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08-30-2018, 04:05 PM | #1 |
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Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
Looking for some knowledgeable input about installing a rear sway bar on our trucks. I like a vehicle that handles curves well, but will a rear bar on my short step just cause too much oversteer? I have a Helwig 1 1/8" front bar, and am installing a No Limit 1 1/8" out back. I have an iron big block which will add some under steer I believe. Let me know what you think.
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1968 SWB Step Side, Big Block, 4L80E , Running! |
08-30-2018, 04:06 PM | #2 |
the boat guy
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: springfield mo
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
Depends on your setup, tires, ect. Read the make it handle thread in the suspension forum.
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08-30-2018, 04:58 PM | #3 |
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
Not that I'm a pro suspension but I have a rear sway, custom made, and it's dia. is smaller than the front sway. I have 1.125" front and 1.00" rear. It handles great.
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08-30-2018, 05:34 PM | #4 |
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
rear sway bare is a good thing and Metaldoc has the right diameter combination You could go a bit smaller on the rear with a standard suspension set up.
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08-30-2018, 08:31 PM | #5 |
the boat guy
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: springfield mo
Posts: 2,339
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
Diameter, arm length, and mounting point will all affect stiffness.
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08-30-2018, 11:21 PM | #6 |
Post Whore
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: Portland Oregon
Posts: 11,350
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
Rarely does a vehicle use the same size bar from and rear (Like AWD Subarus). I'm guessing you haven't talked to Rob at No Limit as to what bar he sells to go with his 1 1/8" rear. I would bet it is at least a 1 1/4". To large of rear bar will cause the rear axle to steer the car which usually means oversteer.
Here is a link to help understand a subject that isn't black and white. http://www.tsimportedautomotive.com/...ateschart.html
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Thanks to Bob and Jeanie and everyone else at Superior Performance for all their great help. RIP Bob Parks. 1967 Burban (the WMB),1988 S10 Blazer (the Stink10 II),1969 GTO (the Goat), 1970 Javelin, 1952 F2 Ford OHC six 4X4, 29 Model A, 72 Firebird (the DBP Bird). 85 Alfa Romeo If it breaks I didn't want it in the first place The WMB repair thread http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=698377 |
08-30-2018, 11:40 PM | #7 |
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
I have the 1 1/4" front bar from ECE and the 1 1/8" rear bar from CPP. It handles really well and stays flat in the turns. My truck is a long bed and has a small block. I don't know a big block will affect it tho.
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72 C10 lwb fleetside -stock 350/350 combo |
08-30-2018, 11:46 PM | #8 |
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
Their front bar is a 1 1/4" tubular. Yes I would have felt more comfortable with a slightly smaller rear bar. But as we know there are a lot of variables, Not easy to say how stiff the 1 1/8" solid bar is compared to a 1 1/4" hollow.
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1968 SWB Step Side, Big Block, 4L80E , Running! |
08-31-2018, 12:22 PM | #9 |
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
Who's 1 1/4" sway bar is hollow?
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1970 CST K10 350/350/205
Short Bed - Fleetside Tach-Tilt-A/C-Tow Hooks Front & Rear Disc Brakes Front & Rear Posi 3.73 Gears 30 Gallon Stainless Fuel Tank SOLD 01/18 !!!!! 2007 2500 HD Classic Crew Cab LT2 4X4 Duramax LBZ |
08-31-2018, 02:25 PM | #10 |
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
Hellwig makes one for our rigs also. Couple of bolt holes and its in.
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09-01-2018, 09:59 AM | #11 | |
motor exploder
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
Quote:
I run sway bars front and rear on all my street vehicles. Definitely makes on ramps and round abouts more fun.
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Adam 1969 Chevy CST/10 stepside, DART Big M/TREMEC Magnum Extreme/3.73's w/Detroit Truetrac 1965 Chevy Bel Air Wagon (daily driver), 327/TH350,10 bolt w/3.08's 1961 Chevy Bel Air Sport Coupe, ZZ454/M21/9" rear w/3.50's & Detroit Truetrac 2005 GMC 1500 ccsb 2wd, 6.0L/4L65e/3.73 G80 2006 GMC 2500HD ccsb 4x4, DMax LBZ/Allison 6spd/4.56's w/Detroit TrueTrac Use the SEARCH function on this forum - it is your friend!! |
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09-04-2018, 01:04 AM | #12 |
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
hotchhis makes one or two for the rear as well
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09-04-2018, 01:32 AM | #13 |
20' Daredevil (Ret)
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
I think on most factory setups, the front bar is stiffer than the rear bar. This results in more neutral handling with a bias towards understeer, suitable for street/highway driving. Besides hollow vs solid bars, the length of the bar and the length of the arms (at the ends of the bar) can all affect the stiffness. Plus the type of metal used.
I once owned a 1971 Camaro and I unwittingly put bars at both ends that were too stiff. Unless the road was smooth as glass, ride & handling were both less than ideal. A friend had a similar car with a stock front bar and a street rear bar added. Its ride & handling in normal daily driving were very nice. If I were adding bars to anything now, I would get a matched set from the same manufacturer to help ensure they are made to work together.
