Anti-sway bars

[gnutruk]

Hi all, first post here.

 

I've pretty much decided to add on a Hellwig rear anti-sway bar to improve the cornering, but am undecided if I ought to do the front also.

 

For those who have changed out the front stock bar to the Hellwig, did you notice any handling improvement?  Would you do it again?

 

And; Hellwig is the brand I've heard about, but are there other brands that make a comparable product?

 

Thanks for looking into this.

 

gnubie

[Shaners]

Welcome to the forum.

 

Hellwig makes some very good suspension stuff, so don't be afraid to buy from them.  A rear bar will help your truck out and should be an easy installation.  As far as going to a larger diameter aftermarket front bar is concerned, I would try the rear first and see if you get the results you want, and if it's not enough then look into putting a little larger diameter bar on the front.

[carguru]

Welcome to the forum.  I recommend doing both bars, but I'm a bit biased since I have both on my truck.  The Hellwig front bar is solid. It is the same diameter as the stock.  The stock bar is hollow.  Trust me, it will corner so much better with the solid front bar.  If you don't change the front out, at least change the bushings to polyurethane bushings and endlinks to get a bit more performance on the stock front bar.  I installed the rear bar a week earlier than the front.  Handling was tightened significantly when I did the front one.  As for alternatives Tbyrne (preferred vendor) also sells the Hotchkiss kit.  It has both front and rear.  Hope this helps.

[Markeaux]

I have always heard that the front and rear antisway bars (or lack thereof) work in concert, and that care needs to be taken when matching them otherwise too much oversteer or understeer will occur.

[carguru]

I have always heard that the front and rear antisway bars (or lack thereof) work in concert, and that care needs to be taken when matching them otherwise too much oversteer or understeer will occur.

That is true.  You can tune the handling with matching the antiswaybars.  Naturally the stock configuration is made to understeer when cornering.  With the stock front and stiffening the rear, it is more neutral, but will have more of a tendency to oversteer if pushed too hot into a corner.  Adding poly bushings to the front and using rubber bushings on the rear bar would actually make the handling more neutral, but the steering response will be a little slower, a little more wallowy.  It will be improved over stock front bar only.  With both bars, the truck will handle very neutral.  If pushed too hard, the stock tires will be the limiting factor in this case.

[gnutruk]

Thanks for your replies, Shaners, Carguru, and Markeaux.

 

Now I'm figuring on putting in the front anti-sway bar too, because of those points you guys make about the balance of the suspension.  Mostly though, I just want the best handling possible - especially cornering - while keeping the truck height at stock. Also, maybe I can save the price of a six pack on shipping if I order them together.  

 

I'm wondering if the Hellwig front bar already comes with the poly bushings, or do I have to add them in?

 

Best price I found so far on the web is $149.00 for the rear alone. Figure double that when the front bar is added, then about $35.00 for drop ship. Anyone seen any better prices recently?

 

gnubie

[RyanbabZ71]

where did you find the rear at?  I cant find it anywhere

[carguru]

Both kits come with the poly bushings.  Just make sure you grease the U bushings or it will make a creaking noise.  

[gnutruk]

"where did you find the rear at?  I cant find it anywhere

Ryan"

 

Hi Ryan:

 

I found two stores here in CA that offer the Hellwig rear sway-bar: Central 4 Wheel Drive in Sacramento; 1-800-676-2325, and Truck performance Center, somewhere in So. Cal, I think; 1-800-719-8100.  Both charging $149.00 + shipping + sales tax(CA residents only).

 

However, my understanding is that these stores don't necessarily keep the sway bars in stock. Instead, they arrainge to have them drop-shipped from Hellwig, which is south of Fresno in the Cal central valley.  And this may be how most stores do it, whether they're web stores or brick-and-mortar.

 

But since I'm now getting the front bar too, I think I'll give JC Whitney and/or Ultimate Truck and Van (1-877-974-8488) a call tomorrow AM. Anyhow, that's what a helpful friend suggested.

 

gnutruk

[siskiyou]

I just installed the Hellwig rear sway bar last weekend. I wouldn't want to try to talk you out of both but I didn't notice any over or understeer and I pushed it pretty hard a couple of times. The real test will be this weekend when I tow my travel trailer. I think I paid $124.00 at Summit Racing. They did not have the current part number but they stocked the part. Part number 7634

[GnatGoSplat]

I have heard good things about Hotchkis sway bars too.

I don't know which is better though.

[carguru]

Hotchkiss makes an excellent kit also.  Their kit includes both front and rear bars with all the hardware.  Not sure if the rear is a bolt up or not.  In one of the older Hotchkiss kits for trucks, you had to drill a hole in the frame for the endlinks.  Wasn't so appealing.