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how to stop the sway and stiffen the ride?

B

BPS

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I have a '90 K5 with new rancho 5000 shocks all round, new wheels and the roadmaster active suspension kit http://www.activesuspension.com/

I'm finding that the truck is still very bouncy and really "floats" when I drive on a twisty turney road.

AFAIK - there are no sway bars on the vehicles - is this normal? I don't even see where te would bolt on to!

How can I stiffen up the ride??? I'm tired of turning left and have the body want to tilt to the right.

Thanks
 
<font color="green"> They did come with a front sway bar from the factory, if you don't have one then someone removed it. the truck is never going to handle like it's on rails though; it is, after all, a truck. </font>
 
/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I know it's never going to be really tight - I just happened to be behind it today while someone else was driving and it sure bounces around a LOT more than other trucks especially considering it have new(ish) shocks.
 
POLY BODY BUSHINGS /forums/images/graemlins/deal.gif /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif
100% increase in drive-ablitiy
 
It should definitely have a front sway bar on the front axle where the spring perches are. I hated the unstable ride of my 88 so I bought 2" spacers for the rear widening the rear axle stance 4". That made a huge difference. Check all of your steering linkage and ball joints. The slightest amount of play makes them handle like sh!t. I also added the rear anti-sway bar. Another huge improvement. A tight steering box and good steering stabilizer also helps. Finally check your alignment. These things have a tendency to oversteer and sway. Mine is like a new truck now. /forums/images/graemlins/k5.gif
 
If you don't do much wheeling re-install the swaybar. I have been driving without mine for a year now and I am not putting it back on.
 
Just noticed that your sig says you have a camper on it. I'm not positive but I think Chalets came with a rear sway to help with the raised CG. Helwig makes a sway that will work on these trucks. That might be your answer.

THe stock 79 I just sold handled great. For what it was I thought it was above average. My 2wd Burb wallows in compairison but the shock are shot. See if the Bilsteins I just orderd fix that.
 
get an anti-sway bar from a ck5er who doesnt need theirs and install Rancho HD front springs. Your suspension will never flex again.

j
 
yup. Put sway bars front and rear.
I have them on mine. I disconnect them if I am going to do any serious wheeling. But reconect them when on the road. I hate the way it handles without the sway bar. Its like driving around a beached whale.
I drive fast and I tow quite a bit so I really like sway bars. /forums/images/graemlins/thumb.gif

Check this site out:helpersprings.com
They should have what you need to fix things up.
You should be able to pick up the front sway bar cheap from a junkyard. just put in some poly bushings and yur good to go.
 
My truck used to handle like that too, then I put Bilstein mono tubes all around and added a Hellwig rear sway bar. 500% increase in handling and drivability. And I've got a set of Poly body mounts and suspension bushings waiting to go on. If you're not doing heavy wheeling, add the rear sway bar. Probably the best non-engine related mod i've done.
 
gotta link to the bilstien mono tubes? how much did you spend of them? thanks,

jason
 
honestly, the bilsteins were a gift from my dad, so I'm not really sure how much they ran. I'll talk to him about it next chance I get.
 
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