Factory sway bar for 4WD with leaf spring - need help, pictures

[Terrysch]

Need help from the square body forum,

Have a 72 Jimmy. Want to add a front sway bar. Have researched and it looks like a 73-87 factory sway bar will work. But need the factory leaf spring perches too for mounting the back ends of the sway bar.

But might need the front crossmember too to mount the front of the sway bar.
But not thrilled about removing the current 67-72 front cross member because it has the large factory rivets. Doing the work to remove the rivets not an issue for me. Don't want to replace that tight riveted joints with bolted joints.

Looking at different ways to mount the front of the sway bar. Make a custom brackets to mount to the current crossmember?
Possible to use part of the 73-83 crossmember and weld it to the current cross member?

Would really appreciate if some forum members with front factory sway bars on their 4x4 s with leaf springs would post some pictures of the mounting of the sway, especially the mounting of the front of the sway bar to the crosss member.

Would really appreciate the help, pictures.

Terry

[mongocanfly]

actually you need the u-bolt plates for a sway bar...not the spring perch..
i just took one off the other day or i could show you a pic of it installed...i believe i would get it in place and the see where the front bushing mounts need to be...if possible id leave the crossmember alone and add a mounting bracket..
this is what all the parts look like

[Terrysch]

Greg,

Thanks for the reply and input, advice.
A bracket is the way I am leaning.

Yes, a pic or a couple of installed pics would be great.

I also really screwed my text on the perches. I actually meant the u-bolt plates on the leaf springs. Leaf springs are totally new to me including the terminology. Thank you for correcting me.

Terry

[sweetk30]

when i swap out riots i do a 7/16" drill bit threw the hole as 3/8" is sloppy in the hole . then i go get grd 8 7/16" bolts with a long smooth shank and washers to get it just right and let it fill 90% of the hole on all pieces being bolted . then i use stover nuts / crimped lock nuts NOT lock washers or nylock . i have yet to have one come loose on me .

[Terrysch]

sweetk30,

Thanks for the install input.
To make sure I understand what you do and recommend let me summarize.

You drill out the four bolt holes on each of the u-bolt plates to the increase the bolt diameter, and also use bolts of a greater diameter.
You do this to get a tight fit again of the bolts inside the bolt holes? Correct???

Based on the bolt length you listed.

Do you do this because the holes in the u-bolt plates have ovaled in the same direction of the leaf springs, vehicle?

[rgunlock]

I suspect sweet meant rivets rather than riots.