Front sway bar question

[Captmatt]

I went up to my local salvage yard to get a front sway bar for my 64. I had several trucks to choose from, all were early 70's 1/2 tons. All the trucks were off the ground with the weight off the suspensions and the suspension components were intact. I noticed that the sway bars were disconnected from the A arms on all 4 trucks. The bars had apparently slipped or popped out of the bushing clamps. That seemed odd to me. As I finished up, an employee walked by and I asked him if he had ever noticed this ? He said " yes, when you take the weight off these old Chevys the bars always pop out." My question is, is that correct? I saw some old threads that kinda discussed this but didn't really answer the question. I'm not sure if I want to go to all the work installing the bar if it's going to disconnect every time I take the weight off the front end. Any thoughts ???

[61_FL_Apache]

so these sway bars didn't have "end links"? It was just the bar going thru a rubber bushing? You didn't happen to take a pic did you?

[Captmatt]

No end links on these bars. The ends go thru bushing that are clamped to the top of the A arm with two bolts. I have noticed that most if not all of the aftermarket bars that I have looked at are the end link design. Maybe there is a reason for that ????

[Mackie]

So, were the bars pulled out of the bushings, torn through the clamps, bolts pulled out of the A-arms....?

[Turtleman]

I haven't heard that one before,, but just like you I want to know also.. I have a GM 3500 VanDura with a sway bar without ends and never had any issue of them coming out.. any info or verification will sure be helpful

[Captmatt]

All the clamps, bolts etc were in place and not damaged. The salvage yard moves these vehicles around with very large fork lifts. Maybe all of the bouncing and jostling while their on the forks is just enough energy to pop those sway bars ends out of the bushings ?

[DakotaKid]

that's what I used on the front of my 62, 74 1.25 Anti Roll Bar.. Bushings that the rod goes through on the Lower A Arm. I jack mine up and it does not fall out.

[DPowers]

Seems odd to me. Have taken several of these bars off of trucks at yards and never had one that was detached.

[Mackie]

This post raised concerns for me since I recently added a 70-something bar using poly bushings with the direct control arm mts.

Now, I have heard it said that it's not good to have a vehicle jacked up for extended periods with the suspension in full droop anyway so I think I'll avoid the sway bar problem.

[pestwagon]

CaptMatt I got my sway bar ( 1 1/4" thick ) from early 1970s Chevy PU CST version in a Pick n Pull yard. End links were still connected in this junkyard, but I got new bushings for it anyways.

[jayoldschool]

Do we have the dimensions of the bars posted somewhere? I wonder if I could use a 77-96 B body (Caprice, etc) bar. Similar suspension setup, uses end links to mount instead of a bushing... and I have a couple sitting gathering dust.

[Captmatt]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going ahead with the install. Must have been rough handling by the salvage yard to cause the bars to "pop" out of the mounts. Thanks guys

[jayoldschool]

Matt, can you measure the bar for me? Straight part between the bends, and how long the bent parts are. Thanks!

[Captmatt]

Originally Posted by jayoldschool

Matt, can you measure the bar for me? Straight part between the bends, and how long the bent parts are. Thanks!

Sure......so I measured from approximately the middle of the bends. The long stright section is approx. 30 inch. Then the bar bends back towards the A arms with a section about 10 inches long and then a short bend of about 4 inches. If you need a pic let me know and I'll run out and take one.....

[Captmatt]

Pic

[1963c-10]

This is the sway bar in question and it is what the factory used on our trucks. No end links, just bushings. I have never seen them pop out before though. Good example here on my 63....no weight on the front end and still in place

[jayoldschool]

Thanks. I'll measure a B body bar as soon as I can. I think they'll work.