Upgraded rear sway bar, should I even do the front?

[thecause17]

Currently my '97 Sport has TT, shackles and 32's. But as much as it's on the road I'm also trying to make it handle fairly well too, but without sacrificing offroad capability. Last night I put an Addco rear sway bar on it. Definately made a difference. But should I do the front? I don't want to limit my suspension travel by putting a huge bar on it or anything. I was thinking about just getting poly bushings for it, or looking for a '98+ OEM bar which is solid unlike mine. What do you all think? I'm trying to walk a fine line here with a good handling yet offroad capable truck. I have a set of Rancho RS9000X 9-way adjustable shocks on order which will allow me to change between the two terrains there easily, but what about the bars? What should I do?

 

[CDW6212R]

What is the thickness of that Addco bar? I don't know how a stiffer front bar might limit offroading. Good luck,
Don

 

[etc]

If you switch to a '98 you gotta get all the mounts. They go on differently.

 

[thecause17]

Yeah, I'm aware of that...I have my eye out for someone parting out one.

The Addco bar is 7/8", slightly smaller than the explorer express but the same as the Hellwig I believe.

 

[CDW6212R]

Thanks for that info, I keep an eye out for better choices. I like the EE bar, and I just installed one on my 99 chassis.
Don

 

[bmxking5]

If you plan on doing anything above mild offroading, you definitely need to get/make sway bar disconnects. Then you'll be able to have a fairly good handling truck and an offroad capable truck.

 

[BigDave!!!]

If you plan on doing anything above mild offroading, you definitely need to get/make sway bar disconnects. Then you'll be able to have a fairly good handling truck and an offroad capable truck.

where would you get/make the sway bar disconnects?

 

[IAmTodd]

Where'd you purchase that sway bar at? How much if you don't mind me asking?

 

[thecause17]

where would you get/make the sway bar disconnects?

yeah, where do you get those?


As for cost, paid $125 for the bar. I've been seing the fronts for the same price. Got it on ebay.

 

[thecause17]

Still wondering where you got the disconnects?

 

[BeauJ]

I thought it was the 96-Up they upgraded the front sway bar to a decent one. It might have been 98+, but I've been told that I have a decent one up front.

 

[CDW6212R]

The 98 has a solid version of the previous bars. The 98-01 are the largest front bars available.
Don

 

[bmxking5]

Really sorry guys. I completely overlooked the thread. I made the disconnects using some clevis pins and the pins that hold in the receiver hitch pins(Let me know if you have no idea what I'm talking about ). They look like this: http://www.imperialinc.com/img/clevispin.jpg but mine had more holes. I got them at "Howard's Hardware", but I found out that you can get them at Home Depot to(on the hardware aisle, with bolts/screws/etc.)

They are on post 39:
http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=123611