Hey ART.....

[SCOTI]

What's the deal w/the sway bars offered w/the C-10 Strong Arm kit?

I would have thought the bar would be @ least the same size as a factory HD bar from the 73~87 trucks (1.25") but it's only 1.125". That means when I finish up my install, I will actually down-size my front bar when switching over to bags. Can you not get a 1.25" bar from Addco that will fit this particular application?

Also.... the sway bar brackets supplied w/the kit that are for the frame don't match up to the holes like the original brackets. I would have to drill one of the holes in a slightly diff location vs. what I currently have. Seems it would be straight forward to obtain an aftermarket sway-bar that simply bolts in. What's that saying: "No sense in re-inventing the wheel......".

[67Fleet]

Yeah, that doesn't make much sense at all. SCOTI, I know it's counterproductive to do so, but why don't you weld up some brackets on the LCA's so you can run your 1-1/4" sway bar?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by 67Fleet

Yeah, that doesn't make much sense at all. SCOTI, I know it's counterproductive to do so, but why don't you weld up some brackets on the LCA's so you can run your 1-1/4" sway bar?

I thought about doing just that but wanted to gain any useful insight for their reasoning.

If it's purely a manufacturing decision (that was the closest thing the aftermarket offers) vs. an engineering decision (the larger bar inhibits suspension performance somehow), that makes a difference. My guess is it was a manufacturing decision.

[-Greg72]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

What's the deal w/the sway bars offered w/the C-10 Strong Arm kit?

I would have thought the bar would be @ least the same size as a factory HD bar from the 73~87 trucks (1.25") but it's only 1.125". That means when I finish up my install, I will actually down-size my front bar when switching over to bags. Can you not get a 1.25" bar from Addco that will fit this particular application?

Also.... the sway bar brackets supplied w/the kit that are for the frame don't match up to the holes like the original brackets. I would have to drill one of the holes in a slightly diff location vs. what I currently have. Seems it would be straight forward to obtain an aftermarket sway-bar that simply bolts in. What's that saying: "No sense in re-inventing the wheel......".

Perhaps the lever arms are shorter on the ART bar, than the factory piece?? That would give it potentially the same stiffness as a thicker bar with longer arms.....


.

[SCOTI]

I could line them up side-to-side to verify but the 'stock' bar utilizes the 'solid-mount' style bushings (it's just like the frame mounts) @ the a-arm & the ART supplied bar (from Addco) utilizes 'end-link' style bushings so they may not be exact.

Where they bolt to the frame shouldn't be different though & the brackets supplied w/the kit to mount the bar to the frame didn't seem to align w/the holes in my frame @ all (I'm not using the factory sway-bar stanchions.... my bar is/was mounted directly to the frame). It's possible things will work fine w/some creative installation techniques (a BFH).

My initial thought was why the different style bar in the first place; why not a direct swap & why not a 1.25" or larger bar since these trucks are nose heavy?

[Tony@AirRideTech]

I have not done my homework yet but I had thought the standard 1/2 bar was 1" in diameter and typically used the clamshell control arm bracket. That bracket design does not lend itself well to great degree changes like air suspensded vehicles go through. Now we all now that a factory suspended truck can and will artculate as much as an airsuspended vehicle with the right load and road conditions but they alwsy reside at ride height.... Now you say that you bar is already 1.25 correct? Is that a 3/4 ton bar ?

[gringoloco]

Originally Posted by Tony@AirRideTech

Now you say that you bar is already 1.25 correct? Is that a 3/4 ton bar ?

Yep. It's an upgrade. The 1/2 ton bars were 7/8 or 15/16". 3/4 ton were 1 1/8" and the HD and dually/flatbed/bread truck bars were 1 1/4" IIRC...

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by Tony@AirRideTech

I have not done my homework yet but I had thought the standard 1/2 bar was 1" in diameter and typically used the clamshell control arm bracket. That bracket design does not lend itself well to great degree changes like air suspensded vehicles go through. Now we all now that a factory suspended truck can and will artculate as much as an airsuspended vehicle with the right load and road conditions but they alwsy reside at ride height.... Now you say that you bar is already 1.25 correct? Is that a 3/4 ton bar ?

Stock 1/2 ton bars were 1 1/16"; HD bars on the 3/4 & 1-tons were 1.25". Both utilize the 'clamshell' style bushings @ the frame & a-arm mounting points.

Since my 68 never had a bar, I sourced the HD one from a 79 model dually & then installed it w/greasable urethane bushings from Energy Suspension.
I understand the height changes that can occur on air-ride equipped vehicles so that makes sense. Mine typically stays @ the same height all the time . . . .... Low.

Are these Addco bars ART-specific items or is that what Addco offers for C-10's & other sizes are available?

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

What's the deal w/the sway bars offered w/the C-10 Strong Arm kit..... Can you not get a 1.25" bar from Addco that will fit this particular application?

Tony...... Any ideas on this?
Is a larger version of the ART/Addco bar available? What is the actual application of the bar through Addco?

[-Greg72]

Originally Posted by SCOTI

Tony...... Any ideas on this?
Is a larger version of the ART/Addco bar available? What is the actual application of the bar through Addco?

Scoti,

Playing devil's advocate for a second.... does your truck really need that much front bar?? Thicker front sway bars are only going to increase understeer... which seems like something these trucks don't need more of.

To make the truck more neutral in the corners, it seems like the real "magic" is in finding a good "rate" on a rear bar to compliment whatever you've got up front.

....then again, you may already be 3 steps ahead of me with your planning.

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by -Greg72

Scoti,

Playing devil's advocate for a second.... does your truck really need that much front bar?? Thicker front sway bars are only going to increase understeer... which seems like something these trucks don't need more of.

To make the truck more neutral in the corners, it seems like the real "magic" is in finding a good "rate" on a rear bar to compliment whatever you've got up front.

....then again, you may already be 3 steps ahead of me with your planning.

True. I feel the larger bar is a bonus when using the truck for work actually.

In its current state w/dropped spindles & cut stock coils, it felt nice & solid. My thought was w/bags being installed in front (I already had them out back), keeping @ least the same size bar would be wise. However, the Addco bushings, links, & related hardware seem 'puny' vs. what was on there (urethane 'clamshell' bushings on stock a-arms & stock HD bar).

[Tony@AirRideTech]

not ignoring you ....... I am trying to get my ducks in a row.....