Should I install a sway bar?

[Sam.Patch]

I am the third owner of a 1972 Chevy C10, base motor is the 307 V8, I have now installed a Chevy target master 350 V8. Except for the engine, engine components, and an aftermarket exhaust system, this truck is stock. I have no desire to lower the truck, I plan to continue to use this to haul things and short drives around town. This thing starts up quickly in all weather, and heats up quickly, so it is great to drive around in the winter. It gets parked when temperatures get up in the 90's, as my truck does not have air conditioning!

(I remember driving in all weather in the 1960's and 70's in 1950's vehicles that did not have A/C, and I had no idea how miserable I was )

I am in the process of rebuilding the front suspension, and I noticed, this thing does not have a sway bar. I looked at the lower control arms and found these holes which could be for sway bar mount brackets:



and on the frame are what could be mounting holes for sway bar frame brackets:



I wonder what bracket comes with an oval hole. Maybe the oval was for towing?

Based on a little research on this site, these trucks did not necessarily come with sway bars.

So, should I install a sway bar, what are the benefits? Should I just leave it alone?

[mongocanfly]

welcome....
a sway bar will help with body roll in corners...I've ran with and without em...just puttering around you probably wouldn't see the benefit.....I doubt your truck ever had one...

[Sam.Patch]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

welcome....
a sway bar will help with body roll in corners...I've ran with and without em...just puttering around you probably wouldn't see the benefit.....I doubt your truck ever had one...

I found a number of sway bars for sale, also, the factory manual has a "typical" image of one, so I wondered if it had one.

I have had my vehicle for almost 30 years, seems to work fine for what I do.

Last year my power steering pump died and researching replacing the leaky gear box, I found that new ones were available. The improvement in driving with a new gear box and new rear axles (replaced this year) has been so encouraging that I am purchasing the parts to replace all suspension bushings, ball joints and tie rods. I just wanted to know if I needed to add a sway bar, and, so far, no one is making a case that I really need it.

Thanks.

[mongocanfly]

I sure wont hurt anything to have one....ive got a 4x4 one for my IH project but am on the fence about whether to use it or not....

[N2TRUX]

Originally Posted by Sam.Patch

..... I just wanted to know if I needed to add a sway bar, and, so far, no one is making a case that I really need it....

I will make the case for you. I have added a C20 sway bar to every truck I have owned. Stock, dropped or bagged it makes an improvement in cornering ability. If you tow, it will help even more when the front suspension is unloaded.

Its not necessary to spend a bunch of money for an aftermarket bar. A C10 or C20bar will work just fine. The bushing clamp stand are rivited to the frame so you will need to drill or cut them off. Buy new bushing and bolt it on. Thanks me later.

[earl84]

I installed one on my 66 C20, and the improved cornering is really nice. Yes, it’s fine without it, but the reduced body lean makes it feel really solid, almost sporty, haha.
Super cheap at a salvage yard, super cheap new bushings , super easy to install, I think every truck should have one.

[Warrens69GMC]

I installed one on our GMC and it made it drive much better. Power steering helped too.

[Mike C]

If it didn't matter, GM never would have done it. I would add one and as mentioned above, nothing wrong with a junkyard donor.

[bill3rail]

All the info you need should be found HERE.


Thank you TX Firefighter!