Swaybar removal pro and con
- Thread starter Pedro79
- Start date
Howski
Well-known member
Funny, I'm thinking of doing the exact same thing sometime soon. From what I've read, you can remove the rear with no problem. Some people don't seem to like having it off the front but others say its fine, just have to corner a little bit slower. I've only heard of people doing this with a 3" lift so the question I have is would you need to get extended brake/abs lines with a 2" lift (running stock length now)
traveltoad
Aaron S
Just remove them... you really won't miss them.
Scott Brady
Founder
I do not run them on my Disco. The new (stiffer) Sport OME shocks helped.
Just make sure that you and whoever else is driving the vehicle knows how to react in an emergency lane change scenario (it is assumed that you will drive conservatively otherwise) with a high-COG coil-sprung vehicle without sway bars.
I am actually looking at some type of front sway bar for the Discovery. Lighter than stock, but still limits sway and head toss on the trail. I will let you know if I find anything. . .
Just make sure that you and whoever else is driving the vehicle knows how to react in an emergency lane change scenario (it is assumed that you will drive conservatively otherwise) with a high-COG coil-sprung vehicle without sway bars.
I am actually looking at some type of front sway bar for the Discovery. Lighter than stock, but still limits sway and head toss on the trail. I will let you know if I find anything. . .
Scott, I can help you with a bolt in replacement...drop me a pm for a contact number
Frank
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
I have a D2 with 2" lift OME HD springs and shocks. I run without the bars on trails. I find it helps articulation, reduces head toss *a lot*, and increases traction. Even when you're not at the limit of articulation, removing the swaybars helps keep the weight more evenly spread on all 4 tires over milder obstacles.
This past weekend I ran without the front and rear bars for the first time. Previously I only removed the front. My ABS/TC system is not working, and I was really surprised what I could drive over with no traction problems. Even without locking the CDL.
However, I for one do not like driving on the road like this. The truck feels very unstable. I don't even want to think what it would be like to be in an emergency situation like this. Yeah, you need to know how to drive it, it goes like this: "If anything is in front of you on the road, just crash straight into it, don't even think about swerving." Doesn't matter if it's a deer, a child, or a Mack truck.
Sure, running without bars on the road is perfectly fine 99.999% of the time, if you drive carefully. For me, it's that 0.001% of the time I want the bars.
Quick Disconnects are on my short list. For now, I take the bars on and off as needed. It's super easy on the D2.
This past weekend I ran without the front and rear bars for the first time. Previously I only removed the front. My ABS/TC system is not working, and I was really surprised what I could drive over with no traction problems. Even without locking the CDL.
However, I for one do not like driving on the road like this. The truck feels very unstable. I don't even want to think what it would be like to be in an emergency situation like this. Yeah, you need to know how to drive it, it goes like this: "If anything is in front of you on the road, just crash straight into it, don't even think about swerving." Doesn't matter if it's a deer, a child, or a Mack truck.
Sure, running without bars on the road is perfectly fine 99.999% of the time, if you drive carefully. For me, it's that 0.001% of the time I want the bars.
Quick Disconnects are on my short list. For now, I take the bars on and off as needed. It's super easy on the D2.
It's funny if you would have posted removing sway bars on other websites, both administration and everybody else that knows a little and talk a lot would have grilled you!
Driving offroad without sway bars makes the wheels stay in contact with the terrain a lot more. Basically, a sway bar acts in a similar fashion as increasing the spring rate. However, it does this only when opposite wheels travel in different vertical directions. The ride is more confortable, and since most expesdition vehicules do not do big rock crawling you should be fine. Just remeber that the tip over changes just as well.
As for road driving, the ride is more confortable. Yes, it is dangerous! But if you adopt a driving style of a lorry you will be fine. Yes, the moose, elk or whatever test will not pass but neither will 90% of the trucks out there. So basically, you can not defy the laws of physics. It will flip especially if there is stuff on the roof rack. Removing the back should show a little bit of sway but removing the front will dramatically impact the sway.
Having said that if you're running the HD OME springs, the sway will not be as much as stock but will still be slightly more as you have raised the CG. I have driven a few vehicules without sways or either front and back and depending on vehicule type and your driving style, you have to decide.
Driving offroad without sway bars makes the wheels stay in contact with the terrain a lot more. Basically, a sway bar acts in a similar fashion as increasing the spring rate. However, it does this only when opposite wheels travel in different vertical directions. The ride is more confortable, and since most expesdition vehicules do not do big rock crawling you should be fine. Just remeber that the tip over changes just as well.
