Building sway bars

scott67fj40 · 02-12-08, 12:38 PM

I am about to start building my swaybars front and rear. Can anyone tell me what diameters and what type of material is best to use?
Thanks!

Mace · 02-12-08, 12:53 PM

Your best bet is to buy the sway bars themselves..

Swaybar material is not ordinary everyday bar stock..

sixty · 02-12-08, 01:05 PM

Sway bars are made of spring steel, which can be very dificult to work with. Your best bet is to adapt something off of the shelf.

bandy rooster · 02-12-08, 01:14 PM

i have adapted one from an early 90's jeep grand cherokee... took it off the front of the jeep and adapted it to the front of my cruiser...

scott67fj40 · 02-12-08, 01:57 PM

I have a machine shop and can buy just about any material under the sun off of the shelf and I am very familiar with working with all kinds of material including spring steel. My first guess would be 17-4 double aged 1150. I just wanted to save a little $$$ and do it myself being this is a custom job and it may be difficult to find a swaybar off the shelf that will work. I plan on making it detachable. I just dont know what swaybars are made of and i am not sure what size bar to use for an fj40 with a v-8.

bandy rooster · 02-12-08, 02:31 PM

the v-8 shouldn't affect the handling to much (maybe 200 lbs lighter?) ... i guess it could have alot to do with how soft your springs are and how "stiff" of a ride you want. lol

my bar is around 1 inch or maybe it was 23mm, i forget... i don't know what material is going to cost you nor do i know what your time was worth but just going to the junk yard i found a couple that would work and settled on a cherokee sway bar, width and size was perfect, its detachable and it only took a couple hours to make

i would probably opt for a pre-made one and retrofit it, or goin to the Rock logic anti sway bar thats premade ( i think rock logic makes it?) i forget.. a quick google could tell you...

scott67fj40 · 02-12-08, 04:07 PM

Currie makes a nice one that I have considered. Found out that it is made of 4130 heat treated material, I have lots of that just laying around the shop.
Currie Enterprises 4x4 Rear Ends Antirock
thats the link.
Who knows I may just buy the whole kit and be done with it. It would be nice to save a little money but just think of the time I would save just going the lazy route!
$396.00 each so your looking at close to $800.00 for the set front and back.

zebrabeefj40 · 02-12-08, 04:59 PM

You might look for a stock car (roundy round type) parts suppliers too. They have kits for sway bars that might adapt easier for less coin.

Nick

LC_Hamma · 02-13-08, 04:17 PM

I used

rear sway bars for the front & rear of my 40. I assumed I needed them, having a linked rig. I guess the TJ coils are stiff enough that I don't really notice much body roll, so I took the sway bars off & it rides great w/o them. I'll go the cheap route again, on my new

buildup, if I encounter any major body roll.

crujones · 02-13-08, 05:21 PM

I have heard of people using torsion bars off of 4x4 ifs trucks. The T bars are designed to twist just like a sway bar would be and you could score them cheap at a junk yard.

scott67fj40 · 02-14-08, 12:12 PM

I get lots of lean ( body roll ) with my sway a way coilovers! I think I have decided to use the Currie bars.
I am just getting the bars and arms though. I will fab everything else. I think the links are a little wimpy.
I have a tendancy to overkill everything.

redline fj55 · 02-14-08, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott67fj40

I am about to start building my swaybars front and rear. Can anyone tell me what diameters and what type of material is best to use?
Thanks!

you can use torsion bars off of ifs pickups
thats what i plan on using.

D'Animal · 02-15-08, 09:45 AM

Could you get some sway bars from and 80 series and make them work for you? Shop who install lifts on 80 series may have the "take offs" laying around.

LC_Hamma · 02-15-08, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott67fj40

I get lots of lean ( body roll ) with my sway a way coilovers! I think I have decided to use the Currie bars.
I am just getting the bars and arms though. I will fab everything else. I think the links are a little wimpy.
I have a tendancy to overkill everything.

