SAS Sway Bar???

[broncosbybart]

Any of you solid front axle types running sway bars? The 74 is getting dialed in. It has come a LONG way. I am noticing roll coming into and out of corners. It is a side to side kind of action that tends to result in the truck trying to fish-tail when coming out of a hard corner on the gas.

Not looking forward to doing something with a sway bar as the early Broncos really didn't have anything on them and I'd have to try and work it around a bunch of stuff already under the front end. Perhaps more shock tuning? Any advice?

[300]

With lots of experience with a straight axle, most of the issues with side to side play have to do with parts wear. ANY wear in the track bar bushings or drag link will cause that feeling of a hesitation in the steering on the highway. The other common wear point is the bolt that attaches the lower track bar to the axle. They tend to get some slop in them. Have heard that there was once a tapered pin kit for these. We use an oversized custom pin. The new solid axle Fords use what looks like a ball joint. Something else I have seen is when the rubber bushing/washer on the passenger side tie rod end blows out, it allows the tie rod assembly to rotate back and forth, introducing some additional slop. All brand new OEM parts will make it feel pretty good, but sadly that only lasts about 50 miles of off-road pounding and it is back to slop.

The 78-79 Bronco's did come with sway bars front and rear. I have heard guys complain of the sway and fish tailing, but it is likely just something to live with on a short wheel base vehicle with a heavy front weight bias. Learn to anticipate it and control it with the throttle?

The Sullivan EB was having the same issue and they raced it successfully in the NORRA race this year, but I don't know if they ever solved it.

[BDKW1]

Stiffer springs or more low speed.........

[broncosbybart]

Thanks for the input. To clarify a little, this is a race only truck. The radius arms have 1.25" heims on them. The track bar has 3/4" heims on it and is tight with the mounting hardware. Steering is TRO and has 3/4 heims on it. Front shocks are now King triple bypass and rears are King smooth body resi. Having a tough time finding a nice set of front springs. I am currently using a set given to me that are approx 220 lb/in. Had a set in there about double that and the ride was brutal. Rear spring pack is stock WH stuff and seems to work pretty well. Truck has gotten a lot better. The front wheels track very well now into corners with braking bumps. Before it was anyone's guess as to which way it was going to go when it got/lost traction over the stutter bumps into a turn.

Now, carrying more speed, the weight bias thing really is noticeable sometimes. Makes me go a little slower than I feel I could otherwise go

[300]

On a race only truck, when you figure it out, let me know!!!! Haha!

When I was learning to fly, my 23 year old instructor told me to just "put it to the firewall" when I got up on the runway to take off. I had to laugh and explain to him, where I come from, you make damn sure everything is lined up and straight BEFORE you put it to the firewall or there is a high likelyhood you will end up out in the brush!

Are you sure the bump steer is dead on? If there is any introduction of side sway during braking or when hitting the stutter bumps coming into a turn, it is certainly going to affect what happens when coming out. There is also the possibility that bump steer is being magnified or changed by the body roll associated with going into and out of a turn.

[broncosbybart]

Good call on the bump steer. I'm 100% it isn't close, now that you mention it. Not sure how much it varies. I'll have to check it out. Thanks! Are you guys running any kind of sway bar(s) on your racer? Just curious.

[78 DESERT RAT]

I have a 78 bronco and had a similar issue until I replaced the ball joints and the problem was solved no more sway. I do not have sway bars.

[300]

Are you guys running any kind of sway bar(s) on your racer? Just curious.

No sway bars on the race truck.

[baja-chris]

Are you guys running any kind of sway bar(s) on your racer? Just curious.

No sway bars on the race truck.

Rear leaf springs ARE a sway bar.

[cdnbronco]

Any of you solid front axle types running sway bars? The 74 is getting dialed in. It has come a LONG way. I am noticing roll coming into and out of corners. It is a side to side kind of action that tends to result in the truck trying to fish-tail when coming out of a hard corner on the gas.

Not looking forward to doing something with a sway bar as the early Broncos really didn't have anything on them and I'd have to try and work it around a bunch of stuff already under the front end. Perhaps more shock tuning? Any advice?

[cdnbronco]

I have a three link in the front now so the axle is free in movement. I really needed a front and a rear sway bar. Without them the truck would fish tail in every corner. Before the three link the axle was acting as a swaybar and I didn’t need it as much. Anyway, dialing in the right rate is difficult since you want to balance cornering and travel. But for now I’m satisfied with my setup.