ZQ8 Rear Sway Bar

[87wildside]

Does the bar mount to the axle with the end links going to the frame or bar mounts to frame with the end links going to the axle? I have no rear bar right now and I need to know this. Want the least amount of unsprung weight as possable.

[Mikz86TA]

The factory ZQ8 bar mounts to the axle tubes with the sway mounts and 4 long u-bolts. The bar itself curves toward the rear. Mine has the end links with the round hole eyelets on both the frame and bar ends. Some S-series end links are the bolt-sleeve-4 bushing-nut design. Mine is a 2003 ZQ8 and everything is stock. On a second gen, it was not common(from ones I saw)to have a rear bar. So the chassis mounts might not be there. Which end links do you have. I will try to get a pic of mine for you.Does the bar mount to the axle with the end links going to the frame or bar mounts to frame with the end links going to the axle? I have no rear bar right now and I need to know this. Want the least amount of unsprung weight as possable.

[87wildside]

I have no end links or bar for that matter. I just needed to know 'cause I want a bar that mounts to the frame with the end links going to the axle to save some unsprung weight. You answered my question though, thanks.

[Mikz86TA]

Ill look and see if there are any special looking pads or mounts on mine. I see the bars at S10wharehouse on e-bay daily. I think they come with all removable hardware. The only concern I see is the non-removable stuff if applacable.

[Hammer Head]

Just so you know don't try & use a rear bar from a blazer. They're differant than the pickup bars. Just FYI.

[Mikz86TA]

I looked at mine and here is what I found. The sway bar to axle has a base mount on the axle tube that is a cresent shape (much like a exhaust clamp) and a u-bolt which sandwiches it as a mounting pad between the axle tube and sway bar holder/rubber or poly bushing. It iIS NOT welded to the axle tube but the axle does have little squares welded to the outside edges whre it sits. These little squares are like the counterweights on a pinion flange or driveshaft. They look to be just a install guide point. The end links on mine are the eyelet style, much like a shock end. There is a bracket that bolts inside the frame rail. They are 10mm bolts. One is on the bottom and bolts directly to the frame. The other two are on the back side and bolt to the crossbrace(which is welded to the frame) which is also where the shocks mount. On my 2nd gen, the shocks are both rearward angled. I am not sure on a 1st gen, but I know some trucks have alternate angled shocks. I got a few pics for reference and will post them soon.

[T Man]

Ok, a few things. I just recently put one of these on my 87 so heres what I can tell you about the install, and some other stuff. First, the swaybar will be half unsprung weight no matter how you mount it, just like your springs (leaf and coil) I originally took a set of muffler clamps and ran them around my axle to mount the bushing clamp to the axle, i have since gotten the correct clamps for the application. I was fortunate enough to have a stock room full of end links to pick through after I could not find the end links in town...even through the dealer. I ended up going with a moog, modifying it by removing the through bolt on the end link and putting a grade 8 bolt through it, I then took the threaded end of the end link (like I said, i didnt have the brackets or the correct end links so I had to roll with the punches) drilled into the shock mount bracket on the frame and ran them through there. I was warned by sparky that the upper mounting bracket wasnt designed to hold the weight of the vehicle, but after numerous inspections with the bed on, and off, i have found that they have not twisted or misshapen at all. I will try and find the moog number I used...at least its a starting point. If you can get the zq8 front sway bar....that coupled with my polyurethane uca and lca bushings makes it rediculously tight.

[Mikz86TA]

Does anyone know if the OEM rubber bushings are std. or a harder durometer like a 1LE F-Body type. I was thinking about getting at least the mount poly set for both F and R. Just curious if I am going to see a slight or heavy improvement.

[T Man]

the ones i have feel harder than the rubber I took out of the front, but not nearly as hard as my poly front bar bushings

If you find poly rear bushing kits...let me know

[00S104.3]

Mine came with brackets that attach to the frame and the upper shock mounts. Here are some pics of how mine is mounted.

http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/15f31b24aa.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info/)
http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/6253af28dc.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info/)
http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/7bc5fe666a.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info/)

[87wildside]

