Is the sway bar needed?

[bones44]

As both of my sway bar links are rusted thru is there a need for a sway bar with the setup I have now?

Or should I try to find some kind of replacement?

Thanks in advance for any input.

[TodFitch]

A properly sized and installed anti-sway bar (a.k.a. sway bar) helps in cornering.

[plymouthcranbrook]

Many times on modern cars the sway bar links will rust through and break. I have found out a couple times that one has broken on one of my cars and really never noticed a difference in Handling. I always install a new link for safety though.

[Andydodge]

Yrs ago when I was building/hotrodding my 40 Dodge, (independent stock style front end I know but bear with me) I had a 1" thick sway bar made by a local suspension shop using the original bar as a template.....decided to drive the car and got as far as around the block and decided that the RS handling was not worth the hassle so back in the garage it went till I got the sway bars back and the new one installed......o/k yours is a beam axle semi elliptic front end BUT I would be finding some way of getting a sway bar on it, you'll notice and enjoy the difference.............andyd

Edited August 10, 2015 by Andydodge

[mopar_earl]

I also recommend the sway bar. Makes a huge difference. Especially during emergency maneuvers. I always found vehicles felt squirrelly without. I had a Big old caddy once that had front and rear bars. That thing was glued to the road.

Earl

[Robert Horne]

My 38 Coupe does not have a sway bar,

 

but my 37 four door has one.

 

Here is a photo of the 37, along with ranger bar(blue),

 

and a Jeep XJ(red).

 

I believe either the Jeep or Ranger bars, may be a good fit..

[deathbound]

From what I've seen in pictures, the sway bar set-up on these tube axles is different than your "typical" sway bar set-up. I have a '38 Plymouth with the tube axle, there was no sway bar when I got it. In the few pictures I've seen, it looks like a "riser" of some sort attached to the spindle and the sway bar goes over the front frame rails. Also, in the pic from the OP, there is a different type shackle on the rear of the drivers side front leaf spring, which my car also does not have, mine has a plain "U" shaped shackle. My car does have some lean if I take corners at speed, but I don't know any different with this car. If anyone has more info on this type of sway bar set-up and shackle I mentioned, please chime in....pics appreciated. If anyone has installed another type of sway bar on the front, please post detailed pics of the attachments. Thanks.

[Chester Brzostowski]

I am no expert but after viewing your setup I would think that the spring load gas shock should provide the dampening support you may need.  Are you running a stock engine or something more modern ?

 

Chet... 

[Andydodge]

Might be worthwhile checking out some late model semi trucks........class 8 you guys call them?........I know that large rigs still use the semi elliptic front ends and they certainly use a sway bar and might offer some ideas, albeit on a much larger scale...... the note about the spring shackle movement is a good point, but if the bar was attached to the actual axle with arms pointing forward and eyes on the end of the arms attached to links that pivoted on the arm and chassis mount then the sway bar could "sway" or move with the axle upwards movement.........I'd think that a relatively thin sway bar would provide some leverage against the body roll.........got me thinking about this...........just realised that SUV's, 4 wheel drives & similar etc up till fairly recently also use semi elliptic spring setups so that maybe worth checking out also.........dunno if any of this helps ............lol..............andyd

[Ulu]

I run anti-sway bars front and rear & I wouldn't have it any other way.

[bones44]

Thanks for the feed back and to answer Chet's question I am currently rebuilding the 230 that I installed back in the

early sixties. Although there a few minor improvements such as Edgy's reground cam, intake manifold, and cylinder head.

[Conroe Powdercoating]

no, its not needed.

yes, it is wonderful having one compared to not having one.

so basically, not needed for driving really, but needed if you like driving and cornering without crazy sway, lean, wallowing around.

[blucarsdn]

Actually the wrong terminolgy is being used to describ the "the sway bar".. The bar used on vehicles with parallel is actually an "anti roll bar", it's purpose being to contraol body roll on turns.. Sway/tracking bars are commonly used on vehicles with coil springs to maintain the alignment of the body to the chassis.

Roll bars started to appear on vehicles in the late '30's, generally on the front end of vehicles with coil springs.. As speed and performance improved in the late '30's

the roll bars came into vogue on the more expensive models.

Several companys make aftermarket roll and/or sway bars.

[Joshuanotsosmart17]

On 8/10/2015 at 2:13 PM, Robert Horne said:

My 38 Coupe does not have a sway bar,

 

but my 37 four door has one.

 

Here is a photo of the 37, along with ranger bar(blue),

 

and a Jeep XJ(red).

 

I believe either the Jeep or Ranger bars, may be a good fit..

I have a 39 Plymouth business coupe what would be my best bet for a rear sway bar as im trying to combat body roll