sway bar - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

1974gmc · 02-28-2005, 09:41 PM

picked up a sway bar from the wreckers today, but i couldn't ge tthe frame brackets off cause the rivits. how have you got them off?

i got the sway bar off a 3/4 ton but ended up only being the 1 1/16 bar, i was hoping for the 1 1/4 but im still happy. i got the bar, new bushings, brackets, and new hardware for $80 canadian

78chevstepside · 02-28-2005, 10:27 PM

I recently added a sway bar to my 78 and love the results. The brackets on those are rivoted on. I know of 5 ways to get them off 1. torch easiest 2. drill 3. grinder 4 . chisel hardest. 5. sawsall. I like the grinder or torch method the best. I went down to the chevy dealer and bought new ones 16 dollars each .

Slonaker · 03-01-2005, 12:09 AM

I bought mine at the dealer too. It wasn't worth spending an afternoon on my back laying in oil soaked dirt to save $20.

Slonaker

1974gmc · 03-01-2005, 12:45 AM

i phoned gm today and they wanted $32 canadian each, not worth it for me

when torching them do u just heat them up and knock em out?

67chevemall · 03-01-2005, 05:42 PM

I just took one off a 78 and it was bolted on 4 bolts a side?
It's 4 sale $60.00w/brackets

Slonaker · 03-01-2005, 06:12 PM

Look at all the trucks in the junkyard before you start removing rivets. Some might have been added with bolts, like mine, or might have been replaced with a bolt-in after an accident.

If you get lucky, you can melt the heads off and hammer the rest through with a punch. If not, they will be like the rivets on my upper ball joints that each took about 20 minutes of hammering to push them through after the heads were ground off.

Slonaker

*Zilverado* · 03-01-2005, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1974gmc

i phoned gm today and they wanted $32 canadian each, not worth it for me

when torching them do u just heat them up and knock em out?

If you have access to a torch, I thought you might also have access to an air compressor. If you do...

On mine I used an air hammer (chisel), with a chisel tip to remove the head of the rivet and then used a punch tip on the air hammer to drive the rivet through. Worked pretty good.

Of course, if you are doing this at the bone-yard, you may not be able to hook up a compressor.

Just a thought.

1974gmc · 03-01-2005, 10:13 PM

ya i guess i should have looked around at the other trucks to see if any were bolted in. thanks for the info!

**N2TRUX** · 03-02-2005, 12:37 AM

If your truck is lowered consider either the low profile ones the ECE sells, or don't run them at all....

1974gmc · 03-02-2005, 02:07 AM

would it be possible to bolt the sway bar brackets directly to the frame without the frame bracket?

**N2TRUX** · 03-02-2005, 09:35 AM

Yes it is possible. If your truck is stock height it wouldn't be advisable due to the angle, but if it's lowered it will work just fine. I bought a set of the low profile stands from ECE for 20.00...

SCOTI · 03-02-2005, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1974gmc

would it be possible to bolt the sway bar brackets directly to the frame without the frame bracket?

Like N2TRUX said, it will work fine if the truck is lowered. My 74 & 68 both have sway bars w/o the factory brackets. The 68 has been on the road since 2000 & the 74 since summer 03, both w/o any sway bar related problems.

Slonaker · 03-02-2005, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by N2TRUX

Yes it is possible. If your truck is stock height it wouldn't be advisable due to the angle, but if it's lowered it will work just fine. I bought a set of the low profile stands from ECE for 20.00...

I don't think his truck is lowered. Even if it is, that might not be a factor. It depends on how it was lowered. My truck is lowered using just drop spindles. That has no effect on the sway bar because the lower control arm does not change in relation to the frame. It only changes the angle if you use drop springs.

Slonaker

1974gmc · 03-02-2005, 04:01 PM

no its nots lowered yet... one day it will be

**N2TRUX** · 03-02-2005, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slonaker

..... My truck is lowered using just drop spindles. That has no effect on the sway bar because the lower control arm does not change in relation to the frame.

Good point. I was assuming if it were lowered that it would have dropped springs.

ok since you aren't lowered then you will need the factory stands....

1974gmc · 03-02-2005, 09:15 PM

went back to the wrecker and found a 70-72 pickup with them bolted on and even better he gave em to me for free!

**N2TRUX** · 03-02-2005, 10:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1974gmc

....even better he gave em to me for free!

That's sums up my favorite philisohpical quote. Cheap is good, but free is better....

1974gmc · 03-03-2005, 01:14 PM

i finished putting it in today and what a difference, a lot less body roll now!

