To Sway Bar, or not to Sway Bar??

musicmaan

Observer
Hey guys, I'm tossing around the idea of pulling my sway bar out of my '98 Tacoma for the obvious trail advantages. Being that this truck is my daily driver, as well as expedition rig, I'm currious as to how much this is going to affect my streetability?? Could you folk that have already done this please give me some insight??

Thank you,

MM
 

crawler#976

Expedition Leader
It will be fine without a sway bar if you have aftermarket coil overs like Icon (Donahoe) or Sway-A-Way. If you have the stock suspension, it's not stiff enough to counter the truck on cornering.

Even with aftermarket coil overs, you will get some body roll. It doesn't bother me, and I've become accustom to the handling traits. It's still better than my old DD/trail beater w/ soft 5" lift front leaf spring.

Mark
 

7wt

Expedition Leader
Mark is absolutely correct. I pulled my swaybar off before I got coilovers and the ride was not stable at all. Add a little weight in the bed and it was down right scary. After the Donahoes went on, no problems.
 

Schattenjager

Expedition Leader
I removed mine and it actually improved the overall ride on the road. I have the OME 886 / Dakar setup, so the springs are plenty stiff and while the body does have a bit of list, it is very manageable. Offroad, the ride improved and while I gained little in the way of articulation, the wheels are now free to move around on their own and the trails are a little easier on me and the rig.
 

madizell

Explorer
Remove it and try it. You will know soon enough if you can live with the difference. It will, however, alter your handling and increase the risk of loss of control if you do something like make a sudden lane change at speed. If you do this with a load in the back, it only gets worse.

There is more involved than simple body roll. Steering geometry changes when one side of your suspension is extended and one compressed. The changes will be reflected in the direction your tires deflect, and you may find yourself over correcting or getting into a cycle of over correction that can lead to loss of control.

The problem with removing a sway bar is that all of the improvement you seek will be found on the trail. If you only use it that way a fraction of the time, you have to live with the difference most of the time. Try it and make sure it is something you want to do. It may be that it is more comfortable to put up with the sway bar on the trail than without it on the highway.
 

crawler#976

Expedition Leader
madizell said:
Remove it and try it.

Again, as I mentioned above, on a Tacoma this is not a good idea unless aftermarket coils are used. The suspension is way, way to soft without it. The Jeep TJ uses a full coil vs. a coil over setup like a Taco, and of course YJ and earlier JP's use leaf springs, and both those can be driven without a sway bar in stock form.

Mark
 

musicmaan

Observer
Thank you everyone... it's given me much to think about.... what Madizell says makes all kinds of sense. I have Fabtech coilovers... I know, not the best, but that's what I found 6 years ago.... I've learned much more since then. Is there a way to make a quick disconect for the swaybar??

Thanx again,


MM
 

Blacknmuddy

Observer
Actually removed my sway bar on a 02 Tundra the other day. Was missing a bushing that incidentily wore/tore off, made a load of terrible noise without that bushing, instead of going out and buying a new bushing I just took the bar off. I've got aftermarket suspension , so all is fine.

Just a matter of unwinding 6 bolts in my case, probably very similar for a 98 tacoma.
 

smokymt

Observer
I removed mine about a month ago, and the ride on and off road is much improved. It actually seems to have helped some of the annoying vibrations on the 05+ Tacomas.
 

Cackalak Han

Explorer
111db said:

I had the wabfab quick disco's on my old 4Runner. TOP NOTCH build and very stout. The stock endlinks looked like popsicle sticks.

IMG_0660.jpg


Yeah, yeah, I know I should've trimmed that down a bit.
 

tacomaharry

New member
I took mine off my '05 Tacoma 2 years ago after my lift.

Go easy on the first corner until you get used to the lean.

Mine has #884 OME coils, OME struts and rear shocks, with a Long Alcan AAL.

I feel it ride smoother or road and off.

BTW this Is my D/D
 

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