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Does a sway bar on the front end make a difference? I have a '51 GMC 1/2 ton.

Good question. My '52 Chev is so darned stiff I never considered it, plus like to keep it original. Like to see what others say.

Thomas & Scott: I asked that question for my 59 and the answer I liked do you want to stop the roll in the corners. Shortly after that (I'll see if I can find the article Classic Truck) talked about improving your old truck ride w/sway bars. Convinced me!! Right after Christmas I am ordering a set for front and rear. Now remember I am staying with stock suspension, and this is a big improvement. Ben

popcorn The Truth is Out There (Hope this helped)

Makes a huge difference on cornerin ability and it seems to me that the difference is greater on 53 and earlier trucks (although I can't point to any reason why) Those earlier AD trucks just seem more tippy.

If you can find one, Chevy offered a front sway bar for their panel trucks, not sure about on the regular trucks. But same axle is used on both. Make sure you get all the hardware from the donor vehicle.

I saw no perceptable improvement with the panel truck sway bar.

thomas, brotherstruck.com, chevyduty, harmons.com and other of the aftermarket sites offer sway bars complete with no or little work on your part to install. ron

It worked very well on my '50 1/2 ton. Maybe the lighter the truck the better they work?

3100
since you are happy with the result of your sway bar addition, the next logical question is where did you get them?

duddy

I added a front sway bar on my 51 years ago, it came from Patrick's,I think it's stiffer than the original Burb type.The improvement in normal handling is very noticable,no more feeling that the back end wants to get away in turns.

The original panel truck sway bar is about as big around as your pinky. The aftermarket sway bars are about 3x as big.

Don't buy a chev sway bar and think it will fit a GMC. GMC uses a special mount because the crossmember is at an angle where the sway bar mounts.

Duddy, I purchased mine from Chevy Duty. The box was missing the instruction sheet, but CD faxed me one after a few emails, and a telephone call.

It went in fast, and works great!

I purchased a front kit for my 57, but found the instructions difficult to follow. There was a bold disclaimer that the kit was intended only as an OEM replacement, but upon examination of a TF panel truck, found it not even close to OEM design. The pencil diagrams were atrocious so I decided that, for something as important as front end control, I would abandon the project. The June 04 issue of Custom Classic Trucks has an article on TF sway bars. The photos of the kit look just like mine, and the installation photos are very clear. After Christmas tree season, I'll bring the old beast into the garage and try the installation again.

I have a original sway bar and mounts from a 1950 1/2ton panel, if anybody wants one.