Sway Bar...New or Used?

[tubbedII]

I don't have a sway bar, and I'm going to the pick-n-pull (1st time ever) tomorrow for some other parts. They have about 7 C10s there from '68-'86 and was considering pulling one if they have it.

I priced it out as follows:
Sway from the yard: $25.99 + $1.99 core
New bushings: $29.99
New hardware: approx $5

After everything, it'll be about $65-$70 after taxes (and shipping of the bushings).

Would I be better off buying an aftermarket kit rather than going this route as far as cost vs. performace goes? I'm not building a road racer, but less body roll is my goal. Just looking for opinions...

[cdowns]

B4 spending money on one that may or maynot fit i'd suggest that yoou measure and draw a sketch of what you think you'll require

[tubbedII]

Thanks, but can you elaborate on what I should be sketching/reviewing? I can measure from frame rail to frame rail (mounting points) as well as the points from the lca mounts to the frame, but I was under the impression that front sways are interchangeable between 68-87?

If that's true, the only thing I was going to verify is buying the correct bushings for the correct diameter sway.

[sjarrett71]

Just a couple months ago I pulled one from a 76 half ton truck and it bolted right up. Just had to get new bushings and hardware. Just remember to get the frame brackets as well as the brackets on the lower a-arms.

[tubbedII]

Thanks!! So do you think going that route (used) is worth it rather than buying a new one?

[passthebuck]

Read this & then go looking for a swaybar. Get an 1 1/4 bar that are much more common on 73 to 87 tow trucks & similar. MUCH stiffer than 1 1/8 for no difference in cost.

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...ht=faq+swaybar

[sjarrett71]

Well, I didn't care about it being rusty because right now everything under my truck is rusty. Plus it was free. In the words of the old man who owned the salvage yard "it ain't doin me no good. If you want it, take it". I think if you are going to be into a used one for the price of a new one I would buy the new one. I don't know what prices are like where you live but all 4 sway bar bushings cost me about $15.00 (for the rubber ones). They come in a box of 2.

[76kcfdeng]

Used all the way! Find a 3/4 ton square body, not sure if all years but the early ones for sure. it is a bolt in. When I got the new bushings from ECE they came with the metal hoops, you just need to get the front brackets unless your lowered 4" or more then just bolt to the frame.

[RichardJ]

Used from a wrecking yard is fine. You will have to go to the yard to get the correct brackets anyway. The brackets are riveted to the frame, so take a good size chisel and hammer. A battery power drill with 1/4" bit would make the job go faster. Take note of where it is located, because you will see that you have to knock the rivets out of the lower side of your crossmember. Just put it all back together with new bolts.
You will find the larger bar on 3/4 or 1 Ton.
I thought the first one I put on my '67 was from a 3/4, but I found one from a '76 C30 and it was the 1 1/4" and looks a lot fatter and keeps the truck flatter on the corners.
NAPA had Blue urethane bushings in stock, but I don't remember the price. They may have had the stock bubber as well, but I don't remember that either.

I just now looked at the link passthebuck has posted. Tx firefighter explains what you will be doing a lot better and he has pictures. Be sure and look at that thread.

[tubbedII]

Thanks for the faq link! I'm hoping my local napa carries the bushings as that might save me some dough rather than ordering straight from energy's site. If that's the case, ill be able to get this done for fairly cheap...
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[oldblue1968chevy]

Get it from the wrecking yard, along with all the brackets you can get.

Go to orielly and get the bushings MOOG, and some grade 8 hardware if needed

Paint it (if you wanna) and enjoy the non mirror/doorhandles scraping ground ride

[mrh33916]

Look at Suburbans too. I was able to get a 1 1/4" bar off a '80 something that fit fine.

[tubbedII]

Please excuse my ignorance, but how can I tell the difference between a half, three quarter and full ton truck when I'm at the yard?
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[Hubscrub]

5 or 6 lugs on half ton, 8 on 3/4 and others, i got my bar off a 80 something 3/4 ton and works nice

[tubbedII]

Thanks everyone! I found a 8 lugger with a bar and picked it up. It measures 1 1/4" thick. The only problem was that 2 of the brackets that hold the bushings were gone.

