TOP KICK / KODIAK 4WD suspension ?

[tarussell]

Gotta question for y’all - what is this “bar” that is bolted to the leaf spring on these mid-2000’s GM TOP KICK & KODIAK medium-duty 4WD trucks ?

I assume it’s for some form of stability control but other versions I’ve seen have an actual sway bar up front with the high-pinion Super Dana 70 axle.

Can any of y’all suspension and chassis gurus explain why this is used over another method ?

Appreciate it, Tom

 

[sweetk30]

most i could figure was a swaybar of sorts .

 

[Blue85]

It should keep the springs from shifting side to side or getting off-parallel to the frame. It seems that putting the tie rod and drag link behind the axle would tend to push the shackles side to side more and this bar would help keep the steering more controlled.

 

[imiceman44]

Gotta question for y’all - what is this “bar” that is bolted to the leaf spring on these mid-2000’s GM TOP KICK & KODIAK medium-duty 4WD trucks ?

I assume it’s for some form of stability control but other versions I’ve seen have an actual sway bar up front with the high-pinion Super Dana 70 axle.

Can any of y’all suspension and chassis gurus explain why this is used over another method ?

Appreciate it, Tom

View attachment 537432

View attachment 537433

It's a much stiffer sway bar and anti wrap bar all in one

 

[tarussell]

It should keep the springs from shifting side to side or getting off-parallel to the frame. It seems that putting the tie rod and drag link behind the axle would tend to push the shackles side to side more and this bar would help keep the steering more controlled.

This sounds valid - I’ve been running through all the dynamics of what a sway bar goes through and this bar setup doesn’t control any of them but aiding in shift control seems reasonable.