Hi guys,
I just tried this mod and it worked so well I thought I would share it. It really makes a big difference in reducing body roll. The front swaybar on our Armada's is huge, but it is hollow. That keeps weight down and stiffness decent. As with any tube, if you twist it the tube collapses. By filling the tube with foam it resists collapsing of the tube and thereby stiffens the bar without adding much weight.
You are going to need spray foam. I used a Dow product called "Great Stuff" it comes in a few grades. I used the black can, "Big Gap Filler" which I was told has a 4:1 expansion ratio. If you can find a more rigid foam, the mod will work even better. This stuff is available at any Home Depot for about $5.00. You only need 1 can. You will have plenty left over to use on a home project.
I used a unibit and a cordless drill to dill a 1/8" hole in each end of the swaybar. I drilled it just in the location where the bar begins to flatten out. Next step is to shake the can well and then inject the foam into the bar on one side. After about a minute you will see it escaping out the vent hole in the other end of the sway bar. plug off that hole with electrical tape or if you have anything else that will stop the flow you are good. Go ahead and spray more foam in there to make sure it is packed out. I went another 15 seconds after I first saw it leak out. Plug the other side. Do not drive the car for a day to allow the foam to fully cure to full hardness. Also make sure you are on level ground so you don't introduce any preload during cure.
It is temping to use heat to speed up the cure but what happens is the outside will expand that is in contact with the heat and the inside will not since foam is such a good insulator, so it makes it more spongy. The 4:1 expansion rate is plenty to do the job at room temp. couple this mod with some new urethane rear swaybar bushings and it really wakes the truck up.
I would say the foam makes a 15-20% increase in stiffness. Best $5.00 and 10 minutes you will ever spend on the truck, guaranteed!
Anyone tried it yet? Let me know how it works for you.
I just tried this mod and it worked so well I thought I would share it. It really makes a big difference in reducing body roll. The front swaybar on our Armada's is huge, but it is hollow. That keeps weight down and stiffness decent. As with any tube, if you twist it the tube collapses. By filling the tube with foam it resists collapsing of the tube and thereby stiffens the bar without adding much weight.
You are going to need spray foam. I used a Dow product called "Great Stuff" it comes in a few grades. I used the black can, "Big Gap Filler" which I was told has a 4:1 expansion ratio. If you can find a more rigid foam, the mod will work even better. This stuff is available at any Home Depot for about $5.00. You only need 1 can. You will have plenty left over to use on a home project.
I used a unibit and a cordless drill to dill a 1/8" hole in each end of the swaybar. I drilled it just in the location where the bar begins to flatten out. Next step is to shake the can well and then inject the foam into the bar on one side. After about a minute you will see it escaping out the vent hole in the other end of the sway bar. plug off that hole with electrical tape or if you have anything else that will stop the flow you are good. Go ahead and spray more foam in there to make sure it is packed out. I went another 15 seconds after I first saw it leak out. Plug the other side. Do not drive the car for a day to allow the foam to fully cure to full hardness. Also make sure you are on level ground so you don't introduce any preload during cure.
It is temping to use heat to speed up the cure but what happens is the outside will expand that is in contact with the heat and the inside will not since foam is such a good insulator, so it makes it more spongy. The 4:1 expansion rate is plenty to do the job at room temp. couple this mod with some new urethane rear swaybar bushings and it really wakes the truck up.
I would say the foam makes a 15-20% increase in stiffness. Best $5.00 and 10 minutes you will ever spend on the truck, guaranteed!
Anyone tried it yet? Let me know how it works for you.