Aren't those links that connet to the torsion bar splined? I'd assume they offer a quick disconnect (?) I still think if you did a little more test fitting on other options, you'd save allota ca$h & get something *bolt-on.

alia176 · 02-15-08, 01:06 PM

If you like fabbing, have you considered using the front sway bar off the Dodge Power Ram trucks or the Jeep JK Rubi (disconnectable sway bar)? How about the pneumatic disconnectable sway bar from Welcome to Off Road Only! Just throwing some ideas out there...

scott67fj40 · 02-19-08, 08:50 PM

Thanks for all the response. I will kick a few things around and decide on what to do. I have gotten some good suggestions from you guys and some other folks down at my local 4x4 shop.

02-12-08, 12:38 PM	#1
scott67fj40 IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Spring Tx Posts: 267	Building sway bars I am about to start building my swaybars front and rear. Can anyone tell me what diameters and what type of material is best to use? Thanks! __________________ 67 fj40, Chevy 350 SM420 Trans Saginaw PS S-A-W Racerunner coilovers 3 linked front 4 linked rear Currie Antirock FJ80 axles longfields ARB lockers front and rear Warn 9000 37x13.50 Xterrains and so on and so on..............

02-12-08, 12:53 PM	#2
Mace what he said Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: Las Vegas Posts: 11,207	Your best bet is to buy the sway bars themselves.. Swaybar material is not ordinary everyday bar stock.. __________________ I am kinda gay....... My Myspace http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...endid=75712409 "Mary Poppins: In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun. You find the fun and - SNAP - the job's a game."

02-12-08, 01:14 PM	#4
bandy rooster IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sunny South Posts: 1,882	i have adapted one from an early 90's jeep grand cherokee... took it off the front of the jeep and adapted it to the front of my cruiser... __________________ 71fj40-350,SM465,3SPD L/C T-Case,4 WDB's,SAGINAW Dude!, those are my work moccasins!

02-12-08, 01:57 PM	#5
scott67fj40 IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Spring Tx Posts: 267	I have a machine shop and can buy just about any material under the sun off of the shelf and I am very familiar with working with all kinds of material including spring steel. My first guess would be 17-4 double aged 1150. I just wanted to save a little $$$ and do it myself being this is a custom job and it may be difficult to find a swaybar off the shelf that will work. I plan on making it detachable. I just dont know what swaybars are made of and i am not sure what size bar to use for an fj40 with a v-8. __________________ 67 fj40, Chevy 350 SM420 Trans Saginaw PS S-A-W Racerunner coilovers 3 linked front 4 linked rear Currie Antirock FJ80 axles longfields ARB lockers front and rear Warn 9000 37x13.50 Xterrains and so on and so on..............

02-12-08, 02:31 PM	#6
bandy rooster IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sunny South Posts: 1,882	the v-8 shouldn't affect the handling to much (maybe 200 lbs lighter?) ... i guess it could have alot to do with how soft your springs are and how "stiff" of a ride you want. lol my bar is around 1 inch or maybe it was 23mm, i forget... i don't know what material is going to cost you nor do i know what your time was worth but just going to the junk yard i found a couple that would work and settled on a cherokee sway bar, width and size was perfect, its detachable and it only took a couple hours to make i would probably opt for a pre-made one and retrofit it, or goin to the Rock logic anti sway bar thats premade ( i think rock logic makes it?) i forget.. a quick google could tell you... __________________ 71fj40-350,SM465,3SPD L/C T-Case,4 WDB's,SAGINAW Dude!, those are my work moccasins!

02-12-08, 01:05 PM	#3
sixty IH8MUD Addict Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Back in Vegas Posts: 590	Sway bars are made of spring steel, which can be very dificult to work with. Your best bet is to adapt something off of the shelf.

