Anyone fitted a Bob Drake Rear Anti-Sway Bar kit?

[Jembow]

Mine just arrived, no fitting instructions in the box. I need to know where the brackets fit on the frame, then I can work the rest out. I have asked Drake if they can email me the instructions, that may work.

[39portlander]

I installed one in my 39 P/U, I have the old instruction somewhere but probably similar to your installation.

The fit and finish were great, I think I had posted pictures of that here on Fordbarn a while back. Good luck and let us know how you make out.

[42merc]

I installed Bob's kit on my '40 several years ago. Best single modification you can do to an early Ford.
About the brackets- after you remove the original shocks, you will use one bolt hole for your new bracket & then drill the second hole.
A KR Wilson or similar hub puller is needed for the hubs.
Also the tail-pipe(s) need to re-route around the new sway bar.
Still worth the effort.

[deuce lover]

35-36 shocks mount inside the frame rails.40's from the bottom. There might be a factory hole that will help locate the brackets.

[slowforty]

Works well. Easily installed with proper tools and knowledge. Five hours later(no joke).
Seriously though it is a great improvement.

[TJ]

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Originally Posted by slowforty

Works well. Easily installed with proper tools and knowledge. Five hours later(no joke).
Seriously though it is a great improvement.

Good to know as I just bought the kit.

[Jembow]

Thanks for the help gentlemen. I am fitting the front kit right now, pretty easy. As I have the correct 35 rear axle, there will need to be some modification work since the kit is to fit 37-40, but I have a plan - I will report back.

39portlander: I searched and found your photos, thanks.

[39portlander]

In regards to the sway bar Rob up in the "Upper" was looking for install instructions also. This document is labeled HR-1800-K, revision A 02/-1/11 and you may be able to download it from Bob's website.

I have installed many accessories on various vehicles over the years and these are probably the best detailed instructions with pictures and labeled contents of the kit.

Hope these pictures help, Scott.

[39portlander]

Camera not co-operating, try again so your neck won't hurt

[Jembow]

Thanks, that is extremely helpful.

[RobR'35]

I agree. I thought it was going to be like the pan hard bar.
Any barners out there that can tell a difference in this set up vs the pan hard style ford had used?

[Jembow]

Good point -to me this is an anti-roll bar, it may reduce the sideways sway on the shackles, but a proper anti-sway is a panhard rod. Years ago my wife bought an English 10hp Popular with a full Woodhead-Munroe suspension kit, which transformed the car. That had tube shocks, front & rear panhard rods and a rear anti-roll bar: I still have all those bits, wonder how well the panhard rods would adapt to the bigger chassis :^)

We'll see how the front and rear Drake kits shape up on our bumpy Lincolnshire roads.

[slowforty]

The only issue I had was one of the sway bar grommets came out when i hit a particularly rough pothole here in Illinois.

[rich b]

Originally Posted by RobR'35

I agree. I thought it was going to be like the pan hard bar.
Any barners out there that can tell a difference in this set up vs the pan hard style ford had used?

Simple explanations.

A panhard bar controls side to side movement.

Ford changed to vertical shackles with soft bushings in '42. This allowed the car to "swing" on the shackles and required the addition of panhard bars front and rear.

An anti-roll bar controls body lean (roll) when turning.

Ford added a front anti-roll bar in '40 (Deluxe); a rear bar adds more control to body roll. Ideally earlier cars should first have a front bar installed before adding a rear bar.

[39portlander]

Originally Posted by rich b

Simple explanations.

A panhard bar controls side to side movement.

Ford changed to vertical shackles with soft bushings in '42. This allowed the car to "swing" on the shackles and required the addition of panhard bars front and rear.

An anti-roll bar controls body lean (roll) when turning.

Ford added a front anti-roll bar in '40 (Deluxe); a rear bar adds more control to body roll. Ideally earlier cars should first have a front bar installed before adding a rear bar.

Rich thanks for taking the time to post those "Chassis tidbits", that is what's great about this website. Scott

[Detonator]

Originally Posted by Jembow

...as I have the correct 35 rear axle, there will need to be some modification work since the kit is to fit 37-40, but I have a plan - I will report back.

Keep us updated, it'll be good to see what mods you'll be doing. Cheers