Sunday I went out to the truck to try and take care of some things, only got maybe 1 of the 3 done, but an additional 1 I hadn't really planned on doing was disconnecting the sway bar links. Wasn't horribly long, but I can see why quick connects are so popular.

So I removed them and of course now I have to test them so I took it out. My first concern was about the roll that they are there to help prevent, so i went to a local parking lot which was basically empty and started going in circles. The body roll really wasnt dramatic at all. A slight dip to the outside. So off to the woods...oh and on the way i hit every pothole i could...by the time I got to the woods I already knew this was going to be an improvement, I was amazed to find it was night and day.

I went down a trail close to 30 with holes on one side and it truely felt independent...no more banging around. Like I said it really felt like night and day type of difference. Later I was going on and off ramps to a highway and still did not feel a drastic change in body roll...maybe the RSX Reflex shocks have something to do with it, but for now I think I may leave the links off. Alteast until I get lifted and then see what happens with the added ride height. While they're off I'll have to get some measurements on travel and what not. Like I said in another post, the rancho replacements for the front only have 4.5" of travel listed on their specs page.

Now for the disclaimer: I dont suggest anyone go do this b/c I am not repsonsible for your driving or your vehicle or any accidents that may occur. The sway bar is there to prevent body roll and improve handling. I think the tradeoff is worth it and the handling is not compromised, but that is my opinion based on my truck and my driving ability.

 

interesting, what are quick connectors ? They would let you put the sway bar on and off eay right ? Sounds like those would be a good investment.

 

There was a set shown on Extreme 4x4 around 3-4 weekends ago.

There is one of the thousands of designs, They make universal ones which I guess would work on our trucks if your interested.

 

Yep they are just that. They allow you to quickly and easily remove the sway bar links for better handling and a smoother ride off-road. I wish I could find some.

 

Links to two sites I found.

http://www.rockymountainsusp.com/SwayBarLinks.htm

http://www.jackit.com/swaybar/quick_disc.htm#all

 

ur not the only one...im sure with a little inginutity one of the members can fab a set up...

im glad i dont have those dreaded devices on the F-Bomb :-D

 

They look simple. I found a page were some Jeep owner didn't want to spend money so he got some sway bar extenders, a thick pipe, cut the extender in half, drilled holes in the pipe and extender, then bought some heavy duty hood pins, then BOOM DIY quick disconnect.

 

Hmmm... I'd been tossing around some ideas in my head on how to make them work, but I don't know a damn thing about fabrication or fabricating, so they didnt get very far.

 

so would taking the front sway bar off be a good idea when going offroading?
did you actually take it off and out, or just unbolt the ends of it? So it was still there, but just taking up space.

randal

 

Could someone show show pics of what to disconnect?

Brenton

 

do a search on google for
"sway bar quick disconnect"
you will find it :)

Basically you disconnect the 2 ends and bungy cord the bar itself outta the way.

Rand

 

i removed my bar a while back...and it at least made the ride a bit soft after cranking the torsion bars..which was hard as crap

 

heres a couple words from my standpoint. the difference on driving with and wthout the sway bar is night and day, on and off road. if you say that the sway bar made not much of a difference i think you might be fooling youself. get a lev-o-gage and take a look for yourself. Mine shows a huge difference. as for offroad it rocks but quite honestly I think I bent a part or two with it off and my torsion bars sagged much quicker in my opinion. I think that the sway bar gives another form of support for our suspension and I learned the bad way.


quick disconnects would be awesome but the ones in the picture above dont fit ours and i dont think the "universal" ones would work either, but hell, I could be wrong cause I have yet to see a picture. most quick disconnects you will find will be for jeeps, but all jeeps have to do is go buy some washers and the right size and length pins.

oh and I had mine off for about 8 months and i keep it on now. i consider taking it ff when four wheeling but usually dont, cause im lazy.

 

Yes, removing the sway bar would be good for off-roading because it allows your front wheels to move entirely independant of eachother. The way the sway bar works is it attaches to the frame and to each lower control arm, so when one arm is pushed up by the ground, the sway bar pushes back down. If it's not connected, there's nothing to push back down and keeps your truck from rocking back and forth and such.

 

Right now it is still there, just the links are disconnected.

Gil, I didnt say i didnt notice any difference on the road...but nothing close to scaring me into putting it back on right away. Plus you've got a 3in BL and 33"s...I'm at stock height and 31"s. The difference in ride height is going to effect how much roll as well.

I think i am leaving them disconnected but leaving the bar there until I get lifted and see how bad the roll is then....unless it takes another 5 months to get the lift on and then i might just take the bar off and put it back on if need be later.

 

Oh, and going to a stiffer rate torsion bar would help reduce some of the roll right?

 

mike you are correct one the BL note and i didnt even consider that.

I considered a time or two just pulling the end links and leaving the bar. how does that work out for you?? do you hear it slapping and clankin around??

 

i have an idea how to make them, but im using my rcd sway bar link kit, which is all metal, so it will be easy in theory.... we will see, i love driving without the sway bar!

 

Well what's your idea Jared? let's hear it!

 

I havent heard it clanking around or interfering with anything. I turned the wheels cranks to crank to check before driving off.

I have an idea floating in this head of mine, but it probably requires a CNC machine...dont have one of those laying around They have one at the college I went to, but dont know how much that would run to get a set made...i know there'd be some interest, but i dont know if i'm even gonna get close to developing them...so dont ask :p

 

my buddy has a CNC mill in his garage so tell me the idea and maybe we can make it happen.

I think you know my aim but hit me up there. Ill be on all day.

 

Idea sent

 

take some flex pics without the bar

 

I actually did get a real nice flex "shot"..but no camera..

 

ts not gonna make much of a difference. maybe an inch if you get lucky.