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Thuren Sway Bar - Pull the trigger or not?

Electronut

Electronut

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Hey all,

I just finished install of a Thuren 2" leveling kit inclusive of their coils, track bar, and Fox 2.0 shocks all around with the links to trick the rear air bags to lift an inch. Only thing I didn't do at this point is the Thuren Sway Bar which I am highly considering. Did a search on this topic and depending what you read you hear different things. Some folks say not to get (or make other suspension changes) and some say it's a drastic improvement. Most beneficial info I was able to find was in this thread https://hdrams.com/forum/index.php?threads/side-to-side-rocking.12462/

I shot a note to Chris at Thuren to hear what he has to say but I figured it would be good to hear from the fine folks in here that added this mod. Of course those that did do it can also be bias because they sprung for but I would like real world opinions entailing before and after riding experiences and was it helpful when supplementing to the leveling kit I already added?

Just as reference I'm not offroading in the this truck. Will 100% will be on the streets and principal function is towing our 27' Airstream Travel Trailer.

Thanks in advance for your input.
 
I haven't done it yet on my 22, but run one on my 04. I think it's all worth it.

The best thing to do is disconnect your factory bar and see how you like it. If it gives you the improvement you're looking for, order the Thuren sway bar and you have the ride improvement and better stability than no bar at all.
 
I just replaced all the shocks (Bilstein 5100s) the rear track bar and the sway bar (still have the front track bar and HD Steering kit to install)
But so far ride is significantly better... it is still a 3/4 ton truck, but none of the bumps/dips or those horrible parking lot entries are anywhere near as jarring as they used to be...
 
As I’ve mentioned in other threads it’s a good mod, def noticeable when entering lots or off road bumps at angles you don’t get the side to side rocking as violently.
 
Apparently, of all the changes of the type you made and I'm considering, the sway bar seems to be the one with the most ambivalent reviews that as you noted range from greatest thing since sliced bread to meh... The track bar seems to be the one with the most favorable sometimes surprised positive reviews from what I've seen. OH, I have read about some problems with the sway bar since it has zircs (needing replacement) and what happens if they aren't kept greased. On the ambivalent side of this is a guy named Nick Mango on Youtube who is an interesting character. He's a meh on the sway bar not on the components you have already installed as he's a YES on those, but had to replace the zircs after a bad trip as the grease apparently squished out making things rough. Sounds like the main noticable improvement is on uneven turns like into a parking lot or over a speed bump... Some on this thread allude to this as what they notice.
 
It’s the only suspension mod I plan on doing to my truck.
 
I installed mine last weekend and noticed a significant ride improvement. Granted, it still rides like a 3/4 ton truck the truck handles pot holes, driveway entrances, and rough roads better. The best way to describe it is the front end feels free and the sway bar allows the axle to pivot on uneven surfaces. With the stock sway bar the front end is unable to articulate and creates a harsh feeling over bumps. I have not noticed any difference in handling characteristics going around turns compared to the OEM bar.

The sway bar does have zirc fittings but it takes all of 1 minute to lube them. I plan on servicing mine when I rotate my tires. If you have concerns of debris getting into the zircs you can buy caps to put over them.

Carli also offers a sway bar and in my opinion it is a higher quality sway bar. Not to say the Thuren is not of good quality but the Carli is better and the pricing on these reflects that. The end link bushings on the Thuren do not seem nearly as robust as the Carli. However, Thuren does offer a billet upgrade but I have not see these in person so I am only commenting on what I have put hands on. As far as install goes the Thuren is better as the Carli is a 3 piece design and will take a tad longer to install.

I honestly wish I did this mod when I first bought my truck. This sway bar will stay on the truck for as long as I own it and if I purchase another RAM HD it will have an aftermarket sway bar.
 
The Thuren sway bar is the first thing I installed before a leveling kit. It's night and day how well it changed the ride. Biggest difference is when doing anything off camber like going in a driveway. Your head doesn't snap back and forth anymore and the truck stays more level.

As others stated, if I had to keep everything else stock, the sway bar would be the only thing I change. I am amazed at the difference it makes and I originally did not have high hopes for it.
 
