How a Sway Bar Works

Ever wondered how a sway bar works? Sway bars, or more accurately anti-roll bars, are designed to resist a vehicle’s tendency to pitch from side to side during cornering, improving cornering ability and making for a more comfortable controlled ride.

Sway bars are among the most cost effective and dramatic improvements that you can make to your vehicle regardless of whether it’s a truck, muscle car, tow rig, or RV. Sway bars are also typically easy to install, making them a great first upgrade for anyone who wants a little more control out of their ride.

More About Hellwig Products:
Hellwig Products has been manufacturing high quality, innovative load control and sway control solutions for domestic and foreign trucks, RV’s, muscle cars, classic cars and fleet vehicles since 1946. No matter what your application is, Hellwig Products has a way to make it handle better or tow easier. Unlike many of its competitors, Hellwig’s products are proudly made in the USA to an exacting standard of quality and are sold with a limited lifetime warranty.

[Mr.Beastforpresident]

First, just one of the perks of staying up past 1am

[tengmendoza]

hi, the left and right arms of the sway bar do not move in an opposite direction per se. they actually move in the "same" direction to reduce vehicle sway or tilt. when the left coil spring compresses while cornering, the left arm of the sway bar moves upward, and through twisting force (torsion), the right arm is forced to move upward, reducing body roll. viewed in a different angle, when the right sway bar is forced to move downward due to gravity, it also forces the left arm to move on same direction reducing the rate by which the coil spring compresses. these twisting movements by the sway bar provides stability to a car. thanks.

[thebayjay]

I just did my sway bar link today! It was kind of like that, the rubber was gone and the ball was totally exposed
Love your videos man keep up the content :)

[lanceareadbhar]

I remember my physics teacher in college having a very powerful lecture on centripetal force and how dangerous it can be if you take a turn too quickly.

[thomasharris]

Just added one to the rear of my 53 Chrysler Town & Country wagon and I can’t hardly believe what a difference it made. I am definitely a fan

[mcmc]

Why didn't you put the music even louder...

[Psythik]

Thanks for this; ads aside, this video explained body roll *way* more easily than that jerk over at the Engineering Explained channel who has to overexplain everything, yet paradoxically fail to get the point across.

[frizzby-x]

I've never seen a car without a sway bar installed on the factory.

[EdwardTilley]

Good explanation of how a sway bar works! thanks for this video!

[Metalheadmike]

I breathe wrong in my car and it moves around. You should see it when I have to drive on the highway on a windy day. My car gets blown all over the place. The joys of owning a 98 Toyota Corolla.

[SteveFelt]

I’m trying to determine if this is necessary or not, I have a 2020 F250 and towing a 5000 pound trailer and don’t feel any body roll. But I am thinking about getting a 9000lb toy hauler so wondering if this would help. Thanks

[raygarcia]

So say you have a beefer hitch installed to frame of a vehicle. I would imagine the thinner rear sway bar then becomes useless?

[juliuscajilog]

For a pick up truck 2500 Ram 4x4, which is better to install, in the front or rear?

[iftikharkhan]

My sway bar button is not working because I don't see any lights on. What could be the issue?

[cannonball]

You didn't convince me that it works. In other words I wasn't swayed.

[ntastics]

Can you turn the music up a little, I can still kinda hear you

[myron-utnf]

I didn't know they named a sway bar after the Ultimate Warrior lol

[johnWick-luev]

sway arm don't twist.

the sway arm make your car left and right side parallel to each other so when you turn left the force will push the right side of the car down because most of the weight are transferred to the right the left tire will lose grip because the sway arm make the car side parallel the force from the right side are redistributed to the left to mitigate the sway this will push down the left side and maintain tire grip. sway arm are connected to suspension the suspension act as the force absorber sway arm won't work without suspension and this is the reason why sway arm are not bulky.

[davenone]

Don't cars come from the factory with sway bars included??

[Blue-Lady]

I'm too distracted by the thumb looking like a toe.