Thanks guys.

Dgerfan, Bilstein is the only thing I will run on my own vehicles anymore after using them. I've never used a Toxic shock, but I've used about every other good shock out there, and there is pretty much no comparison. RCD paired up with Bilstein to come out with air ride specific shocks. They are about $90 each, so not that cheap, but IMO worth the money.


Underside.

 

cool thanks man. Keep up the good work bro.

 

Seth .. arnt the sway bars "spring steel" .. I didnt think you could cut and weld/modify one ?


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It would just be one cut in the center I believe. And he is TIG welding probably cuz he seems to be a high end builder like that. I don't really know how to do it correctly, but maybe he could use some kind of silicon based welding wire/rod. Or do some hardening/tempering?

 

They are spring steel. You can weld to them, but the heat effects them and you loose some elasticity in the HAZ, but some of it is still unaffected. There is a process for doing it that works, but does make it a bit stiffer. Because one, I took some material out so it will get more rigid, and then sleeved the weld area which means it will not flex there making it more rigid again. So I have made the spring area much smaller, which means it may end up too stiff for me. Its something I have to play with at this point. If it is too stiff I can have it re heat treated, because I modified it with 4130 which is a material capable of being heat treated and used as an anti roll bar. At this point I can't really give definite answers, because I need to play with it. I need to experiment and see what works. I may need to build a smaller bar from scratch and have it heat treated if this one ends up too stiff. Here is a picture of it modified.


If I use it and its just plain too stiff, I will look into heat treating to try to soften it back up, since my modifications will definitely remove some flexability. If it is still too stiff I need to explore other options, like a smaller scratch built 4130 bar heat treated. I know its not going to break, I just don't know if it will do what I want.

 

coming along nicely seth

 

yeah .. thats what I though ..

I have a feeling i'm going to have to make my own and then send it out for some "treatment"

press on .. looks great


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I have a feeling I will end up doing the same, but I am going to try the cheap route first. Heat treating isnt the most wallet friendly thing.

 

Why not have some splines hobbed into the sway bar and then have a coupler broached to slide over it? I know of several offroad shops that have that ability and I'd imagine it'd be easier and more cost effective.


Truck is looking sweet, that blue truck was the first truck that made me stand back in awe. This one is starting to give me carpal tunnel syndrome...

 

What do you mean broached? I looked into the splined type, but I need some very tight bends in the middle and I dont know they can be done that way.

 

Oh you mean on the sway bar I already have? The issue I see with that, is the coupler would need to be a bit longer than the sleeve I have on there now and will create a larger rigid point. For me its easier to just weld, because thats what I do and have experience with (I've built anti-roll bars before). I am trying to add a sway bar for basically no money at this point. If it doesnt work how I want, I will explore other options that cost money.

 

Ahh I see you need some hard bends in the bar. There is a good discussion on various types of sway bar design on Pirate4x4 but the vast majority of that is all straight bar stuff.


I scrapped a couple small blazers awhile back and found that the front bar off of a 97 is almost a perfect fit to a mini. I should have kept it but hell the local wrecking yard is full of them.


I looked and didn't notice the bar in question, I take it that's for the front? What are you doing in the rear if anything?

 

Its post #105 in this thread, page before this. I understand a good bit about sway bars, and if this one could be straight things would be really easy.

For the back, I have the stock rear sway bar off my S4 somewhere in the shop. I may try to use that. If it doesnt work, back to the junk yard to find something that will.

 

Ok I should have said I didn't see how/where you were mounting the bar. In front of or behind the A arms, not that it really matters I guess. I did notice you set it up so you can run the stock bar if need be thought correct?


Is the S4 chassis or axle mounted? I'd imagine chassis being off of a car... I've looked at many different rear bars and I think I'll end up with one off of a big 3 cab and chassis dually. They are all axle mounted but only the C&C's are narrow enough for a clean install while being extremely rigid for track duty.

 

The S4 bar is chassis mounted. I figure I can make this work, just not sure if its too wide because the S4 has a wide track width. I will figure something out. Chassis mounted will be easier and cleaner for me. I have a lot of stuff left to fit back there, air tank, exhaust, sway bar, limit straps, battery, etc. Also I dont want extremely rigid in the rear. Too stiff out back and you cant keep the tires on the ground in a turn without stiffening the front. I upgraded the rear bar on my S4 first, and it was fun being able to pitch it sideways anywhere. But once I added the front bar, its amazing to take a quick 90 degree right turn at 35-40 and not even chirp tires.

I am setting the bar up to go in the stock location, or close to it. I dont really see a good way to put it in front, since I will have a lot of travel at some point the steering is an issue I think. I may need to look into this more, but there isnt a lot of room between the bag and tie rod and spindle to place anything. Could be difficult. But basically mine has to be above the bottom of the frame, behind my tube arms, and then go in between the oil pan and bell housing in order to fit and still lay frame.

 

With going chassis mounted in the rear I bet you have all the stuff sitting there to use a stock torsion bar and ends as a sway bar. It doesn't get any easier/cleaner than that.

 

Nice and clean work bro!

On a side note: would it be possible to fab me up a set of track bars to help my wheel hop issues?

 

That is a good idea with the torsion. I'm not sure if ti would be too big? I like the idea, but I actually have no torsion bars. I didn't take them when I bought my clip, and the truck I bought didn't have them. I think I had a pair for a while but probably scrapped them when I moved the shop because I don't see them around.

Absolutely, and I have the perfect brackets for it that I have wanted to use for a while. I would just need a few dimensions from you. You could probably get away with one mounted close to the center of the axle opposite the gas tank. If you are keeping springs you dont really need two. Send me a message and I will show you what I am talking about, we may have different ideas, since there are a few different types.

 

Clean work as always seth. Cant wait for more

 

Thanks man.

Finally working on my upper arms.