Disco' front antisway bar

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5Cruiser

5Cruiser

Joined
Sep 12, 2010
Threads
25
Messages
234
Location
Colorado
In my 3rd gen runner, I removed my front antisway bar completely. I liked it that way, and felt it helped keep me more level while wheeling. Here's my quick take on it:

I know there is argument about removing a sway bar on IFS and that because the drooping tire is not loaded, that there is no advantage. I realize articulation is not in the future for our 100's, that's why I got my front locker. However...

...The advantage I find is not about droop, but about stuff. With the sway bar off, the tire being stuffed, can stuff without the other tire pulling against it. When the tire can stuff more easily, the body of the vehicle stays more level.

This is why I want it disconnected on the trail.

However, with the added weight and height of my LC over my 3rd gen, I am not comfortable with complete removal of the bar. Here are the opinions I am looking for:

1) Have any of you removed the bar completely? What's your experience? How does it feel on road?

2) Has anyone found or made a custom quick disconnect for the front of a 100 series?

3) Does anyone manually remove the links, or one link, at the trailhead?

Thanks in advance for the discussion!
 
5Cruiser said:
1) Have any of you removed the bar completely? What's your experience? How does it feel on road?
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Yes some have, better articulation on the trail, but you will suffer with any high speed maneuvering. All depends on your suspension, tires, T-bar torque, etc, etc, etc.

5Cruiser said:
2) Has anyone found or made a custom quick disconnect for the front of a 100 series?
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I've seen them for Heeps, it has been talked about in a thread or two, but nobody has posted up with a QD solution yet that I found in a quick search

5Cruiser said:
2) 3) Does anyone manually remove the links, or one link, at the trailhead?
Click to expand...

Haven't seen it, but haven't looked very hard either.

Search button is your friend:meh:
 
I have been without F/R Sway bars for a little over 5 months now. I removed the front first, then the rear a few weeks later. With the front sway bar removed the front end will dive and roll quite a bit. It makes people that aren't used to excessive body roll a little uncomfortable. I used to be able to punch gas and whip through the intersection, now not so much. If I hit the gas and turn at the intersection the front will rise, wheels turn, and the entire front end will roll, forcing you to let off. I did not like only the front leaning (I have blown 3 links, and snapped a sway bar in-half, so putting it back on was not an option) so I removed the rear after my long travel project. Removing the rear didn't really change too much, however it helped balance out the sway through corners. I don't go above 65MPH any more due to gas prices, tire wear, and the possibility that I may have to swerve. I did have a lady pull out infront of me the other day and had to swerve quite violently. I found that the truck was very unstable, but before the wheels could lift the tires broke loose and the front end was pushing rather than gripping. I don't think the LC will roll easily at low speed (under 40), however the amount of body roll was quite unnerving. The ride on the street has gotten much smoother over pot holes and poorly maintains roads. It's a little nicer on the high way (despite the added body roll).

Offroad is a different story. The ride is incredible, the additional comfort allows you to travel at a much higher rate of speed. I find myself constantly waiting for others. In the off camber sections the 100 feels much more compliant and less edgy. I love having the 100 on 3 wheels, I really do. But it always scared the hell out of me. The rocking back and forth and instability. However when you run no sway bars the truck feels really hunkered down when you have a wheel lifted off the ground. The bouncing of the suspension is no longer there (the wheel lifts, and it sits steady). The wheels tuck nicely into the wheel wells, the droop fully with no hesitation. The front end picks up a huge amount of uptravel, as the rear does as well. As for downtravel, I can't say anything has changed.


If you are not afraid to slow down and pay a little more attention I say go for it. If others (wife, kids, friends, dog, whatever) drives the truck leave them on. If somebody were to hop in my truck, take off thinking everything is normal and hit a high speed off ramp. They would over react the body roll and potentially end up in the trees. If you do remove them, inform passengers/future drivers that the truck has no sway bars and they need to be careful. It changes the characteristics 100%.
 
