1952-59 Ford Sway bars

I know this has been discussed before, but save me the circus of searching for the info please. Where did you get your upgraded bars. Do I need front and rear or front only? What is your opinion?

 

Contact Dave,great guy and a member here too. http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/drop-em-stop-em-is-awesome.1044766/

 

Addco is another site you could check.

 

Dave would be my recommendation. He's a great guy and has quality stuff.

 

I just have the front HD sway bar on mine. I was waiting for road testing before I determined whether or not I needed the rear bar, and I absolutely do not need it. My car does not lean in a corner.....even when the *** end was a few inches higher.
With that said, I changed to new 6 leaf springs in the back to replace the oem 4 leafs, and of course everything else has been replaced back there as well. My advise would be to add the front way bar, spend your $ on new rear springs, bushings, shocks ect and see where you're at from there.

 

My new rear springs, btw, came from McVeigh's truck springs. Minnesota I think. All the '57 forum guys have gotten their springs from them and everyone is very happy with them. Less than 200. I don't know what other years they carry. I think shipping to tx was 40ish...not bad for all that weight.
http://www.mcveighstruckspring.com/
Just did a quick look thru their ebay store..currently most of the Ford's are 220 plus 56 shipping. Did not see a 55 or 56 spring, but they have older and newer on the store page. I'd call on the 55-56.
Springs are not on topic with your post, but related to why some would think they need a sway bar when new springs will do the job.
Headed your way tonight Okie...Leake Auction at the OKC fairgrounds today, thru Sunday

 

Thanks Rich, just the input I was looking for. Everything in the rear is new [Posies springs] and I sort of thought front might be all required. Gonna leave some of those Texas riches in Okieland?

 

I talked with Dave today. He recommended a 1" front bar. I will send him a MO, he will send me a sway bar. Thanks for the help.

 

Anyone know if anyone makes upgraded front swaybar specifically for a '52-'53 Ford sedan. Dave doesn't offer them yet.

 

Tex, thanks for the spring info, same springs for a '57 to '59 so I'll be talking to him when I'm ready. I'd be interested in a bigger front sway bar but agree it is probably not needed in the back if the rear springs are in good shape. Mine are not, got a wicked wheel hop when I hit 2nd gear in a hurry, which might be a loose nut behind the wheel.

 

Here you go https://www.performanceonline.com/1949-53-Ford-Car-Sway-Bar-Kit-High-Performance-Front/

 

Daves comment to me was that if you use a 1 1/8" bar on front you should run a rear bar also. With a 1" no rear works fine. I did not question why, maybe he will post an education.

 

Thanks. Anyone here used this on a 52-53? 49-51 is much different. Has anyone put a non- stock sway-bar on a 52-53 and if yes, what did you use? Results?

 

I hope he enlightens us as well. I'm running an 1 1/8 up front. I'm wondering if I should be watching/looking for created problems??

 

Guys, I am not an expert but I have read and been told by people in the know, a 1" sway bar up front will give you the best over all feel of a car. The people in the know say a 1 1/8" bar up front will give you more rear end push. I don't know this for 100% fact. I do have a couple of customers from the H.A.M.B. one with a 55 ford with a 1" bar in the front and says the car is great. His friend with a 56 ford with a 1 1/8" bar in the front says his car is also great and no problems. I know this may not be the 100% answer, it may come down to personal preference. I'd like to thank the guys from the H.A.M.B. for their recommendations and the praise. It is greatly appreciated. Dave

 

You get to the point where the front of the car might be over-constrained. The bigger bar may do it, but there are a zillion variables.

 

That's my 56, the handling is so much better than with the stock sway bar. I was thinking of going with a rear sway bar but I seem to remember Dave telling me I wouldn't need one. I have about 10,000 miles on the car with the new sway bar with no problems. I've done curvy mountain roads, lots of freeway miles, Oregon freeway miles through curvy hills at twenty miles an hour over the speed limit and it has never felt unsafe.
I would recommend Dave's sway bar to anyone looking to upgrade.

 

Can't get a better recomendation than that.

 

I'm also interested in going front only with my '59.

 

bobss396, Check with T bird south west for your sway bar, their number is 979 249 4200

 

I found the instructions online and shot them an email asking about $$ and stuff like that. Odd the bar was not on their site.

 

on the 59 ford 1 1/8" front 1" rear have not had it on the road but it is what I put on everything

 

They've always had problems with their website. They are the company that makes them/has them made and also supplies Concorse. So, Concorse and tbirdSW are the same bar.....at least that's the way it was for '57's back when I got mine 5 or so years ago.

 

yep mine was through Concourse ford they were around $500 for the pair with shipping

 

Good to know. I'm going back and forth with Pam over there (SW Tbirds) about shipping, etc.

 

I think your '59 build showed the rear bar install. I have to go back and look. I'm sourcing parts to replace my rear springs and all the doodads that go with it, looks like C & G or Concourse have it all. The spring guy Texas57 came up with has the u-bolts and nuts for $16 more.

 

I received the sway bar from Dave [nascardave] at DropnStop today. Very nice, great service. Another satisfied customer.

 

I have a confused... is Dave the source or is that T-Bird site the best source for 'bars?

 

I think Dave said he did not have a 59 bar, didn't he?

 

Probably. I have too much running through my head right now. Hard drive is full.