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Old 12-11-2017, 05:02 PM   #1
56weav
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Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: Lincoln illinois
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Rear sway bar

Good afternoon,
In an effort to improve the handling of my 86 GMC short bed I have read that a used rear sway bar from a suburban will accomplish some improvement.
Does anyone have experience with such and if so what year or years suburban am I looking to find the sway bar ?
Thank You
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Old 12-11-2017, 06:30 PM   #2
homemade87
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Re: Rear sway bar

If you really want to improve the handling get the front oem sway bar . Made a big difference in my 82 . I feel no need for a rear .

I got mine at a local junk yard . The brackets on the frame are riveted . I had them off in about 20 min . Just start with a small drill bit and get bigger and hit them with a chisel . They popped right off .

Last edited by homemade87; 12-11-2017 at 06:35 PM.
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Old 12-13-2017, 07:10 AM   #3
MASONGMC
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Re: Rear sway bar

hello
I run a Hellwig sway bar on my rear of my 1977 GMC stepside 4x4. And you didn't have to drill any holes to install either.
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Old 12-13-2017, 09:30 AM   #4
56weav
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Re: Rear sway bar

Thank you,
My truck has a front sway bar I’ll probably replace the front bushing with poly
Do you believe the rear bar was worth the effort and expense ?
I did find a c30 rear sway bar , it appears that it won’t mount up
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Old 12-13-2017, 12:26 PM   #5
nonstop
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Re: Rear sway bar

I just did this on my truck with a c30 rear bar. My truck is a K2500. Here is what I had to do:

I got the sway bar and u bolt mounts from the junkyard. I had to order square u bolts and CAST IRON u bolt plates ($20 each from eBay). The cast iron plates gave me a little bit more clearance around the shock mount. I still had to grind the passenger plate slightly. I also had to grind the drivers side sway bar mount plate in little bit.

I bolted up the swaybar similarly as it came off the donor truck. To make it fit, I had to Cut off the excess threads from two of the U bolts. I put in all new replacement bushings. As for the end links, I used all thread and tubing along with nylock nuts. I had to drill two holes in the frame, but that was the extent of any drilling.

In the end, it was a little more work than I expected, and I had to do things a little different since my truck has a 4 inch lift, but the rear sway bar was worth it in my opinion.
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Old 12-13-2017, 01:05 PM   #6
PowerdbyChevy79
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Re: Rear sway bar

Quote:
Originally Posted by nonstop View Post
I just did this on my truck with a c30 rear bar. My truck is a K2500. Here is what I had to do:

I got the sway bar and u bolt mounts from the junkyard. I had to order square u bolts and CAST IRON u bolt plates ($20 each from eBay). The cast iron plates gave me a little bit more clearance around the shock mount. I still had to grind the passenger plate slightly. I also had to grind the drivers side sway bar mount plate in little bit.

I bolted up the swaybar similarly as it came off the donor truck. To make it fit, I had to Cut off the excess threads from two of the U bolts. I put in all new replacement bushings. As for the end links, I used all thread and tubing along with nylock nuts. I had to drill two holes in the frame, but that was the extent of any drilling.

In the end, it was a little more work than I expected, and I had to do things a little different since my truck has a 4 inch lift, but the rear sway bar was worth it in my opinion.
how did it help with the handling?
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Old 12-13-2017, 02:30 PM   #7
nonstop
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Re: Rear sway bar

It feels flatter in turns and there is less body roll coming from the rear. On a side not (not sure if it’s related) my locker seems to have a little better manners on the street.
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Old 12-14-2017, 08:47 PM   #8
56weav
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Re: Rear sway bar

Thank You for you input everyone
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