- Joined
- Nov 3, 2010
- Messages
- 7
- Points
- 1,501
- Vehicle Year
- 2003
- Transmission
- Automatic
After spending months searching the salvage yards for a 1-1/8" 98+ 4wd front sway bar to upgrade my '03 2wd Ranger with no luck, I had an idea....DUAL FRONT SWAY BARS! 
This Saturday afternoon I picked up a second 98+ 2wd sway bar ($17) and endlinks, some 1/4" plate steel (freebie), 2 x 12" 3/8" all thread, 2 x 3/8" nylon lock nuts, 4 x 100mm frame bolts, and a bag of 25 3/8" washer ($11).
I then cut out plates and drilled holes in the 1/4" plate to match the frame brackets. Next I bolted the frame mount bracket with the 1/4" plate on top and welded them together. I bolted them together to keep it all squared up while welding. After it cooled I painted them and then bolted it all up. To make the endlinks work I sectioned ~1" of material from the factory sleeve and pieced it all together combining the 2 sets of endlinks I had.
The result: I notice much more control on the highway, and I notice no change in ride quality when going straight. Corners are fun and I love it.
I am now looking for 2 x 98+ 4wd 1-1/8" sway bars for even more control 
. My brother is going to install 3 x 1" sway bars on his E250 
.
By the way, I also have Mustang rear disk brakes, a 1" rear Bronco II sway bar, and Explorer OHC - I'm running out of things to do! Next project will be 17" Bullit wheels to get rid of all that tire roll. Anybody know anything about stiffening up a 2wd frame?
This Saturday afternoon I picked up a second 98+ 2wd sway bar ($17) and endlinks, some 1/4" plate steel (freebie), 2 x 12" 3/8" all thread, 2 x 3/8" nylon lock nuts, 4 x 100mm frame bolts, and a bag of 25 3/8" washer ($11).I then cut out plates and drilled holes in the 1/4" plate to match the frame brackets. Next I bolted the frame mount bracket with the 1/4" plate on top and welded them together. I bolted them together to keep it all squared up while welding. After it cooled I painted them and then bolted it all up. To make the endlinks work I sectioned ~1" of material from the factory sleeve and pieced it all together combining the 2 sets of endlinks I had.
The result: I notice much more control on the highway, and I notice no change in ride quality when going straight. Corners are fun and I love it.
I am now looking for 2 x 98+ 4wd 1-1/8" sway bars for even more control . My brother is going to install 3 x 1" sway bars on his E250 . By the way, I also have Mustang rear disk brakes, a 1" rear Bronco II sway bar, and Explorer OHC - I'm running out of things to do! Next project will be 17" Bullit wheels to get rid of all that tire roll. Anybody know anything about stiffening up a 2wd frame?
