Straight axle front sway bar

[Uncle Skip]

Gentlemen and ladies.
A front sway bar for a straight axle truck is an absolute - must second only to disk brakes.
You can make one for a couple of bucks if you're good at scrounging stuff up from the junk yard.
Here is the parts list.
1. Bronco II 4x4 front sway bar. Get all the brackets and stuff that goes with it. You won't need the links that connect it to the frame though.
The piece that bolts the bushing brackets to the frame is cut down and used behind the axle to mount the sway bar bushings. I also used this plate to find the hole centers for the C-channel front mount.
2. A piece of 2x1 heavy duty C-channel.
3. Two good rear offset sway bar links from a big Bronco or F-250.
4. Some kind of "L" shaped bracket to mount the upper part of the link to the frame. I used a motor mount bracket from a '55 chevy 6-cylinder but the rear of a late model Camero has a bracket that works just as well. I think its a sway bar mount but it's L-shaped and is located in the front of the rear wheel well.
5. 4 ea. - 3/8" grade 8 bolts and nylon lock nuts to mount the C-channel bracket to the axle.
6. 4 ea. - 3/8" grade 8 bolts and nylon lock nuts to mount the "L" bracket to the frame.
7. The mounting holes in the C-channel are on 3.4" centers. The notches for the axle are on 1.73" centers. You don't need to notch them too deep --- just enough to keep the bracket from rotation on the axle beam.

Take a look at the pictures of the parts needed and the final installation. If you have any questions, just ask.
I might even make a kit if anyone needs one and doesn't want to build their own.
Good luck.
U@ss

[Slick Fan]

Nice looking upgrade.

Is there room to mount the top end of the links higher up, so the bottom end isn't the lowest part of the suspension? The reason I ask, is that it would be a bummer to catch it on a curb or something similar.

[Max]

I just asked Skip about that the other day and he said yes, they can be mounted higher up on the frame. Matter of fact, he plans on flipping his mounts to raise it 1"-2" or so.

[johnboy13]

Sorry to bring such an old thread to the top, but do you still have the pics available? They aren't showing and I can only find two in your profile. Thanks, John

[ICEMAN6166]

Gentlemen and ladies.

A front sway bar for a straight axle truck is an absolute - must second only to disk brakes.

You can make one for a couple of bucks if you're good at scrounging stuff up from the junk yard.

Here is the parts list.

1. Bronco II 4x4 front sway bar. Get all the brackets and stuff that goes with it. You won't need the links that connect it to the frame though.

The piece that bolts the bushing brackets to the frame is cut down and used behind the axle to mount the sway bar bushings. I also used this plate to find the hole centers for the C-channel front mount.

2. A piece of 2x1 heavy duty C-channel.

3. Two good rear offset sway bar links from a big Bronco or F-250.

4. Some kind of "L" shaped bracket to mount the upper part of the link to the frame. I used a motor mount bracket from a '55 chevy 6-cylinder but the rear of a late model Camero has a bracket that works just as well. I think its a sway bar mount but it's L-shaped and is located in the front of the rear wheel well.

5. 4 ea. - 3/8" grade 8 bolts and nylon lock nuts to mount the C-channel bracket to the axle.

6. 4 ea. - 3/8" grade 8 bolts and nylon lock nuts to mount the "L" bracket to the frame.

7. The mounting holes in the C-channel are on 3.4" centers. The notches for the axle are on 1.73" centers. You don't need to notch them too deep --- just enough to keep the bracket from rotation on the axle beam.



Take a look at the pictures of the parts needed and the final installation. If you have any questions, just ask.

I might even make a kit if anyone needs one and doesn't want to build their own.

Good luck.

U@ss

the recent update made a pic issue, in order to see older pics you need to change the tag from [albumimg] to [album]

[johnboy13]

thank you. Looks like that's just what I need to do.

[milldogg22]

on my 63 i put a sway bar from a 94' full size bronco, the front frame width is the same on the trucks, and the bar has a bend in it and it clears the shocks. i will post some pics as soon as i can take them....