front sway bar - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

78chevstepside · 12-12-2003, 07:36 PM

I got a front ( it measured 7/8 o.d.)sway bar for my truck yesterday from a u-pull-it for 10 dollars. I got all the brackets except for the outer top. The factory one is rivoted on. I decided against fighting it to get that off. Well it would have been nice to have a grinder or a torch. I found the sway bar on a 77 2wd suburban. I think most of those came with sway bars. I bought 4 new bushings at a parts store for 13 dollars. those 2 top mounting brackets I had to resort to chevrolet dealership to find. They costed 19 dollars a peice after I talked them into a 10 percent discount(telling them that that was outragous ) making my own wouldnt be difficult other then the brackets are on a slope. Interesting I thought I would have to drill some holes to install. I was suprised the holes are already predrilled from the factory( much like engine mount holes for all engines) . This is a really easy upgrade. I was wondering if any 73 to 87 trucks came with a factory rear sway bar?

78chevstepside · 12-12-2003, 07:40 PM

Tom · 12-12-2003, 07:46 PM

Yeah, some 3/4 and 1ton trucks had them. From what I've read it might not be possable to swap them onto a 1/2ton though for some reason...

And I hear ya on the fronts, I put a 1 1/4" bar from a 1ton on my 79 after driving without anything. Night and day difference.

MylilBowTie · 12-12-2003, 09:18 PM

Night and Day? What was so different about it? I currently don't have a sway bar at all front or back. Just wondering what I will see if I installed them.

bigd65 · 12-13-2003, 07:15 PM

It keeps the truck from leaning to much, and i think the sway bar from a 1/2 ton SUBURBAN will fit. i just havnt found one yet, but i do forget to look for it.

r0lf- · 12-13-2003, 08:20 PM

I love my front swaybar. It handles SOOOO much better than my old truck. Im not too sure if id want to run one out back, I just have a feeling that it would just break loose more.

**swervin ervin** · 12-13-2003, 09:06 PM

My truck came stock with a 1-1/16" front anti-sway bar. I upgraded to Energy Suspension bushings. You will love the way it handles with the front bar, but I highly recommend urethane bushings.

I had a Helwig bar on the rear. It helps, but nowhere near as much as the front. I sold it when I went to 6" of drop. It doesn't cause any breaking loose problems. Just the opposite. I think the biggest gain from a rear bar would be if you are towing. There's not enough weight back there to really justify having one if not. But it definetely don't hurt anything to have a rear bar.

r0lf- · 12-13-2003, 09:16 PM

My buddies 70 camaro with about 450HP had a rear bar and it would just make him lose traction alot, so we took it off. But that was a whole different beast than a truck.

**swervin ervin** · 12-13-2003, 09:40 PM

Oh, yes, sway bars are not good for traction. But, they are not made for drag racing. They are used for handling. I'm not sure, but I think if you are swaying while dragging, you have some major problems ahead.

r0lf- · 12-13-2003, 10:47 PM

Nah, it wasnt a drag car. Just a hotrod. Lots of fun

12-12-2003, 07:36 PM	#1
78chevstepside Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: lacenter, washington Posts: 718	front sway bar I got a front ( it measured 7/8 o.d.)sway bar for my truck yesterday from a u-pull-it for 10 dollars. I got all the brackets except for the outer top. The factory one is rivoted on. I decided against fighting it to get that off. Well it would have been nice to have a grinder or a torch. I found the sway bar on a 77 2wd suburban. I think most of those came with sway bars. I bought 4 new bushings at a parts store for 13 dollars. those 2 top mounting brackets I had to resort to chevrolet dealership to find. They costed 19 dollars a peice after I talked them into a 10 percent discount(telling them that that was outragous ) making my own wouldnt be difficult other then the brackets are on a slope. Interesting I thought I would have to drill some holes to install. I was suprised the holes are already predrilled from the factory( much like engine mount holes for all engines) . This is a really easy upgrade. I was wondering if any 73 to 87 trucks came with a factory rear sway bar?

12-12-2003, 07:40 PM	#2
78chevstepside Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: lacenter, washington Posts: 718	Attached Images

12-12-2003, 07:46 PM	#3
Tom driving is in my blood Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Mesa AZ Posts: 5,717	Yeah, some 3/4 and 1ton trucks had them. From what I've read it might not be possable to swap them onto a 1/2ton though for some reason... And I hear ya on the fronts, I put a 1 1/4" bar from a 1ton on my 79 after driving without anything. Night and day difference. __________________ -78 c10 short/step: 388cid, M20, 5/5 drop, lots more. Playtoy and first vehicle. -98 c1500 x-cab: 5.7L, 17" rims, 5/6 drop, flowmaster, helper bags,NBS rear disk brakes. -02 Suburban 4x4: leveled front -CBR600F4i, CBR600RR, CBR1000RR, and standup skis DISCLAIMER: I cant spell for the life of me.

12-12-2003, 09:18 PM	#4
MylilBowTie Right turn Clyde Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 2,911	Night and Day? What was so different about it? I currently don't have a sway bar at all front or back. Just wondering what I will see if I installed them. __________________ 1974 C25 LWB: 454 4bbl Carb / TH400 / 3.73 1992 Camaro RS 305 TBI

12-13-2003, 07:15 PM	#5
bigd65 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Lake Jackson, TX. Posts: 1,930	It keeps the truck from leaning to much, and i think the sway bar from a 1/2 ton SUBURBAN will fit. i just havnt found one yet, but i do forget to look for it. __________________ 2004 Silverado Crewcab (Dark Spiral Gray)

12-13-2003, 08:20 PM	#6
r0lf- Hotwheels? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Pleasant Hill, CA Posts: 1,145	I love my front swaybar. It handles SOOOO much better than my old truck. Im not too sure if id want to run one out back, I just have a feeling that it would just break loose more. __________________ 1978 Money Pit - CUSTOM DELUXE!!!!

12-13-2003, 09:06 PM	#7
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	My truck came stock with a 1-1/16" front anti-sway bar. I upgraded to Energy Suspension bushings. You will love the way it handles with the front bar, but I highly recommend urethane bushings. I had a Helwig bar on the rear. It helps, but nowhere near as much as the front. I sold it when I went to 6" of drop. It doesn't cause any breaking loose problems. Just the opposite. I think the biggest gain from a rear bar would be if you are towing. There's not enough weight back there to really justify having one if not. But it definetely don't hurt anything to have a rear bar. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

12-13-2003, 09:16 PM	#8
r0lf- Hotwheels? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Pleasant Hill, CA Posts: 1,145	My buddies 70 camaro with about 450HP had a rear bar and it would just make him lose traction alot, so we took it off. But that was a whole different beast than a truck. __________________ 1978 Money Pit - CUSTOM DELUXE!!!!

12-13-2003, 09:40 PM	#9
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Oh, yes, sway bars are not good for traction. But, they are not made for drag racing. They are used for handling. I'm not sure, but I think if you are swaying while dragging, you have some major problems ahead.

12-13-2003, 10:47 PM	#10
r0lf- Hotwheels? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Pleasant Hill, CA Posts: 1,145	Nah, it wasnt a drag car. Just a hotrod. Lots of fun __________________ 1978 Money Pit - CUSTOM DELUXE!!!!



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