Beefiest OEM Swaybars that fit?

[99streetranger]

Hello! I will be doing a junkyard run soon, and one of the main things on my list are thicker swaybars. I have plans for autocross so I need to eliminate a lot of body roll. My truck originally had no rear bar, but I pulled a rear swaybar off a B3000 and it fit without issues. The B3000 rear bar helped to eliminate some body roll and while I could tell a difference, there is still much more that can be improved.

I have heard that the swaybars from the Bronco II fit some Ranger models. I believe the Bronco II rear swaybars will fit. My truck is a 2wd SLA truck, but could the Bronco II TTB front swaybars still fit?
If not, is my best option for front swaybars to pull one off of an Explorer?

I haven't gotten deep enough into this truck to justify spending money on Belltech or Hellwig swaybars yet.

 

[Curious Hound]

I would expect bars from a TTB truck to require some fabrication of mounts and links. Best bet would be from an SLA truck. Explorer or mountaineer may be your best bet for stiffness. Get a cheap pair of calipers so you can measure them. Stiffer bars will normally be thicker.

 

[99streetranger]

I would expect bars from a TTB truck to require some fabrication of mounts and links. Best bet would be from an SLA truck. Explorer or mountaineer may be your best bet for stiffness. Get a cheap pair of calipers so you can measure them. Stiffer bars will normally be thicker.

+1 on the calipers idea. Will definitely do that. Are all of the live axle rear swaybars the same, or are there different mounting points for 7.5 vs 8.8 rear?

 

[Curious Hound]

+1 on the calipers idea. Will definitely do that. Are all of the live axle rear swaybars the same, or are there different mounting points for 7.5 vs 8.8 rear?

At a minimum, the brackets in the axle are different between 7.5” and 8.8” axles. After putting the 8.8” axle (31 spline) under mine I tried to fit the original ability-sway bar from the 7.5”. I ground out the brackets and made it work. The ends that bolt to the frame links worked fine. Eventually removed the whole mess. I run without anti-sway bars to maximize articulation on my 4x4.

 

[99streetranger]

At a minimum, the brackets in the axle are different between 7.5” and 8.8” axles. After putting the 8.8” axle (31 spline) under mine I tried to fit the original ability-sway bar from the 7.5”. I ground out the brackets and made it work. The ends that bolt to the frame links worked fine. Eventually removed the whole mess. I run without anti-sway bars to maximize articulation on my 4x4.

Could I use the 7.5 brackets with the bushings for the larger swaybar? Or is cutting unavoidable? I can cut stuff up if I need, I just don't prefer it.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Bushings are different sized obviously.

The clamps that go on the axle are the same between a 7.5 and 28 spline 8.8. 31 spline 8.8's have bigger axle tubes. I modifed OBS F-150 axle brackets to fit my 31 spline 8.8.

Explorer rear swaybars are totally different, their bracketry is welded on the axle and the swaybar goes behind the axle. For all intents and purposes they are not compatible with a Ranger axle. However if you swap in an Explorer axle, just drill two holes and the Explorer sway bar will work.

Front is completly different but there is a picture of the rear for your truck here:

Sway Bar Pictures

https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/sway-bar-options-for-your-ford-ranger/ Some exploded views of how various style sway bars fit together. Fronts are 2wd, 4wd is similar. I have the sway bar colored in gold and the mounting bracketry you may need to go with it for those that are...

www.therangerstation.com

 

[Curious Hound]

Could I use the 7.5 brackets with the bushings for the larger swaybar? Or is cutting unavoidable? I can cut stuff up if I need, I just don't prefer it.

If you can find the brackets for 8.8” it would be better. If I recall. At least the one bracket needed to rest on the end of the differential housing. It has been a few years. There may be a picture and more explanation in my build thread.

 

[99streetranger]

Bushings are different sized obviously.

The clamps that go on the axle are the same between a 7.5 and 28 spline 8.8. 31 spline 8.8's have bigger axle tubes. I modifed OBS F-150 axle brackets to fit my 31 spline 8.8.

Explorer rear swaybars are totally different, their bracketry is welded on the axle and the swaybar goes behind the axle. For all intents and purposes they are not compatible with a Ranger axle. However if you swap in an Explorer axle, just drill two holes and the Explorer sway bar will work.

Front is completly different but there is a picture of the rear for your truck here:

Sway Bar Pictures

https://www.therangerstation.com/tech/sway-bar-options-for-your-ford-ranger/ Some exploded views of how various style sway bars fit together. Fronts are 2wd, 4wd is similar. I have the sway bar colored in gold and the mounting bracketry you may need to go with it for those that are...

www.therangerstation.com

Okay so it looks like I will get rear swaybars off of a Bronco II and get the front bar off of an Explorer, measured with calipers.

