Sway Bar...do I have one?

Renodemona · Post by **Renodemona** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 2:24 am

OK N00b question...
Should I have a sway bar on my '76. The only thing I find on the front axle is the steering stabilizer (or is this also known as sway bar). When I get home I'll throw a pic up of the front axle, but I thought sway bars were generally connected to the frame on one end and the axle on the other and I don't have one of those. Neat? Or? uh? not so neat?

Tatsadasayago · Post by **Tatsadasayago** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 4:22 am

If your Jeep came with one there would be a mounting bracket on the bottom of the front frame rails about 12" or so ahead of the axle. They came with plates mounted between the axle U-bolt plates and the housing with a threaded stud similar to a shock mount pin.

I added a photo of my 76 Wagoneer that had a factory bar.

Renodemona · Post by **Renodemona** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 6:20 am

Thank you, very helpful picture and description. I have naught a sway bar, bracket, or mounting plate to be found. Guess investing in sway bar disconnects would be rather foolish now

haminawag · Post by **haminawag** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 11:55 am

The steering stabilizer you mention is the shock absorber that's mounted horizontally between one front leaf spring and the steering drag link, it's not called a "sway bar", the sway bar is really called an "anti-sway bar" or sometimes an "anti-roll bar", it helps minimize body roll or the leaning effect you feel when going around a corner. The steering stabilizer helps limit the amount of steering wheel snap that you sometimes get if you hit a pot-hole or a rock. Some folks remove both of these from their FSJs because they want greater articulation of the front axle, or because they just feel it's unnecessary. both of mine were disconnected on my '79 Wagoneer when I bought it, after straightening out a few suspension problems I hooked them both back up and they made a big improvement in handling and reducing bump steer. Your situation might be different however.

Nutz-n-Bolts · Post by **Nutz-n-Bolts** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 1:17 pm

Tatsa, Does your alternator stay cooler mounted like that?

Tatsadasayago · Post by **Tatsadasayago** » Mon Sep 08, 2014 2:01 pm

Nutz-n-Bolts wrote:Tatsa, Does your alternator stay cooler mounted like that?

HAHA! Umm yeah, that's a custom off-axis mounted Motorola 550 Amp flux capacitor prototype with air cooling yup!

Sadly, that rig became parts and scrap metal

but I've found the photos I took make for good reference material.

Jim

Full Size Jeep Network

Sway Bar...do I have one?

Sway Bar...do I have one?

Re: Sway Bar...do I have one?

Re: Sway Bar...do I have one?

Re: Sway Bar...do I have one?

Re: Sway Bar...do I have one?

Re: Sway Bar...do I have one?