Are all the brackets the same, and just the inner bushings diameter different? I can go back and snag a couple off another if so.
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[ERASER5]

The bushing brackets are easy. Go to AutoZone and get the Energy Suspension poly bushings. The come with new brackets and they are greaseable. They come 2 in a box, so get 2 sets.

Did you get the frame mounting brackets? If you have a lowered truck, you may be able to just mount the bushing bracket to the frame. Also, if you are running bags, lowering the truck may make the swaybar push up against the bags. If so, you can just cut off the ends of the swaybar.

All of this information is on the forum, but it is scattered a bit.

[Tx Firefighter]

I put the GM part numbers for the bushing clamps in the FAQ article. They are super cheap. I'm a cheap bastard and I wouldn't even slide under a truck at the junkyard for what they cost if I needed a couple. Seems like they run about 5 bucks each brand new at the dealer.

[ChopperDr]

Thanks for the thread TubbedII. It motivated me to hit the yard yesterday. The pickings were slim. Only two sway bars to choose from. Sadly they were both 1-1/16" diameter bars. With the 250 in my truck I think that will do though. The 1988 2WD Suburban I pulled the bar from was in pretty nice shape. I didn't need to replace the rubber bushings. $20 well spent.


Chop

[tubbedII]

Originally Posted by ERASER5

The bushing brackets are easy. Go to AutoZone and get the Energy Suspension poly bushings. The come with new brackets and they are greaseable. They come 2 in a box, so get 2 sets.

Did you get the frame mounting brackets? If you have a lowered truck, you may be able to just mount the bushing bracket to the frame. Also, if you are running bags, lowering the truck may make the swaybar push up against the bags. If so, you can just cut off the ends of the swaybar.

All of this information is on the forum, but it is scattered a bit.

Thanks! The local autozone didn't have them in stock, but there's a Kragen by me that has the Moog parts with the brackets, so that's what I'll be doing!

Originally Posted by Tx Firefighter

I put the GM part numbers for the bushing clamps in the FAQ article. They are super cheap. I'm a cheap bastard and I wouldn't even slide under a truck at the junkyard for what they cost if I needed a couple. Seems like they run about 5 bucks each brand new at the dealer.

I had it written down after reading your FAQ, but I don't have a GM dealer/parts place close by now that most of the shut down. The Kragen by me is just going to be easier and plus I'll be getting those super awesome purple bushings since they are Moog...haha...(or maybe they are blue, but I'm color blind).

Originally Posted by ChopperDr

Thanks for the thread TubbedII. It motivated me to hit the yard yesterday. The pickings were slim. Only two sway bars to choose from. Sadly they were both 1-1/16" diameter bars. With the 250 in my truck I think that will do though. The 1988 2WD Suburban I pulled the bar from was in pretty nice shape. I didn't need to replace the rubber bushings. $20 well spent.


Chop

Awesome! I read a lot of threads about them over the past few months, and my biggest question was new vs used. After it's all said and done, I should only have about $70 into it...I think that's still money spent. Man that bar is heavy though...

[Hubscrub]

i had a heck of a fight on my last bolt with the new bushing installed but it is possible. I think tx firefighter said he fought with his too in his thread

[hotrodhomi]

Originally Posted by sjarrett71

Just a couple months ago I pulled one from a 76 half ton truck and it bolted right up. Just had to get new bushings and hardware. Just remember to get the frame brackets as well as the brackets on the lower a-arms.

agreed. you'll need the frame brackets. For the back you can get a rear setup from a camaro and make it work. There's a thread for that here somewhere.

[dave2953]

Here is the thread for the Camaro rear sway bar:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ad.php?t=47603

[tubbedII]

Originally Posted by hotrodhomi

agreed. you'll need the frame brackets.

I didn't pull the frame brackets as I was just going to bolt the bushing brackets directly to the frame...I saw on a few posts where this was done. Is it not proper/safe/doable?

I planned on mounting the bar to the lcas first and then just proping up the other mounts, drilling holes and bolting in...correct me if I'm wrong here.

[hotrodhomi]

My front sway bar came with a box of junk I got with my blazer. In the box there were two sizes of frame brackets. On hung down much lower that the other. I don't think it matters which one you use, or any, as long as the bar is not at an extreme angle. You should be able to tell if your method is going to work before its installed.