Sway Bar Installation Help...

[7tee]

I will be getting my 1 1/4" front sway bar in a few days for my '70 and my question is, does the front end stay on the ground when they are installed? Thanks Ed...

[fastpace]

When installing you should have the suspension loaded. If there is enough room you can jack it up with the sway bar end links attached to the a-arms, lower the truck back down, crawl under and lift the sway bar up and mark and drill for the center bushings, bolt up the bushings then tighten up the end links.

The easier option is pulling it onto a set of ramps or something secure for the tires to rest on with some height.

[67ChevyRedneck]

No drilling required. The holes for the frame mounts are there.

*IF* you want to mount the bar directly to the frame (if you have a lowered truck), then you can drill the holes, or buy an ECE "lowered mount" and use all the stock holes.

[Already Gone]

On trucks that came form the factory with a front sway bar. Is the sway bar completely bolted on or is some of it riveted in place. I ask because on my previous truck it didn't have the factory sway bar and when I added it I believe I had to drill out a couple of rivets where the rear of the sway bar bolted up.

[swamp rat]

Originally Posted by Already Gone

On trucks that came form the factory with a front sway bar. Is the sway bar completely bolted on or is some of it riveted in place. I ask because on my previous truck it didn't have the factory sway bar and when I added it I believe I had to drill out a couple of rivets where the rear of the sway bar bolted up.

Bolted, been covered a lot, try doing a search for front swaybar install ect.

[Already Gone]

Originally Posted by swamp rat

Bolted, been covered a lot, try doing a search for front swaybar install ect.

I had looked and never found the answer to my question. There are lots of sway bar install threads but never seen my question asked, answered or explained. Thanks for the info.

[FL71C10]

This is a really good thread

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...light=sway+bar

[7tee]

Originally Posted by fastpace

When installing you should have the suspension loaded. If there is enough room you can jack it up with the sway bar end links attached to the a-arms, lower the truck back down, crawl under and lift the sway bar up and mark and drill for the center bushings, bolt up the bushings then tighten up the end links.

The easier option is pulling it onto a set of ramps or something secure for the tires to rest on with some height.

"Loaded" is the answer to the question I was looking for. I couldn't find this in the search for help threads, thanks fastpace...ed...

[67ChevyRedneck]

Originally Posted by Already Gone

I had looked and never found the answer to my question. There are lots of sway bar install threads but never seen my question asked, answered or explained. Thanks for the info.

Factory installed bar mounts (on the frame) were riveted in place and the rear rivet is shared between the bracket, frame, and a cross member.

When you install brackets on a non factory sway bar truck, you have to remove the rivet from the cross member to install the rear bracket mount, then a bolt holds the cross member, frame, bracket in place.

[7tee]

Originally Posted by 67ChevyRedneck

Factory installed bar mounts (on the frame) were riveted in place and the rear rivet is shared between the bracket, frame, and a cross member.

When you install brackets on a non factory sway bar truck, you have to remove the rivet from the cross member to install the rear bracket mount, then a bolt holds the cross member, frame, bracket in place.

Thanks 67, will do...

[Myoldtruck]

You didnt say if this is a stock gm bar or a aftermarket bar. I just installed a performanceonline front sway bar, had the truck prepped for the new bar, I drilled out the rivets, had the new stock mounting brackets installed. Guess what, aftermarket bar I got didnt use any of the oem mounts or holes. I installed with truck suspension under load. I did have to turn the tie rod outer adjustment clamps 90degrees so their bolts didnt hit the sway bar.

I did notice a good improvement in handling right away.

[7tee]

Update;

Received and installed my front ECE sway bar. As mentioned above, being that there was not a factory sway bar installed, I did have to grind down two rivet heads and knock the rest of it out with a punch. Installation was pretty much straight forward and the handling difference is amazing. Thanks to all for your input...ed...