Best Sway Bars

[badapag]

Hello Everyone:

I'm a newbie to the board and Yukons! I just picked up a loaded 2009 SLT, and I was wondering what the best sway bar to run is. I have done some research and came across Hellwig. Any opinions on these bars? I also seen the Hotchkis bars. They're sweet but a little pricey. Also when I read their directions they were telling you to bend a tab on the frame to get the hotchkis bar to work which kinda freaked me out.

Thanks,

Tony

 

[tx tahoe z71]

Hotchkis FTW! I love mine! They are pretty expensive, I think around $580 (got really lucky and found a used set super cheap on ebay a while back though). I didn't have to bend a tab or anything like that, they bolted right in, but mine is an 03.

Helps a ton if you can put your truck on a lift because you have to work the sway bar through some stuff on the front and it helps to have that extra room to maneuver it in there. Rear one is a piece of cake. Soak the old bolts in PB blaster and use some thread lock on the new bolts (I lost one b/c I didn't use it).

 

[badapag]

Thanks for the info tx. Sorry for not posting on the suspension thread too

OT does anyone know how to change my user name? Actually just want to cap the 1st letter

Tony

 

[Modded]

Message administrator Jkmotorsports or Shaggy and they will change your name for you.
And Eibach also makes good sway bars as they are much cheper then the other companies but have the same bar diameter, which is what matters.
Hellwigs advantage is the rear sway bar end link is adjustable in height (matters if you lift or drop).

 

[BOSS]

Message administrator Jkmotorsports or Shaggy and they will change your name for you.
And Eibach also makes good sway bars as they are much cheper then the other companies but have the same bar diameter, which is what matters.
Hellwigs advantage is the rear sway bar end link is adjustable in height (matters if you lift or drop).

I don't have my info here at work but I believe the Eibachs are a tad bigger in diameter than the rest..worth researching again, the thicker the steel diameter the better assuming all other things equal between the sets.

I think MAX has eibachs rite?

B

 

[Modded]

Yeah Max has Eibach Boss, I do remember comparing all the brands for the NNBS a while ago so I don't remember if they were the same sizes or slightly different.
For what it counts Badapag, the thicker the sway bar, teh better yur handling, the worst yor normal driving condtions because the bigger sway bar tranfers more harshness from side to side in the suspension system.

 

[badapag]

Thanks for the input everyone. You're right Nnaboy, I will be sacrificing the ride quality. I shouldn't get mod happy too quick.

OT, does anyone have their computer flashed with this Black Bear software? If I remember correctly, their website said their software works best with Yukon's left stock, no cold air intakes or exhaust systems. Is this correct?

Thanks,

Tony

 

[tx tahoe z71]

To be honest, I didn't notice any change in ride quality with the sway bars. My mom has a 2002 Tahoe, bone stock, that I drive a decent amount and my tahoe feels more planted, but doesn't ride any harsher that I have noticed ever.

The sways did get ride of a lot of the nose dive under braking and squat when accelerating, which I love. I feel that the braking distance improved a noticeable amount too (no testing to confirm, just seat of my pants).

 

[Modded]

Your Bilsteins may have helped dampen any negtives the sway bar could have caused.
Honestly, if I had to choose to put a sway bar on any year Tahoe, I would choose the rear only, as the front bar, esp. on the 07-Up models, is huge, can't get much bigger!
Plus the rear is where most body roll comes from any way.....

 

[blueflamed03]

OT, does anyone have their computer flashed with this Black Bear software? If I remember correctly, their website said their software works best with Yukon's left stock, no cold air intakes or exhaust systems. Is this correct?

Thanks,

Tony

not really. Just let them know what mods like CAI, and exhaust is done when you order. I LOVED the addition BB tune to my truck.........huge gains.

 

[tx tahoe z71]

Your Bilsteins may have helped dampen any negtives the sway bar could have caused.
Honestly, if I had to choose to put a sway bar on any year Tahoe, I would choose the rear only, as the front bar, esp. on the 07-Up models, is huge, can't get much bigger!
Plus the rear is where most body roll comes from any way.....

Very true about the Bilsteins helping the ride quality. I had the swaybars on first, and there was a huge improvement once I added the Bilsteins as well.

 

[MASS-HOE'Z71]

Soo is bigger better? I've been lookin for a set for the rear and am only seeing .83" to 1.25" diameter which doesn't sound like too much of a difference in range but the body roll is killing me I just don't wanna have too harsh of a ride

 

[blueflamed03]

MASS, check out the Eibach kit.

 

[mikeb33]

Soo is bigger better? I've been lookin for a set for the rear and am only seeing .83" to 1.25" diameter which doesn't sound like too much of a difference in range but the body roll is killing me I just don't wanna have too harsh of a ride

.83" to 1.25" is a huge difference! Just like a 20" pizza is more than twice as big as 10" one.
Typically larger antisway bars do little to hurt the ride quality.

 

[tx tahoe z71]

Soo is bigger better? I've been lookin for a set for the rear and am only seeing .83" to 1.25" diameter which doesn't sound like too much of a difference in range but the body roll is killing me I just don't wanna have too harsh of a ride

.83" to 1.25" is a huge difference! Just like a 20" pizza is more than twice as big as 10" one.
Typically larger antisway bars do little to hurt the ride quality.

True, you are looking at more than a 50% increase in circumference when going from .83 to 1.25. You are going to feel the difference.

 

[desozapeaterr]

Hey Badapeg
My name is Peaterr Bilsteins may have helped dampen any negtives the sway bar could have caused.Honestly, if I had to choose to put a sway bar on any year Tahoe, I would choose the rear only.

 

[Zed 71]

Hey Badapeg
My name is Peaterr Bilsteins may have helped dampen any negtives the sway bar could have caused.Honestly, if I had to choose to put a sway bar on any year Tahoe, I would choose the rear only.

Why would you only upgrade the rear?

 

[Modded]

Because the rear has the most sway, and the front bar is almost as thick and heavy as it could possible be, go look at it and you will see. I know because I removed it once to upgrade the bushes and it was real heavy!!!
Personally I think upgrading the front bar is a waster of money on these 07-2010 trucks, if I do upgrade mine, it will be the rear only!

 

[BOSS]

Because the rear has the most sway, and the front bar is almost as thick and heavy as it could possible be, go look at it and you will see. I know because I removed it once to upgrade the bushes and it was real heavy!!!
Personally I think upgrading the front bar is a waster of money on these 07-2010 trucks, if I do upgrade mine, it will be the rear only!

There was a guy on TYF from Peddlers who said the same thing, but I cant verify it because I can't remember his darn user name. He was the one who posted up about the Dodge Energy Challenger he helped build a suspension kit for.

B

 

[Zed 71]

^ yeah I have not modified a truck/SUV suspension for better handling on the street. As for sports coupes, when I only changed the rear sway bar it did not handle well (wanted to try it before I put the front on). With the rear only upgraded, it over rotated to easily on aggressive corners. I guess that would be good for drifting...