Posted By: HotRodDave
Sway bars on truck ??? - 11/15/14 09:54 PM
So if one is solid and one is hollow but the diameter is the same is the solid one going to resist sway more? I know the outside of the bar does most of the work but does the solid center help at all?
Posted By: brads70
Re: Sway bars on truck ??? - 11/15/14 10:33 PM
Posted By: PHJ426
Re: Sway bars on truck ??? - 11/16/14 04:59 PM
Get a truck with torsion bars and factory Bilstein shocks and a solid sway bar ...
Posted By: HotRodDave
Re: Sway bars on truck ??? - 11/17/14 07:45 PM
I have a 2000 dakota 4x4 that I tow way too much with, it has a hollow front bar, I have a 3 parts durangos, 2 have the same size bars but solid and the 01 R/T has an even bigger bar that is solid. I was wondering if I should install the same size diameter solid bar or should I just put in the R/T bars?
I have taken off the bars temporarily for hunting season for when I am out in the woods so just trying to decide witch one to put back on in 2 weeks. Dakota is a V6 5 speed all the Durangos are V8s.
Posted By: feets
Re: Sway bars on truck ??? - 11/18/14 01:32 AM
I'd slam the R/T bars on it and call it done.
Posted By: HotRodDave
Re: Sway bars on truck ??? - 11/18/14 07:04 PM
Would the R/T bar be over kill?
I remove the whole thing, it is real easy, (the rear bar is like a pencil so I just leave it and I hear the durango bar won't fit but they are much bigger) I guess since they are so easy I could just try all the bars to see what I like
Posted By: feets
Re: Sway bars on truck ??? - 11/19/14 12:47 AM
If it was 2" bar stock it would be overkill.
I imagine you'll be satisfied with the improvement.
Posted By: 70Cuda383
Re: Sway bars on truck ??? - 11/19/14 01:00 PM
The r/t sways aren't all that aggressive. Put them on, I think you'll be happy. Hotchkis makes fromt/rear sways that are even stiffer than the stock r/t sways
The 'equation' for a hollow bar is to pretend you're dealing with 2 seperate solid sways. If you have a 7/8" tube with 1/8" thickness, then the diameter of the open space is 5/8"
You would calculate the strength of a solid 7/8" bar, then subtract the strength of a 5/8" solid bar
Sounds like a lot, but as mentioned, there's a torque involved with sways, so the farther out from the center, the more work the tube does. You can use a larger hollow bar to increase the spring rate of the sway bar, without adding additional weight
I'm not home right now to pull out a strength of materials book and display some torsion equation, but there are equations specifically for solid and hollow bars.
