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Factory Front Sway Bar with Lift?

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BrentM

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I've installed some 6" springs on the front of my '90 K5. These were a "Craigslist" find, and I did the install without instructions. I noticed the factory sway bar doesn't want to work, and certainly doesn't have the correct geometry. I'm new to the K5 world. Do I ditch it? or find some drop down brackets for it?
 
I haven't ran a swaybar for a couple years now. I personally think it rides a lot better without one, others may say different. I know a lot of guys ditched their swaybars and never looked back. Try it and see how you like it. And welcome to the site. You will find lots of good folks and lots of good info on here.
 
I'll be dealing with this soon too and there are a few options. I think rough country offers some spacers to go between the frame and swaybar, and off road design has a cool kit that adds links (like shackles) between the swaybar and the axle and you can pull pins out and disconnect it when you're going to go wheeling. I think a lot of people just throw it away, but this is my daily driver and my 56" front springs are going to be flexy so I'll probably retain mine.

it wont let me post a link so it's
www dot offroaddesign dot com/catalog/swaybarkit dot htm



 
I'm running 52's up front which moves the axle forward 2" so the swaybar is no longer any use. Body roll is a lot more than factory, but you kind of get used to it after awhile. I also had the disconnects from ORD and they were great, but kind of a waste of money if you dont drive on the road a lot. Most lift springs are stiff enough that you don't need a swaybar. Just my $.02
 
I have a 6in pro comp lift on my blazer . they had the sway bar intact until I did the cross over and high steer conversion. I still have the extension bracket on the blazer . They could come off if i had reason to I dont need them. The sway bar is out in the shed too for that matter .lol
If you decide you really want the sway bar intact pl me and we can work something out, although they are probably cheap enough to buy locally somewhere.
 
I'll be moving my axle back at least close to the stock position so I could probably still use one, but it sounds like you're saying it might not be necessary. I guess I'll do the spring swap and then see what it drives like. I drive on the street every day.

Edit:
Didn't mean to hijack, sorry.
 
Just did a 4" Rough Country lift on my Jimmy last Sat. The factory sway bar bracket bolts are a real bi**h to get at and we were running out of time, so we left it off. Doesnt seem to make a difference, but since I spend 80+% of my time on road, i may put it back on. RC does include "C" channel drop down brackets.
 
Ive got a 91 k5 with 6" front springs and am very happy with the sway bar spacers and the ord quick disconnect. It keeps it very streetable and just the pull of a pin when you get offroad. Also what are you going to run on the rear for springs. Blazers seem to sag alittle on the rear. Ive been running 8" rears with the 6" in the front. It works great and looks good to.

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I have mine on my Suburban still (not lifted, yet), but my K30 has 8" of lift, and the sway bar got tossed in the scrap iron a long time ago. I never really noticed it not being there while driving, until after I installed crossover steering. It still doesn't bother me at all.

Martin
 
When I put my 4" Tuff Country EZ Rides up front, the rods that connect the sway bar to the tops of the spring perches were too short to hook back up, so I took the sway bar off. I don't notice any body roll. I guess the springs are stiff enough to mitigate any rolling motion (whew that sounded smart). The wheels are able to move a whole log more when I'm off road too. In fact, I had to put on some 2" longer bump stops to keep the tires from running all into the fenders and inner fenders. So I would say get rid of the thing.
 
I have a K20 and a K5. Neither have sway bars and I can't tell the difference. It's not like it's a Ferrari or something.
 
My 6" lift and sway bar worked great, But what I cantell you is there is not really any difference with out it. I took mine out finally and Didn't notice any difference at all
 
I've said it here, seems like a hundred times - throw the damn thing away! I've had no swaybars on any of my trucks since 1991, and it's the first thing removed on any of the new ones I get!
 
you dont really need a swaybar with lift springs.they dont let the truck roll enough that it will be an issue.with used springs,make sure the bushings on the springs are in good shape.that would pretty much suck if you had to pull it all apart because th bushings are junk after very lil time on the truck.if they are worn out you will get more roll as the springs will move more in their hangers.
 
Seems like a lot of guys with after market lift springs saying it makes no difference, that's cool. Does anybody have experience with 52 or 56 inch factory springs in front on a daily driven truck? Did the swaybar help or still not matter?
 
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