Front Atni-sway Bar on Dana 60

[G35Vortec454]

Ntsqd, yes very unconventional indeed, so naturally may be frowned upon or looks stupid! But believe it or not the rig drives great even without shocks, steering stabilizer/damper, trackbar or anti-sway bar, just as fine as when it was 2WD and 2.5 inches lower. I drove it through the slalom of trees/islands at the Lowe's parking lot and it held its ground. No noticeable death wobble so far up to 55mph (not at the parking lot of course or bumpsteer through parking lot speedbumps. Nevertheless, I'm still very open to criticisms, constructive ones.

Note that the tie-rods are pointing slightly downwards and that they are also pointing slightly backwards. I really think it's self compensating - as the axle moves back, enough toe in is induced compensating the toe out induced by the horizontal straightening of the tierod. That effect is achieved by the inverted/reversed draglink (flipped vertically as well as what used to be at the left is now at the right side.) I think with a trackbar, an anti-sway bar, and the steering damper it will be sweet.

 

[Stumpalump]

The 60 on my van uses a trac bar and a sway bar:
All I need is a steering stabilizer to complete my jungle gym.

Frame side of trac bar:

Sway bar just uses a tab on the axle tube for a mount:
[/ATTACH]
Last one is attachment that shows the tab

 

[ujoint]

There are several ways to attach a sway bar. Sounds like you have yours figured out, the axle mounted bar should work good for you. --- You shouldn't NEED a trac bar, especially at your lift height. You may see your leaf spring bushings wear a little faster, that's it.

Stump--- What 4wd conversion is that?

 

[G35Vortec454]

Chris, it's reassuring that 36 inches floor height is not that much of a lift (although my wife won't even try to climb up now and that a trackbar isn't necessary. Actually the total height increase from stock is 7-inch suspension lift (due to solid axle) + 3 inches due to the bigger wheels/tires.

Anyway, since my sway bar is now behind the axle (and not cluttering the front), I'm entertaining putting a trackbar. However, I have another question: Is 32-inch length of trackbar good/useful? I could fabricate a 40-inch one but fabbing a bracket to the frame around the driver side of the spring is more of a challenge.

How much performance difference would I get from a 32-inch trackbar versus from a 40-inch one?

Art

 

[ujoint]

The longer the better. Generally, you want the trac bar to be close in length to the drag link, but sometimes there's no option!

 

[charlieaarons]

If you don't have a front locker a front anti-sway bar will significantly decrease offroad traction due to decreased articulation of course.
You can increase roll stiffness due to transient inputs with signifcantly stiffer shocks (i.e. Fox, King 2.5-3").
My U500 has both and the anti-sway bar is designed also as a axle locator but it needs it, it has coils. My defunct F350 had both but didn't need the sway bar with an extra front leaf.
Are your tires 245 or 265/70R19.5?

Charlie

 

[ntsqd]

The longer the better. Generally, you want the trac bar to be close in length to the drag link, but sometimes there's no option!

Completely agree, but with his very unique steering assembly I'm not sure that a tracbar will result in the normally expected behavior.

 

[Stumpalump]

Stump--- What 4wd conversion is that?

Salem Kroger conversion on an 02 E350 V10 auto. It's stiff as a board but handles like a .......Well it handle good on the road for a Van. The rear came with those weird solid air bags that arn't really air bags but more like an air bag size bump stop. It works great on the road and has very little sway. Off road the heavy weight lets it flex some but basically it has no flex.

 

[ujoint]

Salem Kroger conversion on an 02 E350 V10 auto. It's stiff as a board but handles like a .......Well it handle good on the road for a Van. The rear came with those weird solid air bags that arn't really air bags but more like an air bag size bump stop. It works great on the road and has very little sway. Off road the heavy weight lets it flex some but basically it has no flex.

That's what I thought, I saw that hard mount at the rear of the spring! I've had a guy use my kit as a shackle reversal on a SK just like that. Made a big difference in ride quality.

 

[ujoint]

Completely agree, but with his very unique steering assembly I'm not sure that a tracbar will result in the normally expected behavior.

True. Forgot about the current steering.