Trail Talk
Well-known member
Absolutely, but that's for the experimentation stage. I'm still in info gathering mode
Anyone disconnect their front sway bar?
- Thread starter Trail Talk
- Start date
MOAK
Adventurer
I'm watching this conversation. I come from the overloaded 80 series LC world ( 7,000 lbs and a 2,000 lb trailer) and never removed the fronts or the rears. Now we have an F350 and are getting ready to install a pop up camper with a dry weight of 1700 lbs. Add gear, rear bumper, H20, gas, human, etc, etc, we will be tickling 2,900 lbs. It will be well under under the 4,000 lb payload. Can ditch the swaybar with those Bilstein 5100s ( or are they Fox shocks ) Curious minds want to know before turning any wrenches.
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I have a 2017 F250 (148" WB) with original clapped out FX4 Rancho shocks (150,000 miles on them!). I think it rides slightly better without and didn't notice any significant roll issues although our Bison Overland shell isn't built out yet (probably only 1000lbs with gear). It's awaiting a set of 2.5" Fox shocks and Carli springs that are sitting in the garage. Can't wait to feel the difference between rusty Ranchos and Fox/Carli!
I have a fair bit of experience running rigs without swaybars. In college when I really started off-roading my Jeep Wrangler TJ I removed the front swaybar and ran without it for a few years. It made it miles better off-road and was tolerable on road. It was my daily at the time. The amount of body roll in turns on road was pretty extreme, but very predictable. I even took it on highway trips like that. Since that’s a full coil spring suspension and a soft one at that, in my opinion it needed some sort of sway control. I know run an AntiRock off-road sway bar in the front. It allows for most of the flex off-road, but gives some sway control on road. It’s about as close to the best of both worlds as you can get.
With my 1999 F-350 I hit the swaybar on the ground one day when I had it off-road (hangs down under the front axle) and ripped it off. That was about 9 years ago and I haven’t run it since. With the full leaf spring suspension that’s very stiff it has minimal body roll and drives great without it. It also rides better because the swaybar caused some weird ride characteristics over some bumps. When I rebuilt the truck last year, I ended up throwing on a rear swaybar I had and it helped with body roll a bit without any negatives I’ve noticed.
I haven’t hauled my camper yet, so we’ll see once I do that if I want a front swaybar or not. In my opinion, as long as you know it’s not there and don’t drive like you’re in formula one, you’ll be fine.
With my 1999 F-350 I hit the swaybar on the ground one day when I had it off-road (hangs down under the front axle) and ripped it off. That was about 9 years ago and I haven’t run it since. With the full leaf spring suspension that’s very stiff it has minimal body roll and drives great without it. It also rides better because the swaybar caused some weird ride characteristics over some bumps. When I rebuilt the truck last year, I ended up throwing on a rear swaybar I had and it helped with body roll a bit without any negatives I’ve noticed.
I haven’t hauled my camper yet, so we’ll see once I do that if I want a front swaybar or not. In my opinion, as long as you know it’s not there and don’t drive like you’re in formula one, you’ll be fine.
Trail Talk
Well-known member
I’m tempted to try the Tremor bar as an intermediate step between stock and none.
TexasSixSeven
Observer
5 minutes with an impact and it’s gone. You’ll be wondering why you didn’t do it sooner. Even at 9500lbs daily weight I’m still very pleased without it.
TonyCatmandu
New member
No rear sway on 2022 F250. Fox 2.5 resi shocks with custom Alcan springs for 3,000 lb capacity. If you are running stock springs change those out. Levels the truck and no need for air-bags unless you tow a heavy trailer. I would go Deavers if you can as they are more progressive than my Alcan's (not tested but more leafs so I assume). I still have my front sway but this thread has me debating.
@Trail Talk - They are super easy to remove and re-install. You are overthinking things. If you like it, done. If you don’t, put them back on.
I’m not sure how much you’ve done for suspension otherwise, but having the right springs and shocks also make a huge difference in the sensation of swaying.
I’m not sure how much you’ve done for suspension otherwise, but having the right springs and shocks also make a huge difference in the sensation of swaying.
My biased and unasked opinion - If anyone is going to get upgraded leaf packs, I’d look to see if there is a local manufacturer to build a custom set rather than going off-the-shelf elsewhere. My rationale is that leaf springs are a pretty mature technology so the manufacturing and engineering should be fairly uniform. They are huge and expensive to ship. On a custom project, there is always a little dialing in that needs to be done and it is nice to have a face to face conversation about your specific needs.
I happen to leave near Alcan and we went back and forth a lot on two sets of custom springs. Both of the Super Duties I’ve built had a lean to one side so it was helpful to get that addressed. On one set, there was a bit of a transcription error on Alcan’s part regarding spec that would have been a nightmare to correct remotely. Since I am local, I have them install them. As soon as they noticed the error, they re-arched the pack for me the same day instead of me having to install, test, remove, ship, and re-install again. The convenience of local would outweigh the name-brand for me. I just got lucky that a name brand place also happens to be local.
Both times, the Alcans were hands down the best upgrades I’ve done suspension wise. Both trucks also ran custom ADS 2.5s.
IMHO, YMMV, etc etc.
Moyshe Kapoyer
Active member
2021 Tundra with front and rear sway bars. I'll gladly give up a small amount of articulation (used 1% of the time) to gain better handling (used 99% of the time).
tacollie
Glamper
It's a completely different scenario. We added heavier springs front and rear to our Tundra and it was still softer than the stock Springs that came on our F250. I added a rear sway bar to the rear of our Tundra to help improve the handling. Loaded with 3,000 lbs our f250 wouldn't touch the top overload Springs. Removing the sway bars actually made it easier to drive on road because it's not getting bounced around. Sure, it's nice to have a little bit better articulation off-road but the on-road benefits are why I haven't haven't reinstalled the sway bars.
rruff
Explorer
There are other advantages besides articulation. Post#13. Took mine off and the truck handles great even with a big camper, but you will need new shocks.
I gave up some small bump suppleness, and sweeping turn speed, but the handling in sudden maneuvers, especially with bumps, is great. Better offroad as well since one wheel can respond to a bump without the swaybar resisting that motion.