Anyone out there have a rear sway bar on a coil spring/swing arm 1/2 ton SWB?

I just got my new front sway bar on, it's great. Seeing as it was a really easy install, I am now curious about a rear sway bar. Is it easy? Parts hard to come by? Share your experience/tips/advice, any would be appreciated.

-Benson

Check this site out

http://www.low69cst.freeservers.com/CamaroBar.htm

i've got a hellwig rear sway bar on mine it works good and was an easy installation

Cool site...thanks

sorry about all the pop ups, if you have any questions about how I did that feel free to ask.

you should go into business and sell kits for those camaro bars

Man, i'd like to, but full time job + full time upperdivision advanced accounting college = no time

what about leaf rears with blazer tanks?

I recently install a Camero rear swaybar ala Low69CST. But I made it a bolt-in. I don't know how these trucks handle without a front bar (always had one) but this rear bar made quite an improvement in the handling. I've got some pics of the install.
I also have a few extra sets of spacers, grade 8 bolts and bushing perches if anyone is interested. Also when you go looking for a sway bar look for an IROC-Z they have a larger diameter bar then any of the others including the Z28.

Another Pic

Complete kit for install.

I don't know how these trucks handle without a front bar
They handle like pigs in slop. I swear my door handles scrape the pavement when ever I take a turn at more than 5 MPH.

ill second that ...i love my sway bar and it hasn't even been in a week ..... went with the cheap rubber bushings ..didnt feel like paying 30 chones for poly's ...... not that important to me ... but i kinda wanna put in a rear one now ... :p

Is the camero bar better than the ones designed for these trucks? I've sold a bunch of Hellwig rears but have never used one or have any feedback from customers.

Low69cst/neonlarry,

I could not get to the server, will try again later. How about a complete list of parts/instructions. I am interested in the extra parts that you have, neon. Let me know how much and where to send the money.

I think the camaro swaybar is probably better than the aftermarket ones I have seen. I haven't seen all of them, but the ones I have seen hang down way too far. The stuff you will need to find is the swaybar it's self, and the brackets that hold it onto the frame. The iroc swaybar is much better than the one on the other camaros. Once you have that stuff, you will need new bushings, and end links, and the kit has all the rest of the parts in it. My dad is the one that did it, so I will have him let you know how much the kit will cost.

BTW, if anyone finds a iroc, get the front frame brace from it if it isn't too expensive. They are worth grabing to resell on ebay, or to anyone you know with a 3rd gen camaro. I think it is called a wonderbar, and I have a pic of one somewhere.

neonlarry,

We are talking the rear sway from the Iroc, correct?

MOTHERTRUCKERS if I'm not mistaken the Helwig Bar mounts on the trailing arms, you get much better leverage the way the Camero Bar mounts plus its up out of the way.

70 Longbed thats correct the rear bar from an IROC they are 15/16" the others are much smaller. You can get just about everything you need from the Camero. I chose to use Energy Suspension Greaseable Bushings and Also their End Links, just makes it that much stiffer. Take a good look at the parts in the last picture.

Somebody stealin my idea for profit??? Just kiddin. So you've driven your truck since you put that bar on Neonlarry? Mine still isn't road ready. College sucks sometimes.

I tried to print the thing about the Camaro sway bar, but only the blue thing at the top printed. What am I doing wrong?

my 92 rs has a 7/8'' rear sway bar. the aftermarket sways have 1 1/4 front and 1'' rear. they pull like he!! with the bigger bars. wonder how they would work on the truck. most camaros got the iroc bars after they killed the iroc in 1990. so if you find someone selling 1990 or newer camaro sways, get those. the wonderbar is an awesome little bar for the 3rd genners, but don't sell a used one for more than $20. you can buy them new for $30 thru steve spohn. if you are lucky enough to find a 3rd gen f-body with LE1 or B4C stuff, snatch it all up. 3rd genners will pay top dollar for these items.

Originally posted by neonlarry
Complete kit for install.


I'll have to add that sway bar to my shopping list at the wrecking yard. What exactly to I have to buy besides the sway bar from the Iroc.

I am guessing that the spacers ( between the frame and the perches) have to get made.

Also what is the cost of getting the sway bar and the other pieces needed.

I would make it a bolt on kit also, since I do not have access to a welder.

I have been wanting front & rear bars for quite some time and have some questions:

1. How much weight will a 1-1/8" front sway bar add to the truck? What about the rear bar?

2. I read somewhere that sway bars hurt weight transfer, and therefore hurt traction....is that true? My truck has a hard enough time hooking up as it is, but then again i may only race the truck once or twice a year but i drive it on curvy roads all the time, lol......

I don't know about the weights. But as far as weight transfer, swaybars will effect side to side transfer(good) thats what they are supposed to do. They should have no effect on front to back transfer if installed correctly.

they also affect front to rear weight transfer somewhat

my 1 1/16 bar i took off and 86 gmc ..weighted roughly 15lbs ... yellow ..if you drive curves..you should deinately put a front sway bar on ...

