Rear sway bar recommendation for 82 C10

Disclaimer: Links on this page pointing to Amazon, eBay and other sites may include affiliate code. If you click them and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission.

MikeB

Full Access Member
Joined
Apr 4, 2014
Posts
1,782
Reaction score
1,020
Location
North Texas
First Name
Mike
Truck Year
1969
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
355
Looking to buy a rear sway bar for my 82 C10. Have heard good things about Hellwig, but the $340 price is a bit steep. Any recommendations?
 

bucket

Super Moderator
Staff member
Super Moderator
Joined
Aug 3, 2010
Posts
30,595
Reaction score
28,800
Location
Usually not in Ohio
First Name
Andy
Truck Year
'77, '78, '79, '84, '88
Truck Model
K5 thru K30
Engine Size
350-454
Adapt one from something else? A rear bar from an S10 Blazer might fit the axle. If it does, a set of the offset style 90's Jeep front sway bar links may line up with the frame rails. If not, the links just need a simple crossmember to mount to.
 

eskimomann209

Full Access Member
Joined
Jan 9, 2019
Posts
1,849
Reaction score
2,005
Location
Modesto
First Name
Marcus
Truck Year
1973
Truck Model
C10
Engine Size
5.3
I have swaybars from a 2003 suburban that came off the 10 bolt axles I’m going to end up trying
 

C10MixMaster

Full Access Member
Joined
Dec 6, 2016
Posts
756
Reaction score
1,428
Location
Kingman AZ
First Name
Ben
Truck Year
1977
Truck Model
C10 BIG10
Engine Size
ZZ4 350
Adapt one from something else? A rear bar from an S10 Blazer might fit the axle. If it does, a set of the offset style 90's Jeep front sway bar links may line up with the frame rails. If not, the links just need a simple crossmember to mount to.
97 s10 blazer sway bar is ~33" wide at links should line up nicley with the underside of the frame rails. thought about doing that to mine. should fit the truck well. my exhaust would be in the way on mine is the only problem i see.....
 

bluex

Full Access Member
Joined
May 9, 2013
Posts
1,987
Reaction score
2,637
Location
Spartanburg SC
First Name
Paul
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C15
Engine Size
350
Some people use 3rd or 4th gen Camaro bars. I have one to put on mine soon I hope. I've read you need about a 1" spacer per side for the end link brackets though.
 

RoryH19

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 21, 2015
Posts
1,668
Reaction score
1,082
Location
Texas
First Name
Rory
Truck Year
1987
Truck Model
R10 Silverado SWB
Engine Size
350 TBI
Would be good to know what works, especially if they can be taken from another Chevy instead of buying new.
Also has anyone added a rear sway bar to a Blazer? Someone mentioned a front c10 will fit but I haven't tried.
 

Backfoot100

Full Access Member
Joined
Aug 18, 2017
Posts
374
Reaction score
648
Location
Florida
First Name
Eddie
Truck Year
1986
Truck Model
C1500 Suburban
Engine Size
Carbed 350
Belltech makes one too.
 

skysurfer

Full Access Member
Joined
Oct 23, 2010
Posts
2,667
Reaction score
2,117
Location
west coast
First Name
John
Truck Year
1989 Suburban
Truck Model
V2500
Engine Size
5.7/TH400/NP241C
I’m surprised the Hellwig bar is that much. I paid $130 for mine plus $20 shipping in 2003. Yeah, sixteen years is a fair amount of time but the price of most things for our trucks hasnt gone up 175%.
I should mention the end links that came with mine were about as strong as bendy straws and were both bent within a few days. I made my own using all-thread rod with galvanized pipe slipped over for reinforcement. Don’t know what Hellwig is using for end links these days but mine were junk.
 

DoubleDingo

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2012
Posts
11,324
Reaction score
17,366
Location
Right where I am
First Name
Bagoomba
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350
Only thing I know is it should be smaller diameter than the front one.
 

bluex

Full Access Member
Joined
May 9, 2013
Posts
1,987
Reaction score
2,637
Location
Spartanburg SC
First Name
Paul
Truck Year
1978
Truck Model
C15
Engine Size
350
Only thing I know is it should be smaller diameter than the front one.

I was just about to say that too. It definitely has to be smaller diameter or you'll really mess up the handling. So if you have a 1 1/16" front make sure you the rear you get is less than 1"....
 

DoubleDingo

Full Access Member
Joined
Jul 3, 2012
Posts
11,324
Reaction score
17,366
Location
Right where I am
First Name
Bagoomba
Truck Year
1981
Truck Model
81-C20 Silverado Camper Special-TH400-4.10s
Engine Size
Carb'ed Vortec 350
I was just about to say that too. It definitely has to be smaller diameter or you'll really mess up the handling. So if you have a 1 1/16" front make sure you the rear you get is less than 1"....

What I've learned from the Forester guys that have tweaked their cars to handle as close to a WRX as possible, is that a large rear bar causes the back wheel to lift. A lifted wheel in a turn is bad juju, just as bad as body roll, really.

That said, I have a rear bar on the yellow truck that I am wanting to use, now I need to measure it to make sure it's smaller than the 1-1/4" front one I'm putting in.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
44,401
Posts
956,721
Members
36,714
Latest member
MartinK5
Top