Rear Sway Bar Question

[stimpy433]

Ok, I know the general idea of what the rear sway bar does but I have a question.... will replacing the it with a aftermarket one help with the rear end bouncing around on rough roads??? Right now I just have factory rear suspension with Bilstein 5100’s for shocks. Any recommendations for helping to stop the random bouncing around on the crappy roads I deal with daily.

 

[Tim Garceau]

5100(B8) are too firm for OEM springs IMO, the k value of the springs are too plush to overcome the dampening on quick stutters so the tires float.

My 4600(B6) were even too much before changing springs.

 

[S0CAL]

Swaybar only address the careening of your rig as you go into a turn (side to side, a feeling of tipping over). The panhard bar works to prevent your rear axle from moving laterally. The rear control arms (both upper and lower) help to keep your wheels grounded (literally) over the bounces you reference. Weak control arms permit excessive bounce, including the stock ones on our trucks. Shocks merely absorb some of the energy permitted by the control arms, by extension. Several members have upgraded their rear control arms and commented on the much improved traction control, and cessation of rear bounce you describe.

Core make amazing aftermarket control arms, swaybar endlinks and even a panhard bar. Do a search here, or simply wait for others to comment. Get these swapped out and you will have an amazing riding experience. Good luck!

 

[ram1500rsm]

Offroad dampening is not 5100s best forte. Dampening control is key. You need shocks valved for offroad duties, King, Icon, Fox all have coilovers and shocks in different flavors that will mitigate the experience or change it for good all together.

Most basic and cheapest for your factory rear will be to slap Fox 2.0 985-24-032
These should help mitigate some of the bouncing. Also running low mid 30s or less for psi should help as well.it depends of what you’re doing, work, dirt roads for fun, just chitty roads to get from point A to point B, etc.

 

[Whitd5]

When both sides move up and down together it is very easy to move the sway bar. At that point it is literally just spinning in the center bushings. When the sides are not moving in unison or causing “sway” it literally tries to twist the bar which each bar will have a different ability to resist. It needs that torsional load.