I have a Quickor rear sway bar on my truck. Over three years ago the owner used my truck for his prototype. It looks close to the camaro sway bar but is designed for our trucks.

You can contact him through http://www.quickor.com/

The swaybar clamps to the axles just like the camaro bar. But the width between the ends are more matched for a trucks frame rails. I think it's a 1" bar and I'm sure he can make you whatever diameter you want.

They look like they weigh 75 lbs or so....i have been wanting one for a long time but i haven't got one yet. My truck "floats" around corners right now....downright scary sometimes, but the tires stick to the road pretty good.

Thanks for the info :)

its was like night and day when i put mine on .... i never had traction problems prior to the install ..i just hated the lean i would get

someone should get smart and start selling kits and/or patent a design that works with camaro bars.

I just acquired a sway bar for the front of my 70 C10. Just the bar nor hardware for mounting. What will I need to mount the sway bar and any tips.

Think this is a helwig bar on my 68

I just pulled this rear bar out of a stack of bars that I had stashed back.
I slid under one of my old trucks, and did an "eyeball" fit.
It is nearly perfect for width and angle, but I'll need to loosen one trailing arm to get it past the crimps (lips)
Should mount just like the old Chevelles, with a little fab work.
As I recall, I think it was out of an '84 Cutlass with the handling package.
Please excuse the ratty looks, it was a "throw it under there and see if it looks close" type deal! LOL!
In the pic it's not as far forward as it would be when mounted correctly.

Any opinions?
Mike:bowtie:

I noticed a mid '80's Caprice with a rear sway bar this morning.

Just thought I'd share.

Greg

I installed a front 1 1/4 inch bar from a 79 Chev 3/4 ton 8400 GVW "Trailering Special" pickup on my 72 BB longbox . The sway bar made such a difference in my truck that I want to get a rear one now. After reading this thread I went to my local wrecker to find an IROC and get the rear bar. I didnt find any IROCS but as I was wandering the yard I started to think that maybe the truck I got the front bar off with the "Trailering Package" may have a rear bar. I found the truck again and looked under it and yes it does have a rear factory bar. What do you think guys, will this bar work on my 72 long box? The biggest difference is the leaf versus coil suspension. I think I will go and get it this week and if it wont work for me one of the guys with a 73/87 can probably use it.

anyone know if the iroc will work with a rear leaf system? i am with longhornman in that handling is the crap without a swaybar up front, so i figure if i get one, i might as well get the other too...

IIRC leafs mount on top of the axle. If this is correct its doubtful the camero bar would work, as you can see from the pics it mounts along the top of the axle. Your best bet might be to look for a 73 up with a trailering package in the wrecking yards, that would probably work better. ^ ask AlreadyGone if his worked.

thanks, i will look for other options and send a PM

i found out that GMCPauls sells a 7/8" rear bar for both coil and leafs in the rear

Larry- what year iroc should I be lookin for at the bone yards? I like the idea a lot!!!

Thanks,

NutZ

ttt :metal:

I'm not up on exact years for genIII, but around 87-92.

With this Camaro bar, would it interfere with a gas tank mounted in the frame rails?

Disregard, I read the article, geeeeeez, right there in front of me.

Installed these on mine-drives like a Vette now-bought the kit for front and rear:
http://www.classicperform.com/6092chevtrk.htm#Front%20Sway%20Bars

On a rear wheel drive vehicle you want a bigger bar on the front and a smaller bar on the rear. This will prevent understeer. I have an 1 1/4" on the front and an 1" on the back. Love it! You don't really need one on the back but man did it tighten things up. Between the bars, fairly stiff gas shocks, decent tires and stiffer lowered springs this thing handles REALLY well.

Thanks everyone, for the info. I look forward to getting the bars on.

More pics and info here. (http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=178261) I welded my brackets on. Handles like a go-kart comparatively. 1.25 front bar, stock late camaro rear (19 or 21mm still hacen't measured). You don't want too much bar in the back or it'll oversteer. I probably wouldn't put one in if you have a small front bar. Especially in a truck with less weight in the rear. Get a 1.25" front bar, then a rear bar.

IIRC leafs mount on top of the axle. If this is correct its doubtful the camero bar would work, as you can see from the pics it mounts along the top of the axle. Your best bet might be to look for a 73 up with a trailering package in the wrecking yards, that would probably work better. ^ ask AlreadyGone if his worked.

Would it work if it had a 6 inch rear drop by way of converting to spring under?
Thanks
Shane

Here is a picture of my 1 1/8" rear sway bar from Classic Performance Productshttp://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/showthread.php?t=220390. It is a "bolt in" kit:crazy:. I had to fabricate mounting plates on the inside of the trailing arms in order to bolt this up. On the U-shaped bushing brackets when you would line up one hole the other would be in line with the center seam of the trailing arms. The instructions sucked. If you can get over the fact that you need to make mounts then once installed it works awsome.

I have a '58 short fleetside on a '64 chassis and it didn't have bars when I bought it. It cornered like a slug. Got a pair of aftermarket just like the ones in the previous post. The handling difference was amazing. Corners like a slot car now. I fully recommend adding these to any truck with a steering wheel.