Addco rear swaybar with 4-inch rear drop?

69timemachine · Post by **69timemachine** » Sat Jun 21, 2008 3:55 pm

I'm planning on ordering an Addco rear swaybar to complement the front one I added when I did my suspension drop on my '69. I installed the DJM 4" shackle/hanger rear drop and am curious if anyone has added the Addco bar with this drop. Are there any clearance issues I need to be aware of? The main area of concern after looking at their instructions online is where the bar rises over the differential. Is there a chance of it hitting the bed floor if the suspension bottoms? I'd just like to know before I order it. Thanks!

green70 · Post by **green70** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 1:09 am

i've been wondering the same thing

69timemachine · Post by **69timemachine** » Fri Jul 04, 2008 11:44 am

Well, when my stimulus check makes it in next week, I've got a pile of parts to order. So I guess I'll just wing it and go ahead and order it. We'll find out one way or the other.

If there are clearance issues, maybe it's possible to flip it to the underside of the axle. That would decrease ground clearance under the axle, but dropped trucks like ours are pretty much only going to see the street anyways. It might take different connector links to do it that way, but I'm not sure. We'll see.

By the way, niiiiice truck!

69timemachine · Post by **69timemachine** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 6:28 pm

Well, after a small delay due to an error in NPD's catalog resulting in having to return one bar and order the proper bar, I finally have the Addco rear sway bar installed.

On trucks that have not been dropped, the Addco bar looks like it would fit fine. However, on 4" dropped trucks, it appears that the bar will hit the bed floor just before it hits the snubbers. Also, due to the geometry change, it appears it may also smack the shocks and/or bind against the frame rails due to the decreased suspension clearance.

However, I was able to flip the bar upside-down AND backwards and install it behind the axle. Installation was fairly easy and I was able do it using only the supplied hardware. As far as I can see, mounting it this way shouldn't cause any clearance problems for the spare tire carrier or installing a rear-mounted fuel tank (which I plan to do in the future). There were a couple of flies in the ointment though:

First, the curvature of the bar doesn't quite match the shape of the axle with it mounted in this position. This is mainly just a concern only as far as looks go; it doesn't affect the function of the bar. With the drop, I have roughly 4" of travel left before I hit the snubbers. I measured the bar's swing and it has 5" worth of swing before it bumps the pumpkin, which it'll never be able to do with only 4" of suspension travel.

Second, the location of the driver's side sway bar clamp is in VERY close proximity to the axle vent/brake hose/tee fitting attached to that axle tube. I'm going to stop by the hardware store and get a few 7/16" copper washers to put under the fitting so I can turn it 90-degrees and get the brake lines away from the bar clamp. The copper washers should help to seal the vent fitting and keep water & dust from entering the axle.

Third, if you turn the fitting 90 degrees, you'll have to bend new rear axle brake lines to accomodate the change. Feel free to try and pass the line through the bar clamp, but it is VERY tight on space and will likely be impossible to thread it into the tee. It's easier to just install copper washers, turn the fitting, and make new axle brake lines.

That's about it. I haven't gotten to drive it yet since I'm still working on the new brake lines, but I rocked the truck side-to-side and it is STOUT. It should handle well!

td · Post by td » Sat Jul 19, 2008 7:22 pm

that is awsome! i want one to

i want one to

let us know how she drives.

427blackpearl · Post by **427blackpearl** » Sat Jul 19, 2008 9:02 pm

me likey a lot

i want one too

td · Post by td » Sat Jul 19, 2008 11:16 pm

how much $ they set you back? front and rear?

69timemachine · Post by **69timemachine** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:02 am

Thanks everyone! I got them from NPD. Front (Addco# 113) was $115.95 and the rear (Addco# 340) was $136.95 I believe. Just be sure you give them the Addco number because the proper rear bar for my F100 only says F250 in the catalog. Their catalog said I needed the F-5A772-7 bar when I actually needed the F-5A772-11. Summit Racing's website is good for verifying the proper Addco part number for your truck, but their prices on the sway bars can't touch NPD's.

Oh, and if anyone doesn't want to drill holes in their drop beams to mount the front bar, check out the brackets I made for mine:

td · Post by td » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:28 am

i would love too see some pics of the front but the link

didn't work for me. THANKS for the price and part # info!

69timemachine · Post by **69timemachine** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 12:48 am

That's weird; it's working fine on mine. Here's the link for the entire thread where I posted my info for the front swaybar brackets. Hope it works and hope it helps you out.

http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... highlight=

427blackpearl · Post by **427blackpearl** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:12 am

that will be my next order for pearl

td · Post by td » Sun Jul 20, 2008 9:52 am

thanks alot 69timemachine! like i didn't have enough stuff i want to spend money on.

once again let us know how she handles the curves now that you've stiffined her up.

69timemachine · Post by **69timemachine** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 10:26 am

Glad I could help generate "economic stimulus"!

Guys like us and trucks like ours are going to be the saviors of the economy!

I'll be sure to let you all know how it handles. It may be another week or so because I've got the seat out getting re-upholstered in black Ranger vinyl and I'm also installing the new floor mat. For some odd reason, it's easier to drive with a seat.

427blackpearl · Post by **427blackpearl** » Sun Jul 20, 2008 11:44 am

yea but you look cool sitting low in the cab with no seat.
(i drove mine that way)

69timemachine · Post by **69timemachine** » Sun Jul 27, 2008 6:45 pm

Well, I finally got to take my truck on a short drive this afternoon with the new rear swaybar installed. All I can think to say is wow. It just feels so sure-footed now! Before, it felt like you were just sort of floating along on air and hoping you never needed to make an evasive maneuver. Now you're cruising along and you can feel that there's pavement under you and it feels like you're actually glued to it. Bring on the evasive maneuvers!

The closest comparison I can give is for you to drive a stock bump, then go drive a brand new F150. My truck actually seems to ride very much like my brother-in-law's stock '06 F150 SuperCrew now. I don't know how much of the ride to contribute to my suspension drop, poly bushings, and front swaybar, but I can tell you that the combination of that plus the rear swaybar just feels awesome to me! I totally reccomend it if you're looking for that sporty truck feel and ride!

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Addco rear swaybar with 4-inch rear drop?

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