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About anti-sway bar

Discussion in 'Early CJ5 and CJ6 Tech' started by fivos, Feb 27, 2013.

  1. Feb 27, 2013
    fivos

    fivos Member

    Athens, Greece
    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2003
    Messages:
    109
    Hi.
    After the lift i did in an m38a1 with yj springs, when i turn on sharp corners i have increased body roll.
    Has anyone add a sway bar on the m38a1. I was thinking a sway bar from m170 since they are almost the same.
    Will it fit or there are differences in the front end.

    Thanks!
     
  2. Feb 27, 2013
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2003
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    5,466
    Re: About sway bar

    Sway bars can have a huge impact with wheeling capabilities. I used the R9000s shocks to stiffen the ride on the road for body roll, and change the setting for a soft ride off road - best of both worlds.
     
  3. Feb 27, 2013
    fivos

    fivos Member

    Athens, Greece
    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2003
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    109
    Re: About sway bar

    I also use the R9000s and i know what you mean,
    but if something jump out in front of you and you want to maneuver in order to avoid it,
    then is getting really interesting and the stiffer shocks will not help much.
     
  4. Feb 27, 2013
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Aug 3, 2003
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    9,754
    Re: About sway bar

    I agree with Fivos. I would say it's not about ride, a sway bay will hardly change "ride' in a straight-ahead motion - it's more about when making a sharp avoidance maneuver on-road, you don't want the front end to dive under on one side, and potentially start a rollover scenario.

    My YJ has detachable links on the sway bar, for greater flex on trails. Leaving it unhooked on the road is not noticeable - until suddenly it is...and then it's too late. I doubt stiff shocks would do much at that point. A sway bar exerts a increasing righting force that a shock will not.
     
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2013
  5. Feb 27, 2013
    Warloch

    Warloch Did you say Flattie??? Staff Member

    Falcon, CO
    Joined:
    Mar 4, 2003
    Messages:
    5,466
    Re: About sway bar

    I see - even with my Holbrooks, I don't get that much sway (or I am just used to it). I know I get a good body roll, but it has never bothered me enough to look at more than the stiffer shocks. They did everything I needed.
     
  6. Feb 27, 2013
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
    Joined:
    Oct 29, 2012
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    3,784
    Re: About sway bar

    [​IMG][​IMG]
     
  7. Feb 28, 2013
    fivos

    fivos Member

    Athens, Greece
    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2003
    Messages:
    109
    Re: About sway bar

    The problem begun when i changed the springs and also got totaly 4" of lift from the new hangers for the yj springs.
    With the stock 11leaf spring pack never thought about it, the ride was too harsh but the a1 was turning like a train.

    Tarry99 do you have any more pics from underside, how the disconects are mounted on the axle or any other pic to see more details.
    Because the main difference is because of the shackle reverse m38a1 has the shocks are in the front side of the axle,
    Also to find a cj sway bar is not that easy or cheap in Greece. Thats why i'm thinking of m170 set up.
     
  8. Feb 28, 2013
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
    Joined:
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    Re: About sway bar


    fivos,

    :):)First off I am not that familiar with the m-170 suspension. Are you saying the m170 had a sway bar? I thought the only difference was the m170 had a little longer wheelbase with the same basic spring & shock package?

    Willys / AMC has put the shock on either side of the front axle.........early the shock was on the side near the shackle.......and later because of the addition of the sway bar they moved the shock back closer to the fixed side.
    It is fine in either location as it is there just to control the compression & rebound of the axle...............The position of the sway bar is Important...........It needs to be set up so the bar is far enough forward so the link can find a suitable position on the axle that remains within its working arch to control the axle.............not an easy task on an early CJ5 with a Saginaw PS Box.........of course the later CJ's were longer and the steering box was moved forward to accommodate that need.
    On my CJ I will move the shocks back to the rear side closer to the fixed end of the spring (obviously opposite your setup).........as far as the brackets are concerned I will fabricate new brackets that will be welded directly to the axle to pickup the sway bar link in the front and the shock in the back...........I will not be using the bottom spring plates for either of those functions.

    You can do the same as I did by moving your shock closer to your shackles in the rear and putting the sway bar up front.

    Used sway bars on E-bay go for about $50-100 dollars..........all of the narrow track CJ's from the late 70's through the mid 80's that had sway bars all had frame and spring mount widths of 28" which should be the same as yours. But I did a Dana 30 in this swap which is a about 1.5" inches more room per side..........I still think there is enough room in there with a narrow early axle...........but I am not sure.:D

    Send us some pictures of your setup.
     
  9. Feb 28, 2013
    Mr. Gangrene Jeans

    Mr. Gangrene Jeans I See Voices&Hear Visions

    Kansas City
    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2009
    Messages:
    282
    Re: About sway bar

    The M-170 has both front and rear sway bars, that is what I put on my DJ-5A.
    As mentioned above, it is not a direct swap if you have saginaw steering like mine.
    You will also need the lower spring mounts with two studs, one for the shock, one for the swaybar.
    I didn't like the way the rear bar mounted behind the axle, so I swapped it around to the front, pinion clearance is close as mine sits fairly low.
    Haven't driven mine more than around the block, and it is certainly not for off-roadiing.
     
  10. Feb 28, 2013
    tarry99

    tarry99 Member

    Northern California
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    Re: About sway bar

    :)Gangrene, Love to see a picture of that set-up both front and rear...........Never knew it existed! Thanks
     
  11. Mar 1, 2013
    fivos

    fivos Member

    Athens, Greece
    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2003
    Messages:
    109
    I was thinking about m170 sway bar because it was mounted to the inside of the spring plate,
    so i wouldn't have to move the shock to the rear of the axle because the shock tower has to move back too.
    I'll take some pictures and post them.

    Gangrene i would like to see some pictures of your set up front and rear.
     
  12. Mar 2, 2013
    fivos

    fivos Member

    Athens, Greece
    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2003
    Messages:
    109
    Here is how my set up is. The steering box is from a mercedes which cost about 80 dollars.
    As you can see the shocks are from the front and is not that easy to add a sway bar if they don't move to the back of the axle.
    That's the reason i was thinking about m170 because the sway links are mounted from the inside of the shock.

    http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo108/m38a1/DSCF4830_zpse1bf71a3.jpg
    http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo108/m38a1/DSCF4836_zpsf727bcf0.jpg
    http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo108/m38a1/DSCF4835_zps0dcf8e2a.jpg
    http://i366.photobucket.com/albums/oo108/m38a1/DSCF4833_zps6e8f8d8d.jpg
     
  13. Mar 5, 2013
    Mr. Gangrene Jeans

    Mr. Gangrene Jeans I See Voices&Hear Visions

    Kansas City
    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2009
    Messages:
    282
    I will take some pictures soon, have to get the snow off.
     
  14. Mar 6, 2013
    fivos

    fivos Member

    Athens, Greece
    Joined:
    Jun 27, 2003
    Messages:
    109
    I would really appreciate it to see some pictures.
    I'll wait for them.
    Thanks.
     
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