Who uses sway bar disconnects? Why kind do you use?

I've been working on an in-cab disconnect system and wanted to see (1) what people are using now, and (2) if anyone would be interested in an in-cab sway bar disconnect system?

 

i need to do something like this too

 

really dont think any one here uses them except for some of the SFA guys... would like to see this tho.

im also working on a quick disconnect something for the ranger....... just this is the wrong part of the truck :)

 

I would be interested in them. But me personally I would rather just get off my *** and disconnect them manually. More reliable.

 

yeah definitely would prefer manual disconnects
but thats still a step ahead of having to take off the entire sway bar like i did. im starting to want to put it back on. but i love having it off at the same time just incase i randomly decide to go off the pavement.

 

With our system it is going to be hard to do it automatically. What are you going to do with the sway bar once it is disconnected? I wouldn't want it hanging there in case it gets bound up in the links.

My idea is to just grab a strip of Velcro or something and tie it up, but that still means you have to get out of your truck defeating the purpose of an in cab disco.

 

I just removed both sway bars completely, about 2 years ago.

 

I personally saw a HUGE differece between having my rear disconnected compared to connected off-road. ESPECIALLY when I had an open diff in the rear. Off-Road (low speed) you will always get better traction with the sway bar disconnected because the loads will be more evenly distributed between the two wheels, thereby maximizing traction (50/50 wieght distribution between both sides will always give you more traction than, say, 30/70 if both tires are on the same type surface.)

 

That's the problem I'm working on. I've got three ideas right now, but I need to settle on one.

 

What are your ideas? Maybe we can help you decide.

 

Well actually there are more but they fall into three different catagories.

1. Modify the sway bar itself so that you can couple/decouple it (like MOPAR and some Jeep aftermarket has done)
2. Modify the end links so that they can be made to move/flex/detach
3. Modify the seat bar mounting bushings so that they will selectively move.

The idea behing all of these is to either selectively allow the sway bay to move free of the axel OR selectively permit the sway bar to carry a torsional (twisting) load.

 

in the past i have just undone one sway bar link so the other side will wtill hold the sway bar in place it is just connected on one side.

 

Does it not hit the other link?

 

This is what I did on my ranger and sport trac. I don't know why people take off both end links, or the whole bar unless you plan to keep it that way all the time.
If you disconnect both end links you are going to have problems.
Disconnect just one and nothing contacts anything, try it out. Takes a 15mm and 16mm wrench and all of about 2 minutes.
FYI, I had a rear sway bar on both truck and did the same thing just fine.

After I had the sport trac for a while, I bought warrior products quick disconnects.
The disconnects for the front of the 95-01 Explorer is the same as the ranger. It works fine, but it is noisy when connected. There is a tiny bit of slop you you'll hear it over bumps, gets annoying. It disconnects very easily, but reconnecting is a PITA to get it aligned perfectly before the pins go in. You also cannot disconnect both sides (in front). I ended up taking the front disconnects off because a) the noise, and b) it took forever to reconnect by myself.

Warrior Products
Looks like they removed the product but I'm sure they can make them again if you called them.

On my sport trac;



I tried thinking up other ideas for quick discos too, but it is REALLY easy to just pull an end link out, and super easy to put it back in.

 

I have been thinking the same thing. I am going to just remove one link and see if it makes a difference. The only question I have is how hard is it to bolt back in?

 

It's pretty easy. My grandmother could do it (getting back up off the ground might pose a problem though).

 

Yup, super easy. Just slide the bolt down through the spacer, put the nut on and tighten it down.

 

i totally cut my sway bars into like 4 pieces so it would fit in the trash can.

 

hardest part is the first time oyu do it it might be rusted. but after that its easy