about and ive heard from many people here that ece are true truck guys who know their suspension. Just FYI.

02-19-2005, 06:09 PM	#9
neonlarry Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vacaville, CA Posts: 2,746	Check out this article on rear swaybars and launching: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articl...02/ai_n9383456 __________________ 70 C/10 Light Red 350/TH350, HEI, Duals w/40 series Flows, 91 seat, LED taillights 99 Pontiac S/C GTP, SLP Ram Air hood, GMPP Konis & springs 95 Neon ACR, MP PCM, AFX UDP, 3.0 CAI

02-19-2005, 09:26 PM	#10
Low69CST Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA Posts: 2,163	I've got a 89 Iroc bar on the rear of my truck. Used the mounting hardware off the car too. Had to make aluminum spacers for the frame, but other than that fit like a glove. The rear bar will hinder long travel like on 4x4 rock crawlers. On the rear it will help resist axle twist for launching. It will help stiffen your truck up in the turns. Attached Images __________________ '69 CST Short fleetside Lowered, 400 small block, 700R4, 4 wheel disc brakes, front sway bar & rear camaro sway bar (in progress) '87 V10 4x4 Short Fleetside Quad Suspension and Dual Tanks

02-19-2005, 10:47 PM	#11
john_doe Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Western New York Posts: 37	Low69cst, Did the rear sway bar out of the 89 Iroc bolt in by just adding the frame blocks? I would like to add one but I don't have alot of mechanical ability. Thanks

02-20-2005, 10:21 AM	#12
slogo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Morristown,TN Posts: 482	do you think this bar setup would work on lowered trucks? one's with airride and a C-notch?

02-20-2005, 10:23 AM	#13
LUV2XCLR8 The LuvShack Garage Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Maple Grove, TN (West Side) Posts: 30,477	Low69cst, That Thing Looks Like It Was Made For Your Truck __________________ Owner/Op: "TN Classic Transport Carriers" The Toy: "Square Vette" 72 Hybrid Blazer Toy Barn: "LuvShack" 40 x 60 x 20 Shop Tow Piggy:"Maddy" 88 Silverado 3500 Hauler: "Feathers" 14 Aluma 8218T

02-20-2005, 10:43 AM	#14
neonlarry Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vacaville, CA Posts: 2,746	john doe here is an article by low69cst about putting on a camero bar: http://www.low69cst.freeservers.com/CamaroBar.htm __________________ 70 C/10 Light Red 350/TH350, HEI, Duals w/40 series Flows, 91 seat, LED taillights 99 Pontiac S/C GTP, SLP Ram Air hood, GMPP Konis & springs 95 Neon ACR, MP PCM, AFX UDP, 3.0 CAI

02-20-2005, 11:03 AM	#15
john_doe Registered User Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Western New York Posts: 37	Thanks neonlarry

02-20-2005, 11:51 AM	#17
LONGHAIR just can't cover up my redneck Join Date: May 2004 Location: Columbus OH Posts: 11,414	Be careful here, too much rear sway bar (compared to front) will make your truck "loose" as the NASCAR guys call it. Oversteer (where the back tries to catch up to the front) Also to stiff of a front bar will give you a harder/stiffer ride in general by taking some of the "independant" movement from the front wheels. It can also lead to a "push" or understeer (where the front wants to stay going straight even with the wheels turned)



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02-20-2005, 03:57 PM	#18
neonlarry Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vacaville, CA Posts: 2,746	Iroc bars are 15/16", most of the other camero bars are way smaller. __________________ 70 C/10 Light Red 350/TH350, HEI, Duals w/40 series Flows, 91 seat, LED taillights 99 Pontiac S/C GTP, SLP Ram Air hood, GMPP Konis & springs 95 Neon ACR, MP PCM, AFX UDP, 3.0 CAI

02-20-2005, 04:23 PM	#19
smokekiki Mike Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: west chester pa Posts: 2,474	I think the regular sway bars for a camaro rear are 3/4".Just looking at the pics,it looks like it wouldn't work to well with a c-notch and bags.As long as the bags are independent of each other it will cut down on a lot of sway. __________________ 70'c/10, 71 suburban4x4 402bb, 72suburban 4/6 drop, 72k/5 4x4 blazer 4" lift 35 tires

02-20-2005, 09:42 PM	#20
neonlarry Registered User Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Vacaville, CA Posts: 2,746	This might give a better picture of the rear bar in relation to the frame and spring/airbag mounting area. Attached Images __________________ 70 C/10 Light Red 350/TH350, HEI, Duals w/40 series Flows, 91 seat, LED taillights 99 Pontiac S/C GTP, SLP Ram Air hood, GMPP Konis & springs 95 Neon ACR, MP PCM, AFX UDP, 3.0 CAI

02-21-2005, 05:03 PM	#21
slogo Registered User Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Morristown,TN Posts: 482	Can you get a pic looking down from the top? from that angle it looks close but can't tell for sure.

02-21-2005, 05:09 PM	#22
Frank_Zeller Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Austin, Texas Posts: 796	I have the ADCO rear sway bar. Got it from brothers. They go on sale a couple times a year. I like it.. greatly improves the rear end stability on rough roads too. __________________ 69 SWB C/10 5-6 drop 700R4 69 Firebird Convert 455 4 spd 70 Torino GT Convert Austin-Texas

02-21-2005, 07:08 PM	#23
uk72step outta the car velocityboy Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Scotland Posts: 112	CPP do a front and rear sway bar kit. I just got one from them with new springs (lifting my truck up by 2"), drop shocks, adj panhard and all the brackets etc very reasonably priced... Looks like it fits correctly. They have an ad in Classic trucks magazine.. www.classicperform.com Cheers Lee __________________ ..give it a turn here, take some wedge out there, we'll win some races...

02-22-2005, 12:55 AM	#24
Low69CST Registered User Join Date: May 2000 Location: Frankfort, Kentucky, USA Posts: 2,163	John Doe: It basically bolted in. I just sat the bar ontop the rear end, with the endlinks and frame brackets bolted up to the bar, measured the distance between the frame brackets and the frame on each side. Got the average and had some aluminum blocks made to that. The only hard part was I welded the perches for the bar ontop of the axle. If you are profitient (spelling?) with a welder and a little measuring you'll be fine. slogo: My truck is lowered, i just custom made the endlinks to the length needed on my truck. With airbags, you'll probably get some binding when they rest on the bumpstops, just because of the angles and the endlinks design. You could probably change the frame side of the endlink to some type of sphereical bearing to make it move freeer and be easier on the rubber end links. It should be fine with a c-notch too, just make sure the bumpstops work before the bar bangs on the frame. toddtheodd: the bar is 15/16ths. the 93-02 camaro's may have a thicker one, i just ended up with this one. I thought about checking on a hotchkis replacement bar, but never got around to it. longhair: LOOSE IS FAST!!! and alot more fun to drive!!! __________________ '69 CST Short fleetside Lowered, 400 small block, 700R4, 4 wheel disc brakes, front sway bar & rear camaro sway bar (in progress) '87 V10 4x4 Short Fleetside Quad Suspension and Dual Tanks

02-22-2005, 02:06 AM	#25
Canada20 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Posts: 802	I think if you have a slide-in camper, rear sway bars are a good thing, aren't they? Greg __________________ No such thing as a stupid question, right?

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