Lots of sales going on and there's not much left to add to my truck I'm thinking it's time for sway bars and I'm looking for some opinions. Front? back? both? Right now I'm a totally stock 52 with a 216 and will probably never get over 50mph. What ya think?
Sway Bar I added a sway bar to my 55 and it helped quite a bit in cornering. My 235 is no hot rod nor do I treat it as such and it also rarely sees 55mph. I added mine to the front.. Bob
Normally, swaybars are added in pairs. This vendor sells a great bar for a hundred and change and I use a swaybar off late 80's Camaro/Firebirds for the rear. The eyes on a Camaro rear swaybar are 39" apart which lines up perfectly with the AD frame and keeps the control links vertical. I mount the Camaro bar on the top of the diff with the arms pointing forward.....all the Camaro mounting hardware and the control links will work on the AD diff. You only have to drill 2 holes in the lower lip of the AD frame to connect the control links. I scouted the yards for a front bar that could be adapted with no luck. The CPA bar hardware mounts in holes that already exist in the AD frame so it's a matter of bolting on the brackets and adding a little tab (included) under one front u-bolt nut for the control link. No drilling. Regardless of how fast or slow you drive your truck you'll immediately notice the lack of body roll. The front bar will make the most noticeable difference and your steering will seem a good deal more responsive. Dave
Steve, here's my 3 cents (adjusted for inflation) If you're running a stock setup, why spend the money for a front or rear sway bar? Chevy offered the front sway bar on panels and suburbans back in the day only because they felt it neccessary because of the added weight. Save your money and wait until someone runs a 3.55 rear end on sale (as if that will ever happen) then spend the coins for a sway bar in front. These trucks were engineered to run just fine as is, and unless you souped them up, there's no need for it. Now, with that said, remember that my opinion and a couple of bucks, will buy you a cup of joe at your neighborhood stop n rob! Keep on truckin' baby! Ken
Ubetcha....they were engineered to run just fine without swaybars! However, back in the 50's, the roads were so rough that most folks were putzing along, with no heavy traffic and the need to drive defensively wasn't even yet into the picture. But things have changed, we expect more, even out of our "old iron" so I respectfully submit that adding swaybars is going to improve handling and tame the inherent body-roll you've obviously noted and this is not an opinion but a fact. Dave
Awright You Mugs ! Steve ; There are two different designs of front swaybars for AD trucks , the original that has links with pivots and another heavier duty one that's more modern in design and works a bit better . Adding a front swaybar to any stock AD will make you think you bought a new truck . period . no B.S. DO IT ! . They're _not_ normally installed in sets but a rear one is a good thing too . Dave & Ken : The ONLY reason all AD's didn't come with front swaybars was co$t ~ GM never got up off a dime unless they absolutely had to , don't kid your selves . this is the singlemost important safety item you can do after adding radial LT tires . Northwest Pickup Parts used to sell the newer design swaybar for $150.00 . I'd love to see pictures of any and all swaybars , especially the rear one from a Camaro ~ I love this idea , it sounds simple and direct .
Granted, my suspension isn't stock, but I added a swaybar to my Fatman front end and it made a huge difference, the IRS came with a pretty beefy stock bar...how does it work? Have you seen the autocross video?
No more swaying! All, thanks for the great discussion and ideas. I'm ordering a front sway bar tomorrow and will decide on the back one a little later after I see what the front one does. (I'll surf the net a little to see if I can work the camero option) Really appreciate all of the comments (even Kens) It's good to get a little contrarian view
OK Dude, let me save face! I'm not saying that a front sway bar is not a good idea. All I'm saying is that it really isn't neccesary unless you plan to push your truck to the limit. Chevy put them on stock panel and suburbans because they were top heavy. 1/2 ton PU's didn't need them. I plan on putting a front sway bar on mine if the '49 panel I have rotting in Mom's "back 40" is beyond repair! Steve, you are paying the bills, and if you want it, get it. I'll even come over to your house and help you install it, if you supply the beer! Ken
Sway bars make a bunch of difference and a great improvement to the ride but one of the most important safety improvements on these old trucks is rear brake lights. With all the late models having large bright lights located high on the vehicle, some with quick flash LED lights drivers aren't looking for a little red glow 2 feet off the road.
Free Beer Ken, there's an open invitation to come by if your around the Galleria. Always have beer in the cooler and lots of little things to do on the truck!!!! Pioneer 3600, your absolutely right on the brake lights and I've been searching the net on occasion for a 6 volt red led light that doesn't look like something off a space ship. (have actually found a few but they just don't fit on a 52!) The next option would be to modify something old, just havn't found the right case yet.
traveling tail lights I assembled a set of lights on a flat aluminum bar I can slip into my receiver hitch and plug into my trailer light hook-up. This way if I decide to be on the road at night, I just plug in my light bar, and have lights across the rear of my truck. Believe me this lighting does not look like it goes with the truck, but it sure shows up. I use three center marker lites, and a larger trailer type stop/brake/running light on either end of the bar. It ain't cool, but it sure works at night on my old truck when I have to be in traffic. Jim
Safer Lighting Don't forget guys , you can always slide a nice bright LED into each bed lip.... Shove it in about 3" and it dissapears until you step on the brakes.....