1974gmc · 03-04-2005, 12:28 PM

here it is finished:

click on thumbnails for bigger pics

Justins76 · 03-06-2005, 10:50 PM

Looks good. Did you paint the bar too?

1974gmc · 03-07-2005, 01:30 AM

ya just some plain black paint, stands out from the rest of the dirt under there.

79gmcc15 · 03-07-2005, 02:47 AM

I am hopefuly in the market for a sway bar. what years will work on my truck and what size? 3/4, 1 ton? how much should I expect for a junk yard special? $50 to much?

1974gmc · 03-07-2005, 12:56 PM

i think any year from early 70's to late 80's should work. i got the sway bar off a late 80's 3/4 silverado, and the frame brackets off a 70-72 1/2. i only paid $40 canadian for my bar so 50 is a bit much

79gmcc15 · 03-07-2005, 04:42 PM

so a bar from a 1 ton would fit on a 1/2 ton? cause that would probly be the best.

Slonaker · 03-07-2005, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 79gmcc15

so a bar from a 1 ton would fit on a 1/2 ton? cause that would probly be the best.

Yes, and it would be thicker. I paid about $20 for my bar with the four pieces that hold the bushings. I was unable to find any trucks with bolt-on frame brackets (they go between the bushing and the frame, riveted in on trucks factory eqipped with swaybars), so I bought them from the dealer.

Slonaker

02-28-2005, 09:41 PM	#1
1974gmc In Progress Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kamloops, BC, Canada Posts: 312	sway bar picked up a sway bar from the wreckers today, but i couldn't ge tthe frame brackets off cause the rivits. how have you got them off? i got the sway bar off a 3/4 ton but ended up only being the 1 1/16 bar, i was hoping for the 1 1/4 but im still happy. i got the bar, new bushings, brackets, and new hardware for $80 canadian __________________ 1993 Chevrolet K2500 454 4L80E 1974 GMC 1/2t 2wd Stepside 305 auto sold 1985 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 5spd

03-01-2005, 12:09 AM	#3
Slonaker Insert Witty Text Here Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 3,415	I bought mine at the dealer too. It wasn't worth spending an afternoon on my back laying in oil soaked dirt to save $20. Slonaker __________________ '86 Chevy C10 (Sold 04/19/13 ) Stock '01 Silverado

03-01-2005, 12:45 AM	#4
1974gmc In Progress Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kamloops, BC, Canada Posts: 312	i phoned gm today and they wanted $32 canadian each, not worth it for me when torching them do u just heat them up and knock em out? __________________ 1993 Chevrolet K2500 454 4L80E 1974 GMC 1/2t 2wd Stepside 305 auto sold 1985 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 5spd

03-01-2005, 05:42 PM	#5
67chevemall Registered User Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: NB Posts: 3,367	I just took one off a 78 and it was bolted on 4 bolts a side? It's 4 sale $60.00w/brackets __________________ 1968 Chevy C10 307 3ott fleetside 1967 Chevy C/10 V8, 3spd, fleetside lwb.Sold 1967 Chev C/10 step, 383, M21. SOLD

03-01-2005, 06:12 PM	#6
Slonaker Insert Witty Text Here Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: San Antonio, TX Posts: 3,415	Look at all the trucks in the junkyard before you start removing rivets. Some might have been added with bolts, like mine, or might have been replaced with a bolt-in after an accident. If you get lucky, you can melt the heads off and hammer the rest through with a punch. If not, they will be like the rivets on my upper ball joints that each took about 20 minutes of hammering to push them through after the heads were ground off. Slonaker __________________ '86 Chevy C10 (Sold 04/19/13 ) Stock '01 Silverado

02-28-2005, 10:27 PM	#2
78chevstepside Registered User Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: lacenter, washington Posts: 718	I recently added a sway bar to my 78 and love the results. The brackets on those are rivoted on. I know of 5 ways to get them off 1. torch easiest 2. drill 3. grinder 4 . chisel hardest. 5. sawsall. I like the grinder or torch method the best. I went down to the chevy dealer and bought new ones 16 dollars each .

