I am a first-timer and the new owner of a 98 P32 chassis 454GMC 29 foot Barth looking for a sway bar. long story here.

Are you looking for a new one? Check out ipdusa.com

They are known for their sway bars. We have had great dealings with them & their products.
Tere

Just go to a Chevy dealer and tell them P32, 454 and the GVW of the unit. It is a standard truck and bus part and get the new links and bushings while you are there.

quote:

Originally posted by CABINETGUY:
I am a first-timer and the new owner of a 98 P32 chassis 454GMC 29 foot Barth looking for a sway bar. long story here.

Front or rear? They came stock, but the front end benefits from the substitution of an IPD or Helwig. Hellwig is stiffer, and a better alloy, so might be better.

Not wanting to sound nit-picky here, but sometimes these things get into overlapping terms and functions...........The most accurate term is anti-sway bar, but stabilizer bar is common, as well. Sometimes there is confusion with what is sometimes called a track bar, which is most properly called a Panhard bar. A Panhard bar helps a sway problem, too, as well as adding stability, so usages stray a little. IPD used to sell harder bushings for the factory rear anti sway bar, too. They firm things up a bit, but can also increase oversteer, depending on your rig. Former vinyl bushings can help up front, as well, even with a stock bar. IPD supplies harder vinyl mounts with their bars.

Before buying aftermarket, you need to talk to both IPD and Hellwig about metal type and spring rates. I have an IPD, but might go with Hellwig if I were to buy again. My Barth has a higher center of gravity than most non-tag P30s, so could use a little extra help.

Thanks Bill
I am glad you cleaned that up. Please bear with me I am extremely new at this.I got second hand news on the stabilizer.After eyewitness investigation it turns out that I have a busted front drivers side IPD chassis bracket. I ordered a new one, but I have a feeling I better take it off and get it welded.It has one rivet and two bolts. As you are aware,the bushing bracket bolts to this bracket which in turn this bracket bolts to the frame.

quote:

Originally posted by CABINETGUY:
After eyewitness investigation it turns out that I have a busted front drivers side IPD chassis bracket.

Are you sure the broken bracket is an IPD? If my eyes read your picture right, the broken part is part of the GM frame.

What diameter is your bar? The IPD bar is noticably larger diameter and is gold irridited, with a big IPD decal somewhere visible.

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I ordered a new one, but I have a feeling I better take it off and get it welded.

I'm surprised you were able to order a new one, or even get a number for that matter. BTW, would you share the part number, just in case someone else needs one?

It shouldn't be too difficult for a good welder to weld it in position if the bar is removed or moved out of the way.

If you do have it welded, disconnect anything with a circuit board.

Out of curiosity, does the part show any evidence of external impact damage or similar? I'm a little surprised to see it broken.

It was indeed a frame bracket.I did not notice any external impact and it has been broken for a while.Obviously i overlooked (or not) prior to purchase.I had to impact the factory rivet out, took it to a welder and popped it back on.I'm not sure but i read somewhere that if this is a wide body, there is to much stress on these particular body bolt locations.

I had this body bracket welded and i knew it would'nt hold. I need to order a new one. There is a clear print of it in the p30 chassis pdf in the tech talk forum.

Did he just butt weld it?

Yes he but welded it. Somehow I need to get a schematic or just have one fabricated.

Sway bars AKA anti-roll bars: 50+ years back my uncle explained to my young street-racer-ignorant-ass that without anti-roll (sway) bars one got severe understeer along with a lot of body lean before going into the ditch. However, with a good anti-roll bar the hotrod stayed absolutely level all the way into the ditch.