Sway bar question

[slimneverdies]

Are the 1988+ 1/2 ton 1500's sway bars similar to the 73-87 c10's? I was at the junkyard all day and I noticed like 10 of the 1500's and they all had sway bars with end link style connections. No C10's in sight. If they can be used will it also work if my truck is bagged? One more thing, I read somewhere that if I'm using a dropmember that the stock bars will need to be bent inward an 1" on each side...

Thanks
Slim
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[lolife99]

Buy your sway bars from Porterbuilt.
They sell stock width and the Dropmember version also.
Great products.
I have one of each.

[lilpoindexter]

The 88+ run their sway bars differently than the 73-87.
just be patient, and look for a big ass 8 lug suburban, and then take the wrist thick sway bar off that bad boy. I got a 1.25" bar off a suburban for mine.

[slimneverdies]

Originally Posted by lilpoindexter

The 88+ run their sway bars differently than the 73-87.
just be patient, and look for a big ass 8 lug suburban, and then take the wrist thick sway bar off that bad boy. I got a 1.25" bar off a suburban for mine.

I actually did see a 4x4 suburban but I thought it was totally different.
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[slimneverdies]

Originally Posted by lolife99

Buy your sway bars from Porterbuilt.
They sell stock width and the Dropmember version also.
Great products.
I have one of each.

I would love to. After buying a dropmember and all these other components it's time for me to put some of my own fab skills to work and save some dough....

they only want $15-20 for them at the yard
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[lolife99]

The Dropmember bar needs to be narrower.

[slimneverdies]

Originally Posted by lolife99

The Dropmember bar needs to be narrower.

Yeah Keith, I hear it's like 1" on each end. I probably could take it to a machine shop and have them bend it for a few bucks.
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[slimneverdies]

Ok guys, I finally got my sway bar and what a good deal it was. I know you guys say that the dropmember needs a narrower bar but here is what I have. Its a 1-1/8'' bar with end links. I can make the brackets to mount it, I just need to know is this the right spacing. The arms are CPP arms and I have deleted all of the brackets so I can fabricate my own. It looks pretty straight foward but I need some opinions before I start.

[texastrendz]

i think you are going to have to wait and mock it up on the frame. it will be a lot easier that way. I bought nates sway bar and used factory arms from 73-87 on a 72 truck equipped with a dropmember. the end links you can get at autozone made by energy suspension. the ones that came with my sway bar were junk. set it up at ride height and keep it in plane with the floor. that is what i did and it turned out nice. make sure you turn the wheels lock to lock to check for clearance before you burn it all the way in. good luck. oh, i used the shortest link set they offered. i think it was 1 3/4" spacer in the middle.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by texastrendz

i think you are going to have to wait and mock it up on the frame. it will be a lot easier that way. I bought nates sway bar and used factory arms from 73-87 on a 72 truck equipped with a dropmember. the end links you can get at autozone made by energy suspension. the ones that came with my sway bar were junk. set it up at ride height and keep it in plane with the floor. that is what i did and it turned out nice. make sure you turn the wheels lock to lock to check for clearance before you burn it all the way in. good luck. oh, i used the shortest link set they offered. i think it was 1 3/4" spacer in the middle.

The shorter the 'link' the quicker the reaction when force is applied. I like to buy the longer links & cut them to size. Then just get the 'correct' length bolt as needed.

[slimneverdies]

Originally Posted by texastrendz

i think you are going to have to wait and mock it up on the frame. it will be a lot easier that way. I bought nates sway bar and used factory arms from 73-87 on a 72 truck equipped with a dropmember. the end links you can get at autozone made by energy suspension. the ones that came with my sway bar were junk. set it up at ride height and keep it in plane with the floor. that is what i did and it turned out nice. make sure you turn the wheels lock to lock to check for clearance before you burn it all the way in. good luck. oh, i used the shortest link set they offered. i think it was 1 3/4" spacer in the middle.

Ok, thanks. I'm waiting on some bushings from Nate before I install so I guess that part will have to wait. I asked around at a few shops and nobody around here will bend it. I guess this is not a common practice....
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[texastrendz]

I know it is not common practice, we did heat and bend my sway bar on my dually project. It seems to be fine. I have put several thousand miles on it with no issue. Heating it towards the ends is where we did it.