Redfour5 said:
Apparently, of all the changes of the type you made and I'm considering, the sway bar seems to be the one with the most ambivalent reviews that as you noted range from greatest thing since sliced bread to meh... The track bar seems to be the one with the most favorable sometimes surprised positive reviews from what I've seen. OH, I have read about some problems with the sway bar since it has zircs (needing replacement) and what happens if they aren't kept greased. On the ambivalent side of this is a guy named Nick Mango on Youtube who is an interesting character. He's a meh on the sway bar not on the components you have already installed as he's a YES on those, but had to replace the zircs after a bad trip as the grease apparently squished out making things rough. Sounds like the main noticable improvement is on uneven turns like into a parking lot or over a speed bump... Some on this thread allude to this as what they notice.
Click to expand...

I contacted a couple of places to discuss my needs/wants and what would be the 'best' overall set up to give me a nice solid rig for towing and not adversely impact comfort when not towing. I will be dog *zero* off-roading in the truck... some DD and mostly towing our TT onto sites with the worst being some more dispersed camping.

I think the instructions call for greasing at every oil change (?)... I don't see why you'd need to replace the fittings unless you hit them.
I think it was all of one pump from the grease gun on all 6 fittings on the sway bar and rear track bar.

Ok, so looking at their site, Thuren states general maintenance is to grease every 5K miles and more often when 'off-road' and under 'harsh conditions'.
 
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Redfour5 said:
Apparently, of all the changes of the type you made and I'm considering, the sway bar seems to be the one with the most ambivalent reviews that as you noted range from greatest thing since sliced bread to meh... The track bar seems to be the one with the most favorable sometimes surprised positive reviews from what I've seen. OH, I have read about some problems with the sway bar since it has zircs (needing replacement) and what happens if they aren't kept greased. On the ambivalent side of this is a guy named Nick Mango on Youtube who is an interesting character. He's a meh on the sway bar not on the components you have already installed as he's a YES on those, but had to replace the zircs after a bad trip as the grease apparently squished out making things rough. Sounds like the main noticable improvement is on uneven turns like into a parking lot or over a speed bump... Some on this thread allude to this as what they notice.
Click to expand...
The zircs are another thing to maintain but very simple. I'm a technical guy that handles lots of things on my own so when I'm handling oil changes no big deal when I'm already under there to just hit the zircs with some grease. Literally will take a minute. The track bar has one as well which I hit with grease after install last night. They barely take any grease BTW.

Some folks on YouTube are ridiculous and just want their 20 minutes of fame and pretend to be pros. What people don't realize is that most are regular guys just like you and I. I can't speak to this Nick dude and he may very well be a good guy but sometimes you have to take those vids with a grain of salt. I've seen folks post tutorials where their instructional videos are completely wrong.

Thanks for your input.
 
Well worth the money! as stated before any bumps off camber you wont be replacing your window when your head smashes it lol. I think this improves more ride quality over springs and shocks.
 
Nice bling
 
Sway bar upgrade is one of the best upgrades to make. I had Carli on my ‘09 and Thuren on my 2012, 2018, 2022. Thuren for simplicity and able to run stock wheels on bigger tires or more offset wheel than Carli’s swaybar. Can’t go wrong with either.

The sway bar will keep you from banging your head against the window on off camber scenarios and still give control with fast emergency manuevering or towing. In my opinion with experience since my ‘05 CTD back in the day with being around Sage and Don with the evolution of different suspension systems on my trucks. The trac bar and sway bar would be the minimum to replace the stock components and be done.
 
I've had the chance to ride in a lot of 5th gens (4.5 gens, whatever you wanna call the 19+ trucks). I've ridden in trucks on similar suspension setups with the OEM sway bar, the v1 Thuren swaybar (on my truck), the new v2 Thuren swaybar (higher clearance), the Carli bar, and no swaybar.

I don't think there is any single suspension mod I would recommend over this and assuming I was only going to do a single suspension mod for my truck (ignoring wheels and tires), I'd do the sway bar full stop. It really brings down some of the harshness of that "side to side" banging you get with these HD trucks and nets the most obvious improvement in daily driving from what I've seen.

The Carli and Thuren bars are both excellent choices. The Carli bar allegedly is a bit of a better option since it's a multi-piece (single piece bar, connected to the "wings" that connect to the links) vs the Thuren being welded and that changes some of the properties of the flex a little. The Carli links have a higher tendency to corrode in the salty north east, where as thats a non-issue with Thuren. Thuren allows you to clear a higher positive offset tire and larger wheel.
 
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