02-12-08, 04:07 PM	#7
scott67fj40 IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Spring Tx Posts: 267	Currie makes a nice one that I have considered. Found out that it is made of 4130 heat treated material, I have lots of that just laying around the shop. Currie Enterprises 4x4 Rear Ends Antirock thats the link. Who knows I may just buy the whole kit and be done with it. It would be nice to save a little money but just think of the time I would save just going the lazy route! $396.00 each so your looking at close to $800.00 for the set front and back. __________________ 67 fj40, Chevy 350 SM420 Trans Saginaw PS S-A-W Racerunner coilovers 3 linked front 4 linked rear Currie Antirock FJ80 axles longfields ARB lockers front and rear Warn 9000 37x13.50 Xterrains and so on and so on..............

02-12-08, 04:59 PM	#8
zebrabeefj40 IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: southeastern IN TLCA# 7767 Posts: 1,760	You might look for a stock car (roundy round type) parts suppliers too. They have kits for sway bars that might adapt easier for less coin. Nick

02-13-08, 04:17 PM	#9
LC_Hamma The Anti-Leafer Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Dallas, Georgia TLCA# 3343 Posts: 1,781	I used rear sway bars for the front & rear of my 40. I assumed I needed them, having a linked rig. I guess the TJ coils are stiff enough that I don't really notice much body roll, so I took the sway bars off & it rides great w/o them. I'll go the cheap route again, on my new buildup, if I encounter any major body roll. __________________ '72 FJ55 http://forum.ih8mud.com/fj55-iron-pig-preservation-society/76835-pig-chebby-avalanche-trim-%3D.html '73 FJ40 http://s132.photobucket.com/albums/q...&addtype=local '78 FJ40 - future crawler in pieces '93 Ram W350 5 spd. SRW CTD '99 Ram 3500 4X4 5 spd. DRW CTD '74 BMW 3.0CS future project

02-13-08, 05:21 PM	#10
crujones IH8MUD Rookie Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 6	I have heard of people using torsion bars off of 4x4 ifs trucks. The T bars are designed to twist just like a sway bar would be and you could score them cheap at a junk yard.

02-14-08, 12:12 PM	#11
scott67fj40 IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Spring Tx Posts: 267	I get lots of lean ( body roll ) with my sway a way coilovers! I think I have decided to use the Currie bars. I am just getting the bars and arms though. I will fab everything else. I think the links are a little wimpy. I have a tendancy to overkill everything. __________________ 67 fj40, Chevy 350 SM420 Trans Saginaw PS S-A-W Racerunner coilovers 3 linked front 4 linked rear Currie Antirock FJ80 axles longfields ARB lockers front and rear Warn 9000 37x13.50 Xterrains and so on and so on..............

02-15-08, 09:45 AM	#13
D'Animal Beagles Rule! Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Central California TLCA# 17104 Posts: 11,361	Could you get some sway bars from and 80 series and make them work for you? Shop who install lifts on 80 series may have the "take offs" laying around. __________________ Cruiser Dan at American Toyota Phone is 1-800-432-6668 ext. 8 (I am not cruiser Dan) FJ40.5 Build - http://forum.ih8mud.com/hardcore-cor...ly-begins.html http://www.fcfabrication.com/

02-15-08, 01:06 PM	#15
alia176 IH8MUD Lifer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Tijeras, NM TLCA# 15941 Posts: 3,535 Blog Entries: 1	If you like fabbing, have you considered using the front sway bar off the Dodge Power Ram trucks or the Jeep JK Rubi (disconnectable sway bar)? How about the pneumatic disconnectable sway bar from Welcome to Off Road Only! Just throwing some ideas out there... __________________ TLCA # 15941 KE5LED Currently working PA

02-19-08, 08:50 PM	#16
scott67fj40 IH8MUD Regular Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Spring Tx Posts: 267	Thanks for all the response. I will kick a few things around and decide on what to do. I have gotten some good suggestions from you guys and some other folks down at my local 4x4 shop. __________________ 67 fj40, Chevy 350 SM420 Trans Saginaw PS S-A-W Racerunner coilovers 3 linked front 4 linked rear Currie Antirock FJ80 axles longfields ARB lockers front and rear Warn 9000 37x13.50 Xterrains and so on and so on..............

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