Sway bars and 52's

[MT wheeler]

first off I have not been on here in quite some time, I have just been lurking off and on. I am now the owner of a 110% stock 1980 GMC Jimmy and in the market for information.

Okay I know the whole 52in spring swap has been discussed a gazillion times and then some. I have spent a pile o time searching tons of these threads and have gotten some very good information on the swap. Some say it's o.k. for a daily driver others say it is not. This truck will be used for a daily driver/family truckster/four wheeler. I know the spring swap will move the axle forward approx. 2in making the sway bar not bolt up anymore. I see that zero rates will move it back to about the stock position but I have a set of 38's going on so I want the axle forward the extra distance.

Does anyone have any information or am I just blind and overwhelmed reading all the threads concerning this topic on using the sway bar to maintain on-road handling. I figure I could re-drill the holes into the bottom of a custom bumper and do it that way but is there other methods to accomplish this task?

Thanks in advance

 

[George_Pimpdaddy]

stiffer springs also adjustable shocks could help

 

[Hogback Fabrication]

52's necessitates crossover steering which means the stock sway bar won't work. 52" springs travel way too much for the stock steering and moving the axle forward makes the stock draglink too short.

Scott (mrk5) has had good luck with road manners with his 52's and good monotube shocks mounted as far outboard as possible.

You could try this too.

 

[obijuan]

rancho 9000 adjustable shocks have on road and off road settings, i can tell a big difference on sway when theyre on the wrong setting.

 

[blazinzuk]

another vote for RS 9000s on their stiffest setting it makes a big difference in how much give there is in the front end.

Really its just how much you can put up with. I daily drove a sami for years that had pretty good suspension travel, with out the RS 9000s on there it was impossible to drive over 55 cause the front end would dip and sway. Bump those shocks up to 3 and it was just fine. Bump em up to 4 or 5 if there was heavy crosswinds. Rode like crap on anything above 3

 

[obijuan]

Rode like crap on anything above 3

haha sounds about right, all the way up is a harsh ride. but a responsive one.

 

[MT wheeler]

Thanks for the responses. Sounds like the 9000's are the common denominator. Too bad my Edelbrock IAS's are brand new. Oh well. I don't want tons of sway, that's what I am getting out of from the last truck. Old springs, no sway bars and WHOA NELLY around corners at any kind of speed. Not what I want my 5yr old cruisin around in.

Thanks Again

 

[YZEATER]

do you really need the flex that the 52's will give you?

 

[Stomis]

A soft set of 4in lift stock length springs flex damn decent. I am happy with them on my daily driver. Dont think of it that your not RTI'ing in the 1000's think of it that your flex'ing 3 times as much as an IFS rig.

Pull the swaybar and I bet you'll be happy with flex. Especially if you setup the bump stops properly to pivot your droop off of them.

 

[MT wheeler]

I like the flex the 52's give from the people I've talked to and not to mention a "budget" lift. I know there is crossover and driveshafts involved but I have that stuff already from the last truck project. Anyone want to donate a stock spring 4in lift for me to try? Ha ha. I hate to go one direction then off to another. All of a sudden the cost really compile not to mention the pile of parts from swapping out who knows what how many times.

 

[guz71]

I dont have 52's in the front but I do have some 4 inch alcans that are realll soft(they flex just as good as the 52's) and the center pin is moved 2 inches forwards just like the 52's would be.I DD my k5 like that with out any issues. I just have some long procomp I think 3000's. Yeah it dives pretty good under hard braking and it leans hard when you haul ass around a turn but its nothing that slows me down.I run down the highway at 75 no problem, heavy crosswinds push hard but dont make the truck sway or anything.It takes some getting use to but its not all that bad.