Removing the swaybars for performance

[p1michaud]

Sway Bar Disconnects

Just anohter option for sway bar disconects

I've recently purchased a set of these and will be installing them shortly. I'll report on their performance after some use. They are well made and waskillywabbit answered all my questions patiently. Great service.
Cheers,
P

Sorry to dig up an old post, but it was time for an update.

I've installed and used the Sway Bar Disconnects made by wabfab. The fit, finish and materials are excellent. After having them installed and used them for some time now, I'm happy to report that they don't rattle.

Having used the disconnects for some time, I'm not sure they should be called quick disconnects, more like "quicker disconnects". The location of the Sway Bar on the Tacoma makes it difficult to access the disconnects for removal. You need a 19 mm socket to remove the top nut, then remove the washer and bushing and finally you remove the hitch pin and you are finally disconnected. To re-connect that's anohter challenge that requires two people at times unless you are lucky and able to park on a flat surface often difficult to find while off road. I'm to the point now where I don't bother disconnecting them anymore due to the required effort unless I'm planning a real technical trail.

Finally, two concerns I have with the disconnects is that the hitch pin location is really close to the CV boot and I'm concerned that they may come in contact and cause the CV boot to tear. This has not happened yet. The other concern is having the sway bar loose while driving off road, I'm concerned that the ends of the sway bar may come in contact with the brake lines or other suspension components as the suspension cycles. Again, this has not happened yet.
Regards,
Pierre

 

[Pskhaat]

Don't know how I missed this thread a year ago, but on my 80 series, I am torn between having the sway bars in or out even off-road. Granted the 80 is live axled but I find that I have significant more driver control at speed (not highway) with the swaybars; on the slick I can actually break the rear end out much easier. Is this not contrary to the expected behavior you mentioned?

Scott, you say with a reduced front end roll you can maintain more of a grip but I also believe I find the converse on the 80 series in that I have much more oversteer potential with the swaybars in. This may be simply that driving my 80 is like breathing for me and as lame as this sounds I feel like I'm one with that machine, and I know how it handles in almost every situation and I know how to throw it? With enough balls and $ I could probably get that thing to drift in a rally.

Anyway, do you think with the static and relatively nill camber on the 80 live axle may make an overly-heavy machine like that act differently?

 

[Scott Brady]

Scott, you say with a reduced front end roll you can maintain more of a grip

A front swaybar will reduce front end grip and increase understeer. A disconnected swaybar will increase front end grip and increase oversteer.

Unless it is my truck, which has a 65% rear weight distribution, so it handles very neutral with the swaybar disconnected (more like a mid-engine).

On a live axle truck I would prefer to have the swaybar attached at speed (as the two front wheels are already connected and influenced by each other), especially in an AWD SUV like the 80

 

[bigreen505]

I think the effects of removing a sway bar can be different on every vehicle, so you have to try it an see what you think. For example, on the Trooper straight line directional stability went to hell, but the suspension was much better able to handle and absorb small bumps, particuarly in turns, instead of getting bounced off line by them. It also seems like it may put some increased loads on the tie rods. With all the snow we've been getting the roads are extremetly rutted (think of driving almost exclusively on rutted, washboard ice) and having the sway bar in is incredibly annoying and rough.

The Rancho shocks on 9 are almost stiff enough to control body roll but still provide a relatively soft ride.

 

[Pskhaat]

A front swaybar will reduce front end grip and increase understeer. A disconnected swaybar will increase front end grip and increase oversteer.

Yes, I accidentally reversed my logic in my post! Sorry.

 

[Scott Brady]

Bill,

Absolutely. Each vehicle is very different. I ran my Trooper without a swaybar for many years, but it could not handle like my Tacoma. Overall, I prefer a vehicle without the swaybar.

 

[flyingwil]

Insurance

Would there be any issues with insurance companies if they noticed you had no swaybar?

 

[ntsqd]

snip......

The ideal would be a coupled swaybar with a servo disconnect. Push a button and rock and roll.

RG did this on his first Red Bull Truck. Cockpit dis/connectable. No linear actuators or other fancy stuff that quits when you need it to work. Just two typical torsion bars butted end to end. Outer ends connected to the axle via links. Inner ends either free to rotate independently or coupled together via a sliding sleave that was acted on by a bell-crank linkage. Pushing the lever fwds & dropping it into a notch disconnected it. Filpping it out of that notch & pulling it to the rear notch connected it.

 

[Grim Reaper]

My Sway bar has been off for nearly 2 years. Really didn't miss it till I started modding.
Between my last rear suspension mod and a trailer I now tote around some I am thinking about putting it back on. Nothing scary but the rear suspension is no longer on the overload (typical toy tail sag) and is now a lot softer so the body roll is a lot more prevalent. 150lb of tongue weight and occasional time the trailer influence the truck it gets a real washed out feel at speed on the hwy. I feel I could get in a over-steer problem if the right chain of events happens and have the trailer push the rear around. :yikes:

 

[devinsixtyseven]

I'm puttin' mine back on, and running discos. The truck just sways too much in the turns, on the highway...not comfy.

 

[p1michaud]

Insurance

Would there be any issues with insurance companies if they noticed you had no swaybar?

Great, question. I've thought about that quite often actually and IMO, there sure there would be an issue. What do others think?

Cheers :beer:,
P

 

[ntsqd]

First thing is, DON"T tell them! It'll save them some trouble and you some grief.
(That's actually paraphrasing a famous person's quote.)

It'd be a pretty savvy adjuster to notice that it's gone.

 

[shawkins]

Another option for sway-bar disco's that I have seen on rigs from Australia are electric sway-bar disco's.

I think they are a factory option on some Nissan's down there, maybe Toyota's too?

I read a thread on YotaTech I think it was where someone in Australia put a set on the rear of their 2nd gen Surf (4Runner). If I remember right, they were from a Nissan and were easy to wire up with just a power and ground wire. Ill see if I can find the thread or his website.

EDIT: Here is a thread where a guy in the Netherlands had one on the rear of his 2nd gen. Surf: http://www.yotatech.com/showthread.php?t=59132&highlight=electric+discos

 

[Bob_Sheaves]

...... This is accomplished in two ways for an IFS pick-up......

ADDENDUM: Altering the track width, front and rear, also changes the transitional tendency towards understeer and oversteer. In some cases a GREAT deal of change. Also, the slip angle generated by the tires changes this relationship.

The point is, there are many MORE changes the OEMs use to balance the vehicle handling to the desired parameters. As a point of referance, I cringe at some of the components on the market for "off road use". Simply put, these parts have no business being installed on a street car. Anyone modifying a suspension accepts the responsibility and liability for alterations, and a sharp lawyer will tear you up in court if you don't know what you are doing. Ask anyone that worked for Jackman Wheels or Rancho years ago (like the mid/late 1970's).

Best regards,

Bob Sheaves
CEO
catNET Incorporated
http://www.catnetsolutions.com

 

[goodtimes]

All I have to say is that after a year and a half or so of not having a sway bar on the front of my wrangler, I'm awefully glad I finally got off my lazy butt and welded on the new tab (OE tab broke off long ago). The jeep is so much nicer to drive with the sway bar...I can't even describe it. I really don't know why I didn't do this sooner (other than I'm lazy).