Sway Bar

[kaycee]

I put front a-arms from an 85 suburban on my 63 and everything pretty much fel in place with the necessary mods that need done. Power steering allso so much nicer to drive now and stop, pedal is kinda soft but may need to bleed again. I all grabbed the sway bar from the sub. and it seems to be to wide for the a- arms now, has anyone else ran into this problem and what was your cure

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by kaycee

I put front a-arms from an 85 suburban on my 63 and everything pretty much fel in place with the necessary mods that need done. Power steering allso so much nicer to drive now and stop, pedal is kinda soft but may need to bleed again. I all grabbed the sway bar from the sub. and it seems to be to wide for the a- arms now, has anyone else ran into this problem and what was your cure

.
I know you are asking about the bar, but you did mention a soft peddle. Try adjusting the rod out so it engages the booster sooner. I bled and bled, but after I adjusted the rod out, I almost went through the windshield.

[nsb29]

I assume what you’re saying is you used the entire K member from the 85 when you say factory sway bar is it from the 85 I would think it should line up to to the A arms do you have brackets on your frame for sway bar I don’t believe originally your truck would’ve had a sway bar Pictures of what you’re doing with help

[kaycee]

No only used everything from the 85 bolted to my 63-k-crossmember steering ,susp and all was rebuilt ,bushings ,tierods ,ball joints. No the sway bar is an add on allso from the 85.
I will try the brake pedal and see if it helps Thanks

[Chevy Fleetside]

So how much wider is the sway bar. I used 75 year model stuff under my truck but didn't have a problem with the sway bar. Maybe the sway bar is bent. If you measure from end to end I can do the same on the sway bar I have here at my house that I matched up to my 65 control arms and seems it would even fit those. I haven't installed it yet because I don't have the front brackets.

[SkinnyG]

I put the entire front crossmember of an '85 'Burb under my '61 and fought the factory sway bar.

When I did all poly bushings on my '77 C10 I fought the sway bar.

I think you just fight these; it's kind of a dumb design, really - lots of binding.

[kaycee]

Originally Posted by Chevy Fleetside

So how much wider is the sway bar. I used 75 year model stuff under my truck but didn't have a problem with the sway bar. Maybe the sway bar is bent. If you measure from end to end I can do the same on the sway bar I have here at my house that I matched up to my 65 control arms and seems it would even fit those. I haven't installed it yet because I don't have the front brackets.

My sway bar is 37.5" outside/outside where they mount on a-arm , 39.5" to the first bend. How much of a stub do you have sticking inside of your a-arm ?

[Chevy Fleetside]

Originally Posted by kaycee

My sway bar is 37.5" outside/outside where they mount on a-arm , 39.5" to the first bend. How much of a stub do you have sticking inside of your a-arm ?

I have one in my garage that was from an 81 year model and it measures the same. I mocked it up to my 65 lower control arms and it seems like it would fit perfect. You might just have to muscle it into place like some have mentioned.

[kaycee]

Well call me a dumbass !! So I mocked it up with the bushings about 1/2" from the end and put it up to see where I was at on the holes of a-arm,yeah I was off about 1" + by the eyeball .After aborting that plan for a few days I got to looking at it yesterday and slid the bushings up about 2.5 " and damed if it wasn't real close to bolting up. I got it all buttoned tonight ,sometimes I'm my worst enemy After it was installed I have about 1 1/2" stub on the backside Thanks for the help sorry about wasting your time

[64shortbox]

Glad to hear you got it all figured out. Like you stated sometimes you just need to step away for a while and rethink. And thanks for keeping us updated.

[SkinnyG]

We appreciate that you came back and posted what happened.

Five years from now, somebody is going to experience the same thing, and be so thankful you posted the solution!

[LostMy65]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

We appreciate that you came back and posted what happened.

Five years from now, somebody is going to experience the same thing, and be so thankful you posted the solution!

Yes, I agree!

[SCOTI]

Originally Posted by SkinnyG

We appreciate that you came back and posted what happened.

Five years from now, somebody is going to experience the same thing, and be so thankful you posted the solution!

Originally Posted by LostMy65

Yes, I agree!

Agree #3.

[nsb29]

Yep