Sway bar questions

[Isk Stark]

Did the 2004 4x4s have thicker sway bars than the 2002 2wd?

Will a '95 Bronco 4x4 rear sway bar fit on a '02 2wd?

I'm trying to get my 2wd ready for autocross.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Bronco rear sway bar will not fit. The frame is narrower on a Ranger and your stock axle is smaller diameter so the Bronco clamps won't fit.

Ranger/Bronco II rear sway bar 83-11 will fit. 2wd BII has the heaviest followed by older Rangers.

Sway Bar Options For Your Ford Ranger - The Ranger Station

Looking to add or upgrade the sway bar on your Ford Ranger? Front Bars: If your Ford Ranger didn’t come with a front sway bar, you have an option of adding a factory one, if you can find one in … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

 

[alwaysFlOoReD]

I took a rear sway bar off a f150 and bent the arms in on a 20ton press. It's on my race truck now.

 

[racsan]

summit used to carry a thick rear sway bar that would fit a ranger, not sure if they still do and don’t remember the thickness but it was thicker than the factory bar on my 93. too cold to measure it now but I still have it, its on my ranger trailer.

 

[cbxer55]

Hellwig used to make them. Don't know if they still do. I have them on my Ranger, front and rear. I don't know if Hotchkiss made them for Ranger's or not. I know both still make them for my 04 Lightning.

 

[Isk Stark]

summit used to carry a thick rear sway bar that would fit a ranger, not sure if they still do and don’t remember the thickness but it was thicker than the factory bar on my 93. too cold to measure it now but I still have it, its on my ranger trailer.

Hellwig used to make them. Don't know if they still do. I have them on my Ranger, front and rear. I don't know if Hotchkiss made them for Ranger's or not. I know both still make them for my 04 Lightning.

Summit has the Belltech and Hellwig sways, but if I could get away with thicker OEM bars, I'd like to go that route to save money.

Bronco rear sway bar will not fit. The frame is narrower on a Ranger and your stock axle is smaller diameter so the Bronco clamps won't fit.

Ranger/Bronco II rear sway bar 83-11 will fit. 2wd BII has the heaviest followed by older Rangers.

Sway Bar Options For Your Ford Ranger - The Ranger Station

Looking to add or upgrade the sway bar on your Ford Ranger? Front Bars: If your Ford Ranger didn’t come with a front sway bar, you have an option of adding a factory one, if you can find one in … Continued

www.therangerstation.com

I tried looking at that link, but I couldn't follow cause I'm a total Ford noob. I don't know what goes with what.

I found an OEM 2004 4x4 front sway bar online and wanted to confirm whether that was thicker than the 2wd front sway bar. I also found the 4x4 rear sway bar and wondered if that were any good or if I should hold out for something thicker. Currently, I have no rear sway bar. Figured I'd add one while the bed was off.

 

[pjtoledo]

since you mentioned 2WD,
98+ 2wd front bars are different between coil spring and torsion bar systems.
the coil 2wd bar is wider to clear the spring bulges in the frame.

if you want a real thick front bar try Explorer or Sport Track.

EDIT: for torsion bars, not coils

 

[Isk Stark]

since you mentioned 2WD,
98+ 2wd front bars are different between coil spring and torsion bar systems.
the coil 2wd bar is wider to clear the spring bulges in the frame.

if you want a real thick front bar try Explorer or Sport Track.

Interesting. Never took that into consideration. I’ve got the coil springs up front.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I tried looking at that link, but I couldn't follow cause I'm a total Ford noob. I don't know what goes with what.

I found an OEM 2004 4x4 front sway bar online and wanted to confirm whether that was thicker than the 2wd front sway bar. I also found the 4x4 rear sway bar and wondered if that were any good or if I should hold out for something thicker. Currently, I have no rear sway bar. Figured I'd add one while the bed was off.

Rear swaybar looks like this:

Yellow is the bar, red is the mounting hardware.

83-92 is 3/4"
93-11 is 5/8"
Bronco II (2wd) is 1"

Explorer is bigger but mounts differently and you don't have the brackets welded on your axle for it.

 

[Isk Stark]

Rear swaybar looks like this:

Yellow is the bar, red is the mounting hardware.

83-92 is 3/4"
93-11 is 5/8"
Bronco II (2wd) is 1"

Explorer is bigger but mounts differently and you don't have the brackets welded on your axle for it.

Got it. Thanks.

Belltech rear sway is 3/4"
Hellwig rear sway is 7/8"

I contacted a junk yard that supposed to have Bronco II stuff. I'll see if they return my email.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I wouldn't hold your breath, 2wd BII's are SCARCE.

 

[racsan]

mine is a hellwig- 7/8”.

 

[cbxer55]

mine is a hellwig- 7/8”.

So is mine.