03-01-2005, 10:13 PM	#8
1974gmc In Progress Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kamloops, BC, Canada Posts: 312	ya i guess i should have looked around at the other trucks to see if any were bolted in. thanks for the info! __________________ 1993 Chevrolet K2500 454 4L80E 1974 GMC 1/2t 2wd Stepside 305 auto sold 1985 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 5spd

03-02-2005, 12:37 AM	#9
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	If your truck is lowered consider either the low profile ones the ECE sells, or don't run them at all.... __________________ Follow me on Facebook and Instagram @N2trux.com Articles- "Jake" the 84 to 74 crewcab "Elwood" the77_Remix 85 GMC Sierra "Scarlett" "Refining Sierra"

03-02-2005, 02:07 AM	#10
1974gmc In Progress Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kamloops, BC, Canada Posts: 312	would it be possible to bolt the sway bar brackets directly to the frame without the frame bracket? __________________ 1993 Chevrolet K2500 454 4L80E 1974 GMC 1/2t 2wd Stepside 305 auto sold 1985 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 5spd

03-02-2005, 09:35 AM	#11
N2TRUX Happy to be here Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Cypress, TX Posts: 39,021	Yes it is possible. If your truck is stock height it wouldn't be advisable due to the angle, but if it's lowered it will work just fine. I bought a set of the low profile stands from ECE for 20.00...

03-02-2005, 04:01 PM	#14
1974gmc In Progress Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kamloops, BC, Canada Posts: 312	no its nots lowered yet... one day it will be __________________ 1993 Chevrolet K2500 454 4L80E 1974 GMC 1/2t 2wd Stepside 305 auto sold 1985 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 5spd

03-02-2005, 09:15 PM	#16
1974gmc In Progress Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kamloops, BC, Canada Posts: 312	went back to the wrecker and found a 70-72 pickup with them bolted on and even better he gave em to me for free! __________________ 1993 Chevrolet K2500 454 4L80E 1974 GMC 1/2t 2wd Stepside 305 auto sold 1985 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 5spd

03-03-2005, 01:14 PM	#18
1974gmc In Progress Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kamloops, BC, Canada Posts: 312	i finished putting it in today and what a difference, a lot less body roll now! __________________ 1993 Chevrolet K2500 454 4L80E 1974 GMC 1/2t 2wd Stepside 305 auto sold 1985 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 5spd

03-04-2005, 12:28 PM	#19
1974gmc In Progress Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kamloops, BC, Canada Posts: 312	here it is finished: click on thumbnails for bigger pics __________________ 1993 Chevrolet K2500 454 4L80E 1974 GMC 1/2t 2wd Stepside 305 auto sold 1985 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 5spd

03-06-2005, 10:50 PM	#20
Justins76 OutOfMyMind & I'llNeverKnowWhy Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Another world, some other time Posts: 672	Looks good. Did you paint the bar too? __________________ -Justin-Out of my mind and I'll never know why 1976 Chevrolet Silverado C10 350 4bbl / TH350 Big10 longbed 1986 Pontiac Firebird T-Top 5.0L TPI 700R4 WS6 1992 Pontiac Firebird T-Top 5.0L TBI 700R4 My cardomain page I don't like to save, it's more fun to spend!!



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03-07-2005, 01:30 AM	#21
1974gmc In Progress Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kamloops, BC, Canada Posts: 312	ya just some plain black paint, stands out from the rest of the dirt under there. __________________ 1993 Chevrolet K2500 454 4L80E 1974 GMC 1/2t 2wd Stepside 305 auto sold 1985 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 5spd

03-07-2005, 02:47 AM	#22
79gmcc15 Gettin It One Pice At A Time Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: everett, washington Posts: 2,688	I am hopefuly in the market for a sway bar. what years will work on my truck and what size? 3/4, 1 ton? how much should I expect for a junk yard special? $50 to much? __________________ RIP ELJAY Work In Progress 1979 GMC C1500 Trailering Special. Getting the truck done, one piece at a time. “You can tell a lot about a fellow’s character by his way of eating jellybeans.”Ronald Reagan “I don’t know the key to success but I know the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” Bill Cosby

03-07-2005, 12:56 PM	#23
1974gmc In Progress Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Kamloops, BC, Canada Posts: 312	i think any year from early 70's to late 80's should work. i got the sway bar off a late 80's 3/4 silverado, and the frame brackets off a 70-72 1/2. i only paid $40 canadian for my bar so 50 is a bit much __________________ 1993 Chevrolet K2500 454 4L80E 1974 GMC 1/2t 2wd Stepside 305 auto sold 1985 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 5spd

03-07-2005, 04:42 PM	#24
79gmcc15 Gettin It One Pice At A Time Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: everett, washington Posts: 2,688	so a bar from a 1 ton would fit on a 1/2 ton? cause that would probly be the best. __________________ RIP ELJAY Work In Progress 1979 GMC C1500 Trailering Special. Getting the truck done, one piece at a time. “You can tell a lot about a fellow’s character by his way of eating jellybeans.”Ronald Reagan “I don’t know the key to success but I know the key to failure is trying to please everybody.” Bill Cosby

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