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73-87 Chevy _ GMC Trucks => 73-87 Chevy & GMC Trucks => Topic started by: 87OldYeller on September 05, 2009, 10:32:59 pm

Title: Sway Bar
Post by: 87OldYeller on September 05, 2009, 10:32:59 pm: Thinking about installing sway bars on my 87 SWB Stepside. Try to get some of that bounce and sway under control. Any suggestions good idea, bad idea? Works or doesn't work..?
Title: Re: Sway Bar
Post by: eventhorizon66 on September 05, 2009, 10:51:43 pm: The best bang for the buck would be to find a truck at the salvage yard with a factory bar. I went with ADDCO bars front and rear. I'm unhappy with them. They require drilling the front lower A-arms and if you are off just an 1/8" you will feel it. The truck will feel "set up" for cornering in one direction only and will pull in one direction under hard braking. Too much room for error. Stick with either a factory bar or a factory style bar (mounts to the lower a-arm with saddle clamps using existing holes).

Here is SgtDel's excellent write up on a salvage yard sway bar installation:
http://www.delbridge.net/sway.html

Here's a Hellwig bar if you don't want to hunt down a used one:
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/HEL-7546/?image=large
Title: Re: Sway Bar
Post by: 87OldYeller on September 05, 2009, 11:02:14 pm: Hey man thanks for the info. I was not aware the trucks came with one from the factory, or I would have been looking. Hey great pictures, a lot of good info there. At least I will know to take something to cut the rivets with. But I leave to N.C in the morning so when I get there I might check around for some salvage yards.
Title: Re: Sway Bar
Post by: Captkaos on September 08, 2009, 05:49:05 pm: 1Tons have the largest sway bars.
Title: Re: Sway Bar
Post by: 87OldYeller on September 08, 2009, 07:12:37 pm: So 1 Tons. ok cool. so the larger sway bar would be better ?
Title: Re: Sway Bar
Post by: Captkaos on September 09, 2009, 11:37:19 am: If you want it stiffer you want a bigger bar.
Title: Re: Sway Bar
Post by: SUX2BU99 on September 10, 2009, 10:39:02 am: I just bought some new Energy bushings for mine and they had 3 sizes listed. Mine looks pretty fat so I figured it was the biggest one (1 1/4"). The one I have I'm pretty sure wasn't factory. I checked out another SWB a few weeks ago and it had a visibly thinner bar.
Title: Re: Sway Bar
Post by: 87OldYeller on September 10, 2009, 11:34:54 am: I found a used sway bar with the original center brackets so it will bolt directly on, but it does not have the sway bar end links. Think there asking about 50 dollars.
Title: Re: Sway Bar
Post by: 87OldYeller on September 10, 2009, 11:44:27 am: I think i found one in town about 20 dollars. Anyone know what kind of tools I would need to remove it? I assume there will be no air or power there so gonna be all by hand.
Title: Re: Sway Bar
Post by: zieg85 on September 10, 2009, 05:25:44 pm: That is going to be tough without an air chisel unless you have a torch to cut off the rivets.
Title: Re: Sway Bar
Post by: eventhorizon66 on September 10, 2009, 08:22:09 pm: The drop bracket is riveted to the frame will not come off without an air chisel or drill. The bar will come off with just hand tools.
Title: Re: Sway Bar
Post by: 87OldYeller on September 11, 2009, 06:35:58 am: OK thanks for the info. I looked at one yesterday and I found that out *L* but i am gonna go to a Chevy yard today, and maybe they can pull it for me. I have not even looked at my truck to see if it has the hole's drilled on the a-frame. Did they drill them at the factory or would I have to have them drilled?
Title: Re: Sway Bar
Post by: eventhorizon66 on September 11, 2009, 08:08:27 am: All the holes should be there. My truck didn't come with a sway bar and it has all the holes (in both the frame and the a-arms).