 

[Curious Hound]

Okay so it looks like I will get rear swaybars off of a Bronco II and get the front bar off of an Explorer, measured with calipers.

That sounds like a pretty solid plan.

 

[99streetranger]

That sounds like a pretty solid plan.

I'll reply to the thread once I get around to getting the stuff.

 

[JoshT]

For largest OEM components you're on the right track.

Explorer/Mountaineer had the largest SLA front swaybar, but I can't tell you the size. Consider size and weight, IIRC some of those bars were solid and others were hollow, but I can;t recall the year it changed. Obviously the solid bar is going to be stiffer, even if it is slightly smaller.

Bronco II 1" rear sway bar would be the erasiest to fit in the rear. There may be an Explorer bar that is about the same size, but differences in the suspension make it less desirable if not completely unusable for a stock Ranger rear suspension.

Don't forget to check the aftermarket for bushings if necessary. As I think was notedf above the BII used a 7.5" rear axle while your truck most likely has an 8.8" axle. IIRC the BII bar was mounted to the axle using u-bolts, it didn't have welded on mounts like the later trucks. I can't remember about axle tube sizes, but the 7.5 hardware may not fit around the 8.8" axle tubes. Companies like Energy Suspension sell universal mounts that will fit.

FWIW I've got both an Explorer front bar and a BII rear bar to install on my 99 when the time comes. I think that I was planning to use Energy Suspension bushings/mounts to attach the BII bar to the original 8.8 axle mount points.

Theres been a lot of discussions about sway bars down in the 2wd suspension section over the years, might be worth taking a little time to go search for it.

 

[bobbywalter]

STREET-TRACK SWAY BARS

STREET ROD KITS

BRONCO KITS

 

[99streetranger]

For largest OEM components you're on the right track.

Explorer/Mountaineer had the largest SLA front swaybar, but I can't tell you the size. Consider size and weight, IIRC some of those bars were solid and others were hollow, but I can;t recall the year it changed. Obviously the solid bar is going to be stiffer, even if it is slightly smaller.

Bronco II 1" rear sway bar would be the erasiest to fit in the rear. There may be an Explorer bar that is about the same size, but differences in the suspension make it less desirable if not completely unusable for a stock Ranger rear suspension.

Don't forget to check the aftermarket for bushings if necessary. As I think was notedf above the BII used a 7.5" rear axle while your truck most likely has an 8.8" axle. IIRC the BII bar was mounted to the axle using u-bolts, it didn't have welded on mounts like the later trucks. I can't remember about axle tube sizes, but the 7.5 hardware may not fit around the 8.8" axle tubes. Companies like Energy Suspension sell universal mounts that will fit.

FWIW I've got both an Explorer front bar and a BII rear bar to install on my 99 when the time comes. I think that I was planning to use Energy Suspension bushings/mounts to attach the BII bar to the original 8.8 axle mount points.

Theres been a lot of discussions about sway bars down in the 2wd suspension section over the years, might be worth taking a little time to go search for it.

Ah okay, I was under the impression that broncos had the 8.8 rear. I have a 7.5 rear so that is perfect. For the front SLA, I definitely will have to obtain a solid swaybar.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Ah okay, I was under the impression that broncos had the 8.8 rear. I have a 7.5 rear so that is perfect. For the front SLA, I definitely will have to obtain a solid swaybar.

Broncos do have 8.8's

Bronco II's have 7.5's

 

[99streetranger]

For largest OEM components you're on the right track.

Explorer/Mountaineer had the largest SLA front swaybar, but I can't tell you the size. Consider size and weight, IIRC some of those bars were solid and others were hollow, but I can;t recall the year it changed. Obviously the solid bar is going to be stiffer, even if it is slightly smaller.

Bronco II 1" rear sway bar would be the erasiest to fit in the rear. There may be an Explorer bar that is about the same size, but differences in the suspension make it less desirable if not completely unusable for a stock Ranger rear suspension.

Don't forget to check the aftermarket for bushings if necessary. As I think was notedf above the BII used a 7.5" rear axle while your truck most likely has an 8.8" axle. IIRC the BII bar was mounted to the axle using u-bolts, it didn't have welded on mounts like the later trucks. I can't remember about axle tube sizes, but the 7.5 hardware may not fit around the 8.8" axle tubes. Companies like Energy Suspension sell universal mounts that will fit.

FWIW I've got both an Explorer front bar and a BII rear bar to install on my 99 when the time comes. I think that I was planning to use Energy Suspension bushings/mounts to attach the BII bar to the original 8.8 axle mount points.

Theres been a lot of discussions about sway bars down in the 2wd suspension section over the years, might be worth taking a little time to go search for it.

It looks like have an answer for front swaybar options after looking through the explorer forums: https://www.explorerforum.com/forums/threads/99-front-sway-bar-diameter.27310/