F150 Rear Sway Bar for head bobble?

[TacoFergie]

Does adding a rear sway bar help with how the truck rocks and causes the driver and passenger to head bobble/sway side to side when entering or exiting parking lots? I know they help with handling, but I wonder if it helps with the lower speed?

It's for my 23 F150, I've considered trying a rear sway to improve that. But I haven't seen much reference to what I'm asking.

 

[Cujet]

Head toss is made worse by anti sway bars. The more compliant the suspension, the less the head toss.

However quite often people prefer a taught suspension with excellent damping as the overall ride is more pleasing. And they put up with excessive head toss to enjoy better road manners.

The F150 lighting EV with its IRS rear suspension and low CG is a better riding F150. Try one (if you have not done so already) and see if that configuration is better.

 

[AZjeff]

You're talking about how the truck rocks side to side when going over a transition like a curb or drainage channel diagonally? Highly doubt it would have any affect on that. Adding an anti-sway bar in the rear when there isn't one will make the truck want to oversteer at some point in higher G turning.

What ^ he said.

Slow down.

 

[TacoFergie]

Head toss is made worse by anti sway bars. The more compliant the suspension, the less the head toss.

However quite often people prefer a taught suspension with excellent damping as the overall ride is more pleasing. And they put up with excessive head toss to enjoy better road manners.

The F150 lighting EV with its IRS rear suspension and low CG is a better riding F150. Try one (if you have not done so already) and see if that configuration is better.

Well then, I guess a sway bar is out of consideration then. It's quite comfortable ride and I don't mind the handling. It's much improved over my previous Tacoma, but if I could make it better for a reasonable investment, I would.

You're talking about how the truck rocks side to side when going over a transition like a curb or drainage channel diagonally? Highly doubt it would have any affect on that. Adding an anti-sway bar in the rear when there isn't one will make the truck want to oversteer at some point in higher G turning.

What ^ he said.

Slow down.

I don't go fast when leaving or entering parking lots. Heck, I don't really drive quick much anyhow except the highway on longer trips. But some with the curb transition built into them are nearly impossible to avoid the side to side movement unless I go about 2-3 mph or purposely turn sharper to hit it straight on.

I'm really just nitpicking, it's still a far better ride than my previous 15 Tacoma. The only truck I can recall driving with leaf springs and a rear sway bar was a few 2nd gen Tundras when I installed the TRD lowering springs and sway bars on them, but thats been over 15 years ago...so I don't recall the ride or handling differences anymore.

 

[bimiko939]

Yeah, a sway bar would definitely make that diagonal curb wobble worse, it just ties the two rear wheels together more rigidly. Honestly, if you want to tame that side-to-side rocking without ruining the ride, a good set of rear shocks (like Bilstein 5100s) makes a night and day difference on these F150s

 

[TacoFergie]

Yeah, a sway bar would definitely make that diagonal curb wobble worse, it just ties the two rear wheels together more rigidly. Honestly, if you want to tame that side-to-side rocking without ruining the ride, a good set of rear shocks (like Bilstein 5100s) makes a night and day difference on these F150s

Are the 5100's an improvement on the F150? I really haven't looked into shocks since I'm not looking to lift it at all. On my Tacoma the 5100's were more harsh than the OE TRD Off Road Shocks, especially on sharp bumps like slight road heaves. Heck, sometimes the rear felt jittery or unplanted on certain road conditions. I want to avoid that for sure on the F150.