sway bars and streight front axels ?

FlatheadTed, you are correct in what you stated about the shocks... we used to do that to oval track cars on dirt and it did work, some times we would use two shocks on the right side. that was before we could afford to buy racing shocks... I just didn't want the stiff ride that heaver shocks would have given it.. Anyway thanks for sharing your ideas with me..
 
itslow said:
You again have your terminology mixed up (as also noted by Dick on the "1939 Ford Sway Bar" thread).

Sway bar = Anti-Roll bar = "Roll Stabilizer" bar:
Helps to control chassis/body roll around the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sway_bar


Panhard bar = Track bar:
Controls the lateral position of the axle (side-to-side) relative to the chassis/body throughout the suspension travel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Track_bar
Click to expand...



Sway means side to side or lateral motion which is controlled by a sway bar or Track Bar or Panhard bar, which are all basically the same thing just different terminology.
A stabilizer bar or anti-roll bar are again the same thing just different terminology and are used to control the roll and stabilize the car in a turn.
In the good old days if you used long shackles to lower your Ford you better have a "Swaybar" to control the sway.
Bill
 
It would help if the words "sway" and "bar" when used one after the other were deleted from the lexicon of automobile terminology. I dread to think how many guys have asked their local hot rod shop for a "sway bar" and got a Panhard Rod when they wanted an Anti-Roll bar, or an Anti-Roll bar when they wanted a Panhead Rod !!
 
Hay John, I added a sway bar to a '52 chevy pickup and its' worth its' weight in gold, I've never had an oppertunity to do it for a Ford but I'm sure they're available. Do it.
 
Lots of info here but something is missing or I didn't see it....
Straight axle parallel spring pu trucks ,at least the ones I have driven, tend to over steer when driven into a fast turn. Ok on a race track but most drivers feel uncomfortable with a loose handler with slow steering on the street
A sway bar on the front actually causes under steer. The under steer gives a more secure feeling in turns because the *** end isn't trying to come around.. This works nicely in old vehicles with slow steering.
Put one on the back and the vehicle becomes loose, over steer.
 
Truckedup, I'm sorry to say in my case you are wrong. I now have a sway bar on the rear and on the front and the truck handles like its on rails with glue. Not sure where you got your info but I can positively say that in my case it works great. I could not ask for a better handling truck...
 
john mullen said:
Truckedup, I'm sorry to say in my case you are wrong. I now have a sway bar on the rear and on the front and the truck handles like its on rails with glue. Not sure where you got your info but I can positively say that in my case it works great. I could not ask for a better handling truck...
Click to expand...

It's the basic theory to adjust race car chassis, ask anyone who builds them...You have two bars, it balances out...
 
Truckedup, I have built several race cars in my life time and I mean no disrespect to you... however its been a long time since a race car other than a drag car used a straight axel. Some very early race cars and early modified dirt race cars used straight axels but no sway bars..... To my knowledge I have never seen a race car that used a straight axel with a sway bar. I'm just wondering how does your basic theory for race cars apply to what I am doing with my f1????
 
john mullen said:
Truckedup, I have built several race cars in my life time and I mean no disrespect to you... however its been a long time since a race car other than a drag car used a straight axel. Some very early race cars and early modified dirt race cars used straight axels but no sway bars..... To my knowledge I have never seen a race car that used a straight axel with a sway bar. I'm just wondering how does your basic theory for race cars apply to what I am doing with my f1????
Click to expand...

I've put sway bars on several parallel spring straight axle vehicle, Jeeps and other brand old trucks. Your Ford is no different other than the engine may be located more forward ... And the handling effect was always the same.
Putting a sway bar(s) on a vehicle with IFS has the same basic effect on handling as a straight axle vehicle from my experience with newer O/T vehicles.

disconnect the front bar on your truck and see how the handling is afterwards....
 
Truckedup, there is nothing wrong with Johns sway bar installation. He is trying to improve the ride and roll of the chassis design he has. His biggest factor is that the spring pack on the rear is located above the axle center line. This design produces a high roll feeling that most people do not like. Without getting too involved the addition of the swaybar changes the dynamics and produces a more comfortable feeling with less induced roll.
Not knowing exactly what you are doing with your installation my summation from your post indicates your swaybar installation does the same thing, it alters the vehicles roll angle and height points. In these cases lowering it so the vehicles feel more stable without that overturning feeling.
 
Thanks Dick, your summation agrees with what I have done to my f1. The roll stability was greatly improved by the installation of sway bars I didn't see much change after installing the front sway bar as I did with the rear. Mind you that the front did improve the stability somewhat just not as much as the rear did.
I also must say thank you to all who have added input to this thread as it has prompted me to think. (even those that I questioned). Two or more heads are way better than one.;)
 
John.....congrats on your truck !....Hope you folks are getting good weather so you can run the wheels off it !........Mark
 
Thanks Mark, We have had some good weather off and on and yes I am running the wheels off of it. I love that I can now run the highway with out getting in any ones way. speeds of 60 to 80 no problem and it drives like its on a string. yeeee haaaw im so happy I could drive all day long
 
I'm finely getting around to posting the photos of the front sway bar install...
 

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