What sway bar??

[Yotaismygame]

Looks like the 5444 is intended for 98+ trucks that originally had control arms. It should be interchangeable with Explorer bars from 95+, and I'm not sure that I've seen them ever work on a 97 or older truck.

I'd be surprised if that new bar works any better than the last one unless the last place just screwed up and sent a bar for a different vehicle.

If the AJE kit is intended to work with a stock bar from an i beam Ranger, then you should probably be looking for bars from trucks that originally had i beams (97 and older) if you want direct fit/bolt in application. But if you're wiling to move the end link mounts on the control arms, then I guess about anything can be made to fit.

If it were up to me, I'd probably prefer a narrower bar to keep the end links more inboard and clear of wider tires. Will be interested to see what you end up with though! You can always find custom splined bars for around $200 as well. You'd just have to figure out the arms and end links.

It's just going to depend on the overall width. Be great if someone could take that measurement for me. So you're saying the 737 bar and the 5444 are going to be the same thing? I found it funny that the explorer bar had a 1.5" thick option where the thickest bar i've found for a ranger is 1.25".Custom could be the way to go, we will see. I can still cancel that 5444 order.

 

[Yotaismygame]

Found some info that matches the addco737 bar. Explorer 98 to whatever, bars are about 40" wide eye to eye. So what are the Ranger bar measurements of the same year?

 

[pjtoledo]

Positive about this? It's been a few years since I was doing sway bar research, so I could be wrong, but I'm pretty sure that the Roush front sway bar (for 98+ coil spring trucks) is just the Ford 4WD Ranger (torsion bar front end) part repackaged. My Roush bar fits my 2000 coil spring truck perfectly.

Hillbank used to sell all of the Roush stuff, and they confirmed the sway bars were simply a stock 4wd Ranger part, plus the stock rear sway bar (see posts 14-15 of this thread):

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www.fordrangerforum.com

I've also pulled even larger bars from a 95-01 Explorer (Same torsion bar front end as Edge and 4WD Rangers) and held it up to check clearances against my 2000 coil spring truck and it passed the eyeball test just fine. I've still got it on my shelf, so I might be able to revisit it.

I'll clarify it to say the coil frame on my 2005 is too wide for a 2000 torsion type front bar, and a 2001 Sport Track front bar.
those are the only 2 that I've tried.
I'll try to get some pics soon.

side note, the Sport Track bar was massive, wayyy too stiff for my 2000 4WD, I took it off.

 

[Yotaismygame]

I'll clarify it to say the coil frame on my 2005 is too wide for a 2000 torsion type front bar, and a 2001 Sport Track front bar.
those are the only 2 that I've tried.
I'll try to get some pics soon.

side note, the Sport Track bar was massive, wayyy too stiff for my 2000 4WD, I took it off.

So are you saying that a 2000 torsion bar sway bar is narrower than a 2005 coil frame? Would that mean a 2005 coil sway bar is the same as a 2000 explorer? So would a 01 sport track sway bar fit a 95?

 

[pjtoledo]

the 2001 Sport Track stabilizer bar was an exact match (except for thickness) to my 2000 4WD Ranger.
when I tried to put the 2000 4WD bar on my 2005 coil Ranger it hit the frame bulges for the coils.
I don't know what does/doesn't fit a '95.

at least that's what I'm remembering, I'll confirm frame widths in a few days.

 

[Yotaismygame]

the 2001 Sport Track stabilizer bar was an exact match (except for thickness) to my 2000 4WD Ranger.
when I tried to put the 2000 4WD bar on my 2005 coil Ranger it hit the frame bulges for the coils.
I don't know what does/doesn't fit a '95.

at least that's what I'm remembering, I'll confirm frame widths in a few days.

See this makes me think a 98ish bar will work for me. I emailed belltech if they had the dimensions of both 5445 and 5444 bars. 5444 being the 98+ bar

 

[JoshT]

What is your point here? Being anything but helpful.

I think that is pretty clear.

You appear to say that the tech page said that that "the 2000 ish explorer front sway bar fit" on a 95 Ranger. The tech page says exactly the opposite.

The problem isn't me being helpful ot not, it's you being too dense. I know, I have that problem too at times. Either buy a bar made for a Ranger TIB suspension, or modify your AJE suspension to run the SLA style bar.

Be great if someone could take that measurement for me. So you're saying the 737 bar and the 5444 are going to be the same thing?

If you had asked for measurements I would have been happy to provide them. I have an Explorer Bar sitting in the shed, a torsion bar Ranger bar on the truck, and a coil spring bar on a parts truck at my parent's house. I can try to measure the first two tomorrow (later today) weather permitting, but it might be this weekend before I can get to the coil spring bar.

Yes, that is what he's saying. I agree with him. All information I've encountered says that the all of the SLA Rangers, the 95-03 Explorer, and 01-05 Sport Trac use the same front sway bar in varying diameters. I've never had reason to actually remove the 2wd coil spring bar and do a side by side comparison with one from a torsion bar truck. Unfortunately I can't measure a TIB bar cause mine is the behind the axle style, but it sounds like you have that one covered.

When I go measure the one on the 2wd (if you want me to) I can take the Explorer bar sitting in the shed and do a visual comparison.

 

[Yotaismygame]

Bye JoshT.

 

[JoshT]

Well I was willing and offered, but no skin off my back. Didn't really want to climb under the truck in the thunderstorms were having today anyway.

 

[Yotaismygame]

Belltech responded:

“5444 measurement 42 inches (98+)

5445 measurement 33-1/4 inches (97-)”

I ordered 5445 just to simply things.

 

[stmitch]

Belltech responded:

“5444 measurement 42 inches (98+)

5445 measurement 33-1/4 inches (97-)”

I ordered 5445 just to simply things.

Good call!