As for road driving, the ride is more confortable. Yes, it is dangerous! But if you adopt a driving style of a lorry you will be fine. Yes, the moose, elk or whatever test will not pass but neither will 90% of the trucks out there. So basically, you can not defy the laws of physics. It will flip especially if there is stuff on the roof rack. Removing the back should show a little bit of sway but removing the front will dramatically impact the sway.
Having said that if you're running the HD OME springs, the sway will not be as much as stock but will still be slightly more as you have raised the CG. I have driven a few vehicules without sways or either front and back and depending on vehicule type and your driving style, you have to decide.
Maryland 110
Adventurer
Try simply disconecting them and take a cautious spin. Some trucks drive horribly and others drive relatively flat with out sways. It depends a lot on how much weight you carry in and on top of your truck and how soft/worn your suspension is.
If you off road a lot they become a pain even with disconnects- I don't know the d2 design but if its like the RRC,D1 and defenders the disconnects aren't fun.
If you off road a lot they become a pain even with disconnects- I don't know the d2 design but if its like the RRC,D1 and defenders the disconnects aren't fun.
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
What isn't fun about the disconnects exactly? The Jeep guys I go with use them, the only annoying thing is getting the holes lined up to reconnect. Still a lot less work than what I'm doing now.
Or is there something else peculiar to Rovers?
Is that true? In an off-camber situation, will the truck roll easier? How much difference does it make?
Or is there something else peculiar to Rovers?
Is that true? In an off-camber situation, will the truck roll easier? How much difference does it make?
I have an 01 with the rear bar removed and quick disconnects on the front.
Without the bars the handling actually comes to life a bit and feels much more responsive on the trail. It lets everything breathe and stretch out as it should.
I don't miss the rear bar at all.
I have the quick disconnets on the front to preserve stability on the highway however I commonly forget to reconnect the front bar after getting off the trail and hardly notice it, even with a RTT. Granted it is also something you get used to and learn to control. I've had others get in and drive and exclaim with surprise, that is usually when I remember I forgot to reconnect the front bar!:smiley_drive:
Without the bars the handling actually comes to life a bit and feels much more responsive on the trail. It lets everything breathe and stretch out as it should.
I don't miss the rear bar at all.
I have the quick disconnets on the front to preserve stability on the highway however I commonly forget to reconnect the front bar after getting off the trail and hardly notice it, even with a RTT. Granted it is also something you get used to and learn to control. I've had others get in and drive and exclaim with surprise, that is usually when I remember I forgot to reconnect the front bar!:smiley_drive:
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
I had the Jeep guys I was with exclaim in surprise when we got to the trail head, they could see my truck rolling all over in their mirrors on the road. When they were disconnecting their swaybars (one manual, and one with "the button") and I told them, they were surprised I drove around like that.
Scott Brady
Founder
It can be significant, especially with a coil-sprung vehicle. Downhill compression and uphill extension (there is not typically a return to neutral effect on coil springs, as they are most often uncoupled) compound the problem.
This is one of the reasons I installed heavier springs than needed and coupled the top and bottom of the coils (I used the system from Expedition Exchange).
However, as a point of comparison, all of the early RRCs did not come with anti-swaybars. 110s in many configurations do not. My FJ40 did not. Nor my CJ5. Just drive slower and more conservatively.
Ultimately, there is no way someone can recommend that you take off the swaybars. I can tell you what I have done, but that is by no means a recommendation that you do it too. . .
R_Lefebvre
Expedition Leader
That's a fair point. I haven't driven trucks very much, so for me, it's a pretty spooky feeling. I guess what it comes down to for me is this. If I can get the benefits of improved onroad handling and safety that swaybars give, I will.
If it was a trail only truck, I wouldn't worry about it. If it didn't come from the factory with them, I wouldn't worry about adding them. But if all I need to do to gain the benefits on-road AND off-road is to add some quick disconnects, that's what I'll do.
Maryland 110
Adventurer
I should preface that comment by saying I'm in my late 40's and rolling around on the ground and then jumping in the truck sucks a little more than it used to. Lining the holes up and getting the pins through when the truck is filthy and dripping on you especially if your skill set allowed you to not have to get filthy up until that point wasn't fun . Keeping the rear bar up out of the way so it doesn't get tangled in the springs while off road ,is another fun task, zip ties didn't work. My issue was always compounded by the fact that the truck needs to be on fairly level ground or you need someone to rock it for you and be quick with the pins. Then there was the pin dropping/popping out- I went to removable bolts with nylock nuts after that. Just not the greatest compromise. My experiences were on 90's and 110's. I removed them on the 90. On the 110 I only had a rear and it made a huge difference in on road sway/safety (picking up two two tires on an interstate off ramp @ low speed scares passengers).
Pushing a button sounds awesome.
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