Rear sway bar- Is it worth it?

[mrtleavitt]

Hey guys, I've had a rear sway bar hanging in my garage for a while now. It's powdercoated and all the brackets are as well so it looks real nice. I was wondering if I should put it on my truck, what do you guys think? Would it make my street truck handle any better or would it basically just improve something that towed or had a heavy load in the bed?
It's a 1969 F100 swb- 428 street truck. Thanks guys.

[FORDification]

As long as you have a front sway bar already installed, I'd say go for it! (You don't want to have a rear bar installed without a front bar, it'll make your truck a little squirrely.)

Adding it to work in conjunction with the front sway bar, you probably won't notice much of a difference in normal day-to-day driving, but when you start hauling/towing it'll definitely help.

[mrtleavitt]

That's the thing though. This truck never ever hauls or tows. I already have the front sway bar but I don't want the extra swaybar under there if it won't give any performance in an unloaded truck. I like the uncluttered look without the rear sway bar but if it would help in everyday driving and racing around town (like taking fast corners and what not) then I'd go for it.

[Bullitt390]

I felt adding a rear sway bar did more to improve the handling than just the front bar alone.

Maybe that's just me though.

Josh

[71cc]

On my 67 SWB with a 460 , a rear sway bar actually hurt predictable handling It understeered. Also it made the suspension so rigid that the frame was flexing and it cracked the top portion of the frame rails on both sides. Those cracks were in the space between cab and bed on top of the rail. I took the rear bar off and just running the front and it does well.

[BobbyFord]

On my 67 SWB with a 460 , a rear sway bar actually hurt predictable handling It understeered. Also it made the suspension so rigid that the frame was flexing and it cracked the top portion of the frame rails on both sides. Those cracks were in the space between cab and bed on top of the rail. I took the rear bar off and just running the front and it does well.

Do you have any suspension mods.? Lowered?

[cdeal28078]

I only have the front on mine and have a 460. I added it when it was a 351w powered truck. The front made a HUGE difference and I recommend it for everyone. Sounds like it hurt 71cc's truck so I would keep that in mind.
Clint

[mrtleavitt]

We're talking about rear sway bars. 71cc was talking about a rear bar hurting the handling not the front.

[71cc]

My truck has the 6 cyl. springs up front so it sets a little low. I removed 3 out of the original 9 leafs from the rear spring pack. It sets level and rides a little better. It does not handle weight in the bed like before but it hauls all I need. I initially added the front bar from a 79 f350. Handling is very predictable that way. I then found a 7/8 bar from the front of an old cherokee 70's ? era. I mounted behind the rear axle basically mirrored to the front bar. Then made some plates that bolted to the spring plate to attach the end links. It sounds confusing but was very simple and hidden from view. I removed it because it was so rigid it did not allow the suspension to work. I think road compliance was limited is the main reason handling became unpredictable, especially on bumps and dips.

[mrtleavitt]

It sounds like the rear sway bar doesn't work so well on the bumps. Thanks for the input guys.

[Bullitt390]

The lesson here is to install a properly DESIGNED sway bar and not just rig something up.

A rear sway bar would mount in FRONT of the rear axle, not to the rear like 71cc.

Josh

[mrtleavitt]

The one I grabbed came from a mid '70's F250 that mounts in front of the rear axle. Sounds like I'm just gonna have to install it and see if I like it.

[71cc]

The lesson here is to install a properly DESIGNED sway bar and not just rig something up.

A rear sway bar would mount in FRONT of the rear axle, not to the rear like 71cc.

Josh

I think you are missing the point..An anti-sway bar is not a complicated thing to engineer. It counteracts forces from one side of the suspension against the other. The diameter of bar,leverage advantage from the bars center, and where it attaches determine how effective it is. The problem is a rear bar is so effective that it twists the frame on a F-100. It may work on a heavier frame and truck. As far as convincing you that it matters if the bar is mounted for/aft/upside down is not the issue.

[averagef250]

It doesn't matter how you mount a swaybar, the dynamics of one is real straightforward. The main issue is tuning it's effectiveness. If it's too effective you get what 71cc experienced. If it's too weeny you won't know it's there.

I have no experience with the light trucks, just muscle cars and 1 ton 4x4's that tow like Petes. My feeling is that rear swaybars are good things though.

[cdeal28078]

We're talking about rear sway bars. 71cc was talking about a rear bar hurting the handling not the front.

I understand that it is the rear he is talking about. I was just stating what little I knew I guess.
I do know that when I air up my shocks and don't have a load it makes the truck real squirrely. Might be that it is just sitting too high in the back though it is only an inch or so higher than normal. I was also pointing out that 71cc's had problems with one on an F100 and he should keep that in mind.
I love the front. Have not tried a back but probably won't. If I had one laying around I would try it if it didn't cost me any wasted money. Pull it off if I didn't see a difference Iiked
clint