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TexBohunk's avatar
TexBohunk
Explorer
Apr 27, 2015

Question on friction sway control

Have been using the same friction control now for about 10 yrs. Purchased it for my pup and still using it now with my current 33ft TT. I know the pads wear, but just curious if at a certain service life if it needs to be replaced.
  • My sway control is almost 30 YO. Still works fine and I bet it has 75 to 100 thousand mile on it.
  • As long as the pads look good and are securely attached and it can be tightened down it should be fine. If you are only using one with that sized trailer, it needs a friend on the other side. Two friction type are recommended for that long a trailer.
  • If you can tighten the bar down and lock it up so you cannot slide it in or out by hand, then it's still good. Don't worry about it.

    We had our friction sway bar for about 10 years and used it for thousands and thousands of miles. It still worked great... until one day, when I tried to loosed it and the tightening handle literally broke off, still tight! I was devastated. How do I get this thing off now? I went ahead and unpinned both end and then was able to move the rig slightly, enough to take the pressure off the little balls, and it slipped right off.

    Well, we were heading South the next trip out and went right by Camping World South of Indianapolis. We swung in with camper and all, picked up a new one, I didn't have to change the little balls either, and then slipped on the new one.

    Bottom line, if you still have friction, you don't need a new one... unless you break the handle!

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