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09-04-2018, 01:33 PM | #14 |
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
Who is selling a hollow sway bar for these trucks?
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1970 CST K10 350/350/205
Short Bed - Fleetside Tach-Tilt-A/C-Tow Hooks Front & Rear Disc Brakes Front & Rear Posi 3.73 Gears 30 Gallon Stainless Fuel Tank SOLD 01/18 !!!!! 2007 2500 HD Classic Crew Cab LT2 4X4 Duramax LBZ |
09-04-2018, 10:28 PM | #15 |
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
No Limit Engineering http://nolimit.net/products#!/Front-...tegory=6157532
Description: No Limit Tuned hollow tube front sway bar. Fits stock and tublar a-arms 1-1/4" x .188 wall Comes with bearing links and urethane mounts
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1968 SWB Step Side, Big Block, 4L80E , Running! |
09-04-2018, 11:37 PM | #16 | |
Have A Nice Day!
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
Quote:
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1970 CST K10 350/350/205
Short Bed - Fleetside Tach-Tilt-A/C-Tow Hooks Front & Rear Disc Brakes Front & Rear Posi 3.73 Gears 30 Gallon Stainless Fuel Tank SOLD 01/18 !!!!! 2007 2500 HD Classic Crew Cab LT2 4X4 Duramax LBZ |
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09-05-2018, 10:32 AM | #17 |
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
I have a super-rare one-of-one 2+2 convertible that is the ONLY one made that year with the F41 rear sway bar! Supposedly John Delorean who was head of Pontiac hated them. The only way to get one in a 2+2 was to get the car from a Canadian factory and have it optioned with the required Corvette L36 427 and -then- and only then could you add F41 rear sway bar.
And in 1969 exactly one convertible was built that way, and I coincidentally happen to own it! I've added one to my non-original 2+2 and like it. I also added a rear bar to my 1970 GMC Longhorn 2500 402. I think it rides pretty decent for a 1970 truck but it's not like I did a bunch of instrumented before and after testing...
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1970 GMC Sierra Grande Custom Camper - Built, not Bought 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Coupe 1969 Pontiac 2+2 427/390 4-speed Convertible |
09-05-2018, 11:38 AM | #18 |
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Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: portland, OR
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
Lots of variables to consider, spring rates, tires, chassis stiffness, roll centers, weight bias, etc. If cost is a consideration, I would not run one; if you can discern poor handling, add it later, but you'd have to drive it pretty darn hard to tell. If cost is not an issue, you could always install it and disconnect to test.
A little roll in the rear isn't a bad thing, it'll help it stay planted under power, too. Lots of road course stock cars don't run a rear bar. I have taken a '71 Skylark (Chevelle chassis) to the track with and without rear bar and it handled better without. I have also driven cars that handle better with a rear bar. You'll just have to drive it. A tight car is actually a safer car. This is why pretty much all OEMs set up their cars on the tight side from the factory. This may or may not be a factor to you but it's good to know. |
09-05-2018, 12:41 PM | #19 | ||
20' Daredevil (Ret)
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Jefferson State
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
Quote:
Quote:
Too much rear bar (or a rear bar with no front bar) can make the car "loose", as in oversteer. This can be twitchy and is not the best setup for most people on public roads. Tight is when you hit the wall head-on. Loose is when you back into the wall.
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09-05-2018, 12:47 PM | #20 | |
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
Quote:
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09-27-2018, 09:00 PM | #21 |
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
When I installed the CPP front bar I felt handling was much improved. When I added the smaller diameter CPP rear bar on my 71 GMC longbed 2.5 spindle/1" drop spring/ flipped leafspring it was an AWESOME improvement without or with a load. I had a Durango pull past me going to work the other day and totally left him behind on a 90 degree turn because my truck stays so flat in the turns. It even feels better going over bumps and railroad tracks.
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Life is too long to go slow... 71 GMC 1500 Super Custom LWB 350/350 AC(replaced w/vintage air)/PS/PB 2.5 CPP Spindle, 1" CPP Drop Spring, CPP Front and Rear Sway Bars/DJM Flip, new General Spring KC 5 spring pack, HEI /IntReg Alt 20x8.5 OldSkools 5" BS, 275/45 Falkens |
12-26-2020, 01:25 AM | #22 |
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Re: Rear sway bar good or bad on street?
Zeke68, I ordered the No Limit front sway bar for my '63 C10 a few months ago. Installed it over this Thanksgiving holiday time off. What I got wasn't the hollow tube, and ship weight was 30#'s. When I called to order the hollow tube front sway bar, was told they don't make a hollow tubular sway bar for the '63 C10, it's a solid bar, and that tubular bars were only for sportier model car type vehicles. The guy was surprised when I pointed out that their website listed the '63 C10 front sway bar as a hollow tube .188 wall description. A 1.25" solid front bar is what I got from No Limit and installed it. I had held off on purchasing other more economical front solid sway bars to get Rob's lighter weight front bar. I asked if it had greaseable bushings, was told no and it should be okay, but I drilled and tapped the sway bar bushing and clamp to accept a grease zerk. It does handle nicely in the quick fast turns with 2 1/2" lowered spindles and 2" lowered front coils.
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