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anti roll bars

AD Sway Bars

There's two different types , one copies the original one as fitted to Suburbans and the other appears to be slightly more heavy .

I have neither but I think they're worth the $$ investment .

You might want to try a tube shock conversion first , using gas charged shocks as they give very good bang for your buck .
 
They do help , no doubt about that . if you can find one for a decent price , I'd say go for it .

I need one too but there's always something else more pressing (dog took up $1,200.00 last month !) so I keep on postponing it , I know once I get one I'll wonder how I ever did without it .
 
sway bars

I installed a front sway bar, and would recommend it. These truck are heavy, and they sit up a bit, so any help they can get is good. Mine is on a 1950 3100.....Mike
 
sway bar

My truck has monoleafs installed, so is a bit stiffer than stock. Even with the springs, I feel the sway bar makes a noticeable improvement. The truck corners very well, with little body roll. I even went so far as to install a rear sway bar. Not sure it needs it, but it's got it anyways. I would have to think on a stock front end, it may be even more of a help. Just my thoughts....Mike
 
Mike,

Where did you get your monoleafs and did you install them on stock front and rear end? Did they change the ride height of the truck and how did the handling improve?

thanks,

Andy
 
Andy, the front end on my truck is the stock straight axle. I have upgraded to lowered monoleafs, and a 1 inch tie rod bar, with the new style ends. I have also installed power disc brakes on the stock spindles. In the rear I replaced the torque tube with a Camaro 10 bolt differential. The springs are a custom setup. The monoleaf springs are a 3inch drop in the front, and I used the high pressure gas shocks made for the lowered trucks. Ride is pretty good, with some bump steer. I am still playing around with the steering arm to see if I can minimize it. I haven't driven it much lately, so no update on that part. The suspension parts came from C.P.P. I am also hoping to install a drop axle at some point, as I want to go even lower in the front. Rear is not a problem as I can install lowering blocks if I want to. Hope that helps....Mike
 
Bump Steer

Ensuring the caster shims are still in the rear of your I beam axle will reduce bump steer or adding slightly larger ones should help .

-Nate

Andy, the front end on my truck is the stock straight axle. I have upgraded to lowered monoleafs, and a 1 inch tie rod bar, with the new style ends. The springs are a custom setup. The monoleaf springs are a 3inch drop in the front, and I used the high pressure gas shocks made for the lowered trucks. Ride is pretty good, with some bump steer. I am still playing around with the steering arm to see if I can minimize it.
 
I'd think you would be better off with a Panhard bar in the back , should be
able to get a frame or hot rod / racing car shop to fabricate one up for under $200.00...

-Nate

One question, rear roll bars? again, necessary? where did you get it from?

Neil
 
Nate, I actually thought about installing a panhard bar. May still end up doing it. I kinda felt the back wasn't shifting around much though, so am waiting on it for the moment. As far as the front end bump steer, I installed lowered monoleaf springs. Believe it or not, when I measured it on the alignment rack, I needed to remove the shims completely to get the caster where I wanted it. It's a result of the way the springs mount, etc. The drawback is that by lowering it, the drag link no longer sits parallel to the ground. One quick solution might be to flip the mounting on one end. I just haven't gotten that far yet. As for the need of a rear sway bar, I doubt it will actually help much. But it shouldn't hurt either. I used a bar from a late Camaro. I only had it installed a short time before taking the truck off the road for various work I never seem to have time to get done. I think I may actually get an hour or so to work on it right now. At this pace, my great grandkids can drive it whe it's done. Ha Ha............Mike
 
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