Ok, a few things. I just recently put one of these on my 87 so heres what I can tell you about the install, and some other stuff. First, the swaybar will be half unsprung weight no matter how you mount it, just like your springs (leaf and coil) I originally took a set of muffler clamps and ran them around my axle to mount the bushing clamp to the axle, i have since gotten the correct clamps for the application. I was fortunate enough to have a stock room full of end links to pick through after I could not find the end links in town...even through the dealer. I ended up going with a moog, modifying it by removing the through bolt on the end link and putting a grade 8 bolt through it, I then took the threaded end of the end link (like I said, i didnt have the brackets or the correct end links so I had to roll with the punches) drilled into the shock mount bracket on the frame and ran them through there. I was warned by sparky that the upper mounting bracket wasnt designed to hold the weight of the vehicle, but after numerous inspections with the bed on, and off, i have found that they have not twisted or misshapen at all. I will try and find the moog number I used...at least its a starting point. If you can get the zq8 front sway bar....that coupled with my polyurethane uca and lca bushings makes it rediculously tight.
I have a Hellwig 1 1/4" bar up front and Energy suspension bushings and body mounts trought out.

[Mikz86TA]

The rear bar added would greatly help that rear end from trying to swing around on a heavy cornering situatiion.

[87wildside]

Now all I have to do is find one. Keep coming up with the Blazer bar.

[T Man]

Ive got one id sell.......

[87wildside]

Don't think it will work with my frame notch but I'll let you know once I get it welded in.

Parting out the '87 already...lol

[The Enemy]

ok i gotta have swaybars, with the s10 becoming my daily driver, i can sure tell the difference. what years of swaybars can i use? and off what models?? i'd settle for anything, but better is better...

Lee

[87wildside]

You can use them from any year. 2wd front are all interchangeable, on the rear the blazer and pickup are not interchangeable. I'm not sure about the 4wd. Look for the ZQ8 bars or a Blazer front bar.

[T Man]

I have a stock front sway bar sitting in my garage from when I upgraded to the ZQ8. Ill get rid of it and include a set of greasable poly frame bushings and brackets with it so all you have to buy is endlinks. Shoot a price

[T Man]

Id even clean it up and paint it for you lee

[87wildside]

Sounds like a winner to me Lee.

[Mikz86TA]

I might have a line on getting a ZQ8 F/R set. How much are you wanting to spend? Fronts go for close to 80ish and rears 60ish used. Plus shipping

[T Man]

so lee, is it sold?

[White-V-6-S-Ten]

They are selling the front zq8 bars for 48 plus shipping and the rear for 148 on the s10warehouse on ebay
A little pricy since i just found the set for a hundred bucks!

[Mikz86TA]

shipping is the pricey part. They are somewhat heavy, finding a box to accomodate and the size of the box.

[The Enemy]

ok, spent a little time under my s10 today ( i love my lift!) and heres what i found...

my truch has a front sway bar, i measured it and it's a hair over 1 1/8 " across. it and the end liks are good shape, so is it worth going to a ZQ8 bar? what size is the front bar, and are there other alternatives?

Tommy, did u say u had a rear bar around for sale though??

Lee

[Mikz86TA]

ZQ8 is 33 F and 23 R in MilliMeters. A 1 1/8 Inch is 28.5 MM. Adding the rear will help but will introduce a little understeer matched to the stock one you have. A 19 or 20 would be a better match. Just get both

[T Man]

the zq8 was super noticable over the stock sway bar, and no, ive got a stock front for sale

[White-V-6-S-Ten]

I am in the process of putting the zq8 bars on they should be on by later today!
You know how it is, its like a kid in a candy store!
You just cant wait to get them on and give it a try!
I will update later and tell you what i think

[White-V-6-S-Ten]

Well unfortunatly some douch bag wrecked me kinda...
They ran the red light and hit the car next to me sending it into my poor truck messing up my fender, hood, bumper, and grille!
I am so pissed!

[XtremeGrocerySmuggler]

Hey guys just registered :) So on the subject of the ZQ8 sway bar.... I removed mine a year ago so the :2gunsfiri X wife :bigun2: would stop complaining about the bumpy ride and now that I kicked her to the curb :D I cant seem to find all the mounting hardware to put it back. Actually I have the U-bolts and all the stuff to mount back up to the axle but I'm missing the 2 screws that go by the shock mounts and I'm wondering if anyone had the sizes so i could go pick some new ones up?

[T Man]

Go to home depot and get a set of grade 8 bolts. Youll be alright.

[The Enemy]

so tommy, you just bypassed the top frame brackets and bolted the links to the side of the frame?? Pics man, pics! also... pleeeeeease get me a part number that you used for the links, they would be an awesome help....

Lee

[jspear]

so tommy, you just bypassed the top frame brackets and bolted the links to the side of the frame?? Pics man, pics! also... pleeeeeease get me a part number that you used for the links, they would be an awesome help....

Lee


I'd like to see these pics!! Interesting idea