Just keeping this in mine when my swaybar links and bushings wear out.


Has anyone removed the front sway bar and run limit straps instead? (98+ 4wd)

I have no lift besides a Tbar crank



What did you use for mounts? What brand straps? How did you properly measure length?


ScottG

 

Limit straps don't work the same way as a sway bar. If you want to get rid of your sway bar, you can do that, but limit straps won't help your on-road driving (i.e. body roll). Limit straps would also be much more expensive than replacing your sway bar bushings. In fact, I don't think I've ever really seen sway bar links wear out. Break, yes, but wear out, no.

 

ha, they DO wear out


I happen to live in a state that has strict inspections, and the bushings on links DO wear out over time.


I'm not worried about onroad handling, I only put on around 10 miles round trip on the truck, the rest of the time, I'm in the wife's jeep

I was leaning towards limit straps for more offroad ability (ie cant afford a lift anytime soon, need to wheel stock)

 

Razorsedge is running straps with his RCD lift, no sway bar.

 

maybe im an idiot or something but how in the hell does limit straps have any thing to do with a sway bar....sway bars dont restrict suspension drop and limit straps dont prevent articulation...aka body roll and flex.....

 

Hmm and i thought VA was the only one that sucked when it came to inspections

 

You are right. Not sure what you are trying to accomplish, but the only things straps do is limit droop or down travel. No way you will pass inpsection with no sway and straps.

 

Yeah running straps in place of the sway bar will feel like no sway bar at all. Personally I like the feel of no sway bar though. I got some pics around here somewhere I'll try to hunt down for you.

 

Rangers ride SO much nicer without sway bars. So does the sport trac assuming that is what you are referring to.
But with factory (crappy) shocks and no sway bar, you will get a bit more body roll. It will feel better with bilsteins or something. Plus you'll top out those shocks more often with no sway bars if you have the torsion bars cranked. Limit straps will of course help with that.
I say do it. But don't completely remove the sway bar if you need it to pass inspection. Just remove one endlink completely. Nothing will contact it as long as you leave one side connected.
Oh and don't forget about the rear bar too. Also easy to just remove one end link.

 

Here you go. Since I haven't run my sway bar in like 2 years I used the factory sway bar hole in the LCA to mount the bottom of the straps.

For the upper mount I made a triangle shaped bracket and welded it to the frame and the RCD shock tower gusset.

I used the adjustable clevis on the bottom of the strap to set where the straps stop the suspension droop. It stops the suspension roughly 1" from full droop.

My straps are 12" Beard straps. I'd probably go with a 10" strap with no lift kit.

 

I wondered how you mounted those straps but never looked when I had a chance

 

I might have left somethings out


I'm not looking to replace the sway bar with straps and have it ride the same

I'm looking to remove the bar to improve side to side flex off-road

and use the straps to prevent overextending the shocks and damaging my cv axles and the shocks themselves



Thats what I'm am unsure of. Unless ALL independent front suspensions came with sway bars, Its hard to disprove mine didn't? (specially if I remove everything)

 

Surprised ME is so rough on you guys...VT inspections are pretty easy. then again, I came from PA.


I may be wrong but I thought the OEM shocks were the down travel limter. I thought after the shocks, the tie rod ends would bind before the CVs. If that's the case, straps will do nothing for stock suspension (to include t bar cranks which only cahnge your static postion of travel, NOT increase it)


I could be wrong, this stuff pertains to 01 era when I was looking into this stuff.

 

The shocks are the limiting factor. After that the CVs, then upper control arm.
The only thing you'll gain with the limit strap is the ride will be (hopefully) smoother when the suspension tops out. And it should be easier on the shock seals.
I have never seen a ranger shock pulled apart anyway.

 

i ran straps on my superlift without a sway bar and broke one in half. they dont work like a sway bar does. they arent designed to

 

i never put the straps on my superlift, do most people recommend them? by the time i was done lifting it alone, i didnt give a #### about the straps.

 

mine broke. they were pretty pointless. you dont have enough droop with the torsion bars to allow your cvs to even think about slipping out so its not an issue. now with the coilover conversion, they start to want to come out on full droop

 

RazorsEDGE, your my effing hero!
i was thinking where to mount limit straps and the sway bar hole for the tensioner is the most brilliant thing ive seen!