2000UZJ said:
Offroad is a different story. The ride is incredible, the additional comfort allows you to travel at a much higher rate of speed. I find myself constantly waiting for others. In the off camber sections the 100 feels much more compliant and less edgy. I love having the 100 on 3 wheels, I really do. But it always scared the **** out of me. The rocking back and forth and instability. However when you run no sway bars the truck feels really hunkered down when you have a wheel lifted off the ground. The bouncing of the suspension is no longer there (the wheel lifts, and it sits steady). The wheels tuck nicely into the wheel wells, the droop fully with no hesitation. The front end picks up a huge amount of uptravel, as the rear does as well. As for downtravel, I can't say anything has changed.
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This is what I anticipate and why I want to find a way to make it happen.

Your other comments, however, ring wise that I should not permanently remove the bar.

Thank you very much for your time in making a thorough response of your experiences.
 
Seriously? There's nothing to talk about here? It's solely up to me to come up with the million dollar idea?
 
5Cruiser said:
Seriously? There's nothing to talk about here? It's solely up to me to come up with the million dollar idea?
Click to expand...

I'm very interested in what you come up with... Unfortunately, I don't know how to go about getting this done. My dream solution would be a KDSS retrofit so that we can disconnect from the comfort of the cab. I'm not aware of anyone having done that though...
 
Edit, sway bar can be removed without removing torsion bars.
 
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^ nope. But you will need to remove the intermediate belly/skid plate as applicable. I originally thought a t-bar had to come out...but I was able to pull my ASB without removing a t-bar...

Someone might have a clever design for a QR for the front ASB; however I just couldn't figure one out given the front drive shaft interference/clearance issues.
 
Ah, i think i remember seeing shotts say that it was needed somewhere.

Is there any kind of room to unbolt from the LCA and attach to rope or something to pull it up and outta the way?
 
Layonnn said:
Ah, i think i remember seeing shotts say that it was needed somewhere.

Is there any kind of room to unbolt from the LCA and attach to rope or something to pull it up and outta the way?
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The way it mounts to the frame makes it difficult to tie up out of the way. The LCA sits very high when fully compress and would most likely hit the tied up ASB and break the tie. I would just remove it. The gains are than much, however it's the ride and stability in the off camber areas that I like.
 
I have driven my FJC and 80 series sans front sway bar a good bit of miles. I can manage it, but i don't like it. Makes the vehicle feel like im driving a boat, haha. I need to go lay under there and take a look for possible solutions.
 
Like Spresso, I laid under there for hours last year trying to figure out a way.... the quick disconnect is the easy part. What I did come up with would require a little welding and some trial and error to get right. I done have welding equipment and haven't welded in almost 20 years..... so i having gotten very far. If the front sway bar had the same ends as the rear sway bar it would be much easier to adapt an off the shelf solution....
 
This is what I was going to try to create for us/100's (linked link :D) for a reasonably easy and quick disconnect; but I haven't got around to playing with it yet: https://forum.ih8mud.com/6332153-post5.html


Or abort the OME completely and configure a front mount Curry style :D
 
spressomon said:
This is what I was going to try to create for us/100's (linked link :D) for a reasonably easy and quick disconnect; but I haven't got around to playing with it yet: https://forum.ih8mud.com/6332153-post5.html


Or abort the OME completely and configure a front mount Curry style :D
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Good concept, but that's a lot of force on a small pin, the day you do have to maneuver quickly.

I like the idea of an end link that lengthens and shortens but never disconnects. I just haven't found a feasible design yet.
 
5Cruiser said:
Good concept, but that's a lot of force on a small pin, the day you do have to maneuver quickly.

I like the idea of an end link that lengthens and shortens but never disconnects. I just haven't found a feasible design yet.
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Maybe threaded? Like one of those tie downs that both ends stay connected and you can turn the middle part that would thread the entire part shorter or longer, depending on what you need at the time. I would be willing to get out and lengthen the link by turning a wrench.....
 
Here is the suspension sans sway bars. Notice how composed it is going up the ledges. With sways on the entire truck used to rock back and forth and bounce quite a bit. The rear end soaks up the holes (re-built the entire rear end), with the sway bar off the front it allows the wheels to compress/droop as needed with no resistance. I am running OEM torsion bars reindexed. I have my suspension setup to where I contact the bump stops before a wheel comes off the ground. I posted this in the video thread, but since we are talking about deleting sway bars...



 
Nick, that's awesome travel. Compare that to my RTI video from MT yesterday. I'm just not sure that I'd be willing to forgo the safety/stability the bars offer on road. Definitely would be game for a disconnect solution when someone comes up with it.
 
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