Sway Bar

[87OldYeller]

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..?

[eventhorizon66]

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

[87OldYeller]

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.

[Captkaos]

1Tons have the largest sway bars.

[87OldYeller]

So 1 Tons. ok cool. so the larger sway bar would be better ?

[Captkaos]

If you want it stiffer you want a bigger bar.

[SUX2BU99]

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.

[87OldYeller]

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.

[87OldYeller]

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.

[zieg85]

That is going to be tough without an air chisel unless you have a torch to cut off the rivets.

[eventhorizon66]

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.

[87OldYeller]

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?

[eventhorizon66]

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).