Should I have a sway bar on a bagged truck. - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

JD'S 69 · 03-19-2025, 09:30 PM

I put my truck on air bags. I had a sway bar already on should it be left on? I don't have any pics but it was just a standard sway bar.

3drburb · 03-19-2025, 10:00 PM

Yes, you will most likely need to trim and round the ends so it doesn't rub and burst the bags, but it will handle a lot better with it.

lil hoodlum · 03-20-2025, 04:26 AM

If it already has a sway bar on it, I would keep it on.

Rich69shortfleet · 03-20-2025, 09:31 AM

I'd even go so far as to say you should put a bigger sway bar on it and add a rear sway bar while you are at it.

HO455 · 03-20-2025, 02:53 PM

Times 2. I put an 1-1/4" bar on my Burban with a 3rd gen F-body rear bar on the rear.

**Steeveedee** · 03-20-2025, 06:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HO455

Times 2. I put an 1-1/4" bar on my Burban with a 3rd gen F-body rear bar on the rear.

Do you have leaf springs?

HO455 · 03-20-2025, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steeveedee

Do you have leaf springs?

Trailing arms with bags.

connorm · 03-20-2025, 07:24 PM

The nature of air bags is to be a progressive spring, meaning that as the outer corner compresses the spring rate will go up. Essentially a sway bar does a similar thing. But, s someone else said, if you have a sway bar run it.

Are you running on the low end of the recommended air pressure? Your ride height would dictate your air pressure, and if you are running a low ride height or a lighter vehicle your air pressure should be lower, which might mean a lighter progressive spring. I would think you would need a sway bar more in this instance. I know even with my heavy duty 3/4 ton springs the sway bar made a BIG difference when I added it.

What shocks do you have? I put Ridetech adjustable shocks and that made as much of a difference in my opinion because I could adjust them how I preferred my ride. This might be a better option for the already progressive air bags.

**Steeveedee** · 03-20-2025, 09:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HO455

Trailing arms with bags.

Thanks! I'd like to add a rear stabilizer to my truck without breaking the bank.

SCOTI · 03-25-2025, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by connorm

The nature of air bags is to be a progressive spring, meaning that as the outer corner compresses the spring rate will go up. Essentially a sway bar does a similar thing. But, s someone else said, if you have a sway bar run it.

Are you running on the low end of the recommended air pressure? Your ride height would dictate your air pressure, and if you are running a low ride height or a lighter vehicle your air pressure should be lower, which might mean a lighter progressive spring. I would think you would need a sway bar more in this instance. I know even with my heavy duty 3/4 ton springs the sway bar made a BIG difference when I added it.

What shocks do you have? I put Ridetech adjustable shocks and that made as much of a difference in my opinion because I could adjust them how I preferred my ride. This might be a better option for the already progressive air bags.

This is dependent on how the lines are plumbed.

**dagnabbitt** · 03-25-2025, 05:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HO455

Times 2. I put an 1-1/4" bar on my Burban with a 3rd gen F-body rear bar on the rear.

That rear swaybar idea/source sounds pretty cool!

03-19-2025, 09:30 PM	#1
JD'S 69 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Baker city Oregon Posts: 299	Should I have a sway bar on a bagged truck. I put my truck on air bags. I had a sway bar already on should it be left on? I don't have any pics but it was just a standard sway bar. __________________ When I stand before god at the at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and I could say," I used everything you gave me" My 69 stepper http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=601095

03-19-2025, 10:00 PM	#2
3drburb Registered User Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Kent, WA. Posts: 915	Re: Should I have a sway bar on a bagged truck. Yes, you will most likely need to trim and round the ends so it doesn't rub and burst the bags, but it will handle a lot better with it.

03-20-2025, 04:26 AM	#3
lil hoodlum Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Denton, Texas Posts: 1,801	Re: Should I have a sway bar on a bagged truck. If it already has a sway bar on it, I would keep it on. __________________ 1968 C10 327, 3 speed manual, LWB stock height daily driver. 1968 C20 327, 4 speed manual, LWB stock height custom camper with heavy duty leaf springs rear, 50th anniversary edition. Hoping to press into daily drive status soon.

03-20-2025, 09:31 AM	#4
Rich69shortfleet Registered User Join Date: May 2016 Location: Waverly, NE Posts: 562	Re: Should I have a sway bar on a bagged truck. I'd even go so far as to say you should put a bigger sway bar on it and add a rear sway bar while you are at it. __________________ 1965 Malibu SS L79 Restoration Page 2004 Torrid Red GTO Preservation Page 2006 Brazen Orange GTO Preservation Page Rich Cummings Last edited by Rich69shortfleet; 03-20-2025 at 07:18 PM.

03-20-2025, 02:53 PM	#5
HO455 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: Portland Oregon Posts: 12,406	Re: Should I have a sway bar on a bagged truck. Times 2. I put an 1-1/4" bar on my Burban with a 3rd gen F-body rear bar on the rear. __________________ 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

03-20-2025, 07:24 PM	#8
connorm Registered User Join Date: Aug 2022 Location: Angola IN Posts: 180	Re: Should I have a sway bar on a bagged truck. The nature of air bags is to be a progressive spring, meaning that as the outer corner compresses the spring rate will go up. Essentially a sway bar does a similar thing. But, s someone else said, if you have a sway bar run it. Are you running on the low end of the recommended air pressure? Your ride height would dictate your air pressure, and if you are running a low ride height or a lighter vehicle your air pressure should be lower, which might mean a lighter progressive spring. I would think you would need a sway bar more in this instance. I know even with my heavy duty 3/4 ton springs the sway bar made a BIG difference when I added it. What shocks do you have? I put Ridetech adjustable shocks and that made as much of a difference in my opinion because I could adjust them how I preferred my ride. This might be a better option for the already progressive air bags. __________________ 1970 C/2500 Ol' Green https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=668003 2016 GMC Sierra K1500 1953 Mercury 2 Door Sedan https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...17#post9381817



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.