AD truck sway bar opinions please

[xaircav]

I installed a Classic Performance products CP179 front sway bar kit on my '53
Does a front bar really do anything on a solid axle truck? Ride seems extremely harsh but I never had a chance to drive it without the bar. It will never be a corner burner, just a cruiser. I'll disconnect the bar when the weather breaks and see if ride quality improves. Your thoughts?

[mknittle]

I probably would allow you to use softer springs without wallowing.but that it just a guess
Keep us posted it will be interesting.

[yossarian19]

I'm sure at least some of the harshness is from the sway bar, but keep in mind that you are driving a truck with solid axles at both ends and leaf springs at all four corners. Your expectations may need to come down a little bit - it may be handling exactly the way it is supposed to. I'm no expert here, just thinking out loud.

Ride harshness can also be due to aftermarket spring heights / rates that aren't optimized to the shocks, cheap or high performance shocks, spring shackle angle, worn bushings, etc.

Disco the sway bar, see if it helps. Don't be shocked if she always rides a bit rough.

Consider throwing 1,000 lbs worth of junk in the back, see if that gentles her down some.

[xaircav]

Thanks for the reply. In my case the springs are original but I removed the shortest bottom leaf and replaced the shackles and bushings. I'll repost after a ride without the bar.

[booger1949]

your harsh ride is from all them leaf springs, maybe think about takin a couple out maybe

[xaircav]

The iron headed, iron intake 283 I got in it isn't helping either.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by xaircav

The iron headed, iron intake 283 I got in it isn't helping either.

maybe the opposite on that. if it were lighter the ride may be harsher.

[mknittle]

Originally Posted by yossarian19

I'm sure at least some of the harshness is from the sway bar, but keep in mind that you are driving a truck with solid axles at both ends and leaf springs at all four corners. Your expectations may need to come down a little bit - it may be handling exactly the way it is supposed to. I'm no expert here, just thinking out loud.

Ride harshness can also be due to aftermarket spring heights / rates that aren't optimized to the shocks, cheap or high performance shocks, spring shackle angle, worn bushings, etc.

Disco the sway bar, see if it helps. Don't be shocked if she always rides a bit rough.

Consider throwing 1,000 lbs worth of junk in the back, see if that gentles her down some.

kinda hard on the paint though.

[booger1949]

no the v8 is helping u out. its adding weight to the front that u need. its not goin to get any better. its just an old tank
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[beanyard]

My ride got rougher after taking out the shortest spring and adding the sway bar. The handling did get better though. I am thinking about changing the springs and or getting softer shocks
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[booger1949]

softer shocks will help some, but youll get use to it, i drove mine all original for 18 years before i changed my frontend, but youll get where u dont pay it any mind at all

[xaircav]

Update: Took off the sway bar and took a ride. Huge improvement in ride quality.

[sweet70beast]

They usually put the sway bars on the Panels and Suburbans because of the higher center of gravity to keep them from swaying. Both my Suburbans and my Panel have factory bars on them. Interesting to note that the one on my Panel mounts differently than the ones on my Suburbans.

[Helilog56]

My 235 is 65 lbs heavier than the 327 I have....!!????
I would experiment with more spring removal. A couple more may help the ride with the sway bar....removing to many though will affect bump steer and braking !!