How Tight Should Bar Style Friction Sway Control Be

Updated 04/05/2016 | Published 04/03/2016

Question:

I took off both the top handle on the sway control and the tension bolt at the bottom. I dont know what the preset bottom bolt was so I have to start from scratch. How tight should everything be? When the lever is engaged is it completely tight where it cant be tightened more? Does it tighten all the way to the plate behind it? It seems as though it could be so tight the sway bar wouldnt move or it might rip off? There is a lot of information up to the time of adjustment then none.

asked by: Mike

Expert Reply:

You won't see too much information on how tight to make a bar style friction sway control unit because it will be different for every situation. You would make it about as tight as you think it needs to be and then tow the trailer to see if it needs to be tighter or looser.

If you made it as tight as you can then you would not be able to move the bar by hand but the force of the trailer pushing it around can move it. But if it is too tight then it is possible that something could get damaged.

expert reply by: Michael H