Front Sway Bar Questions (1 Viewer)

[OnespeedTRD]

Getting ready to overhaul the front end on my GX and probably going to remove the FSB while I'm in there.

I understand there are no legit quick disconnect options out there, but I have a theory I'll probably try out while I'm at it.
Since the sway bar ties the two sides together, and you can't just remove the links to disconnect without the bar flopping around, I'm wondering if I just removed the end link on one side would that be enough to act as a disconnect? The attached side would hold the bar in place so its not running into other moving parts, but not being connected on the other side it should decouple them and allow each side to do its thing fully independently. The connected side may have a little added pressure to it, but in theory it should just pivot up or down as the suspension cycles. I'll obviously dry run it and go full compression/full droop while turning the wheel to check for clearance.

Anyone see any reason this is a bad idea or why it would or wouldn't work?

I know sway bars are a very opinionated topic and there are obvious pros and cons to running/not running them.
I'd love to take advantage of the off road benefits while keeping the sway down while on the road, and easily go back and forth between the two.
My son has a 1st gen Sequoia with no sway bars front or rear. Articulation is obviously way better, but man that thing feels like a row boat in a storm during normal driving.

 

[NJGX]

I'd either go 100% on, or 100% off. Any time the side with the bar still attached hits a bump or drops down, it will make the free end still kind of flop around.

 

[Jstawgn]

Breaking one side of the end link always results with end link stabbing the CV Boot. Maybe removing one endlink completely might be OK. Try it and let us know.

 

[OnespeedTRD]

I'd either go 100% on, or 100% off. Any time the side with the bar still attached hits a bump or drops down, it will make the free end still kind of flop around.

Yeah, maybe. I’ll mock it up and do some testing to check for clearance before I actually drive it. Im just testing the theory for now to see if it’s a viable option for hitting the trails and only having to remove two bolts instead of six, or having to deal with the body roll on the road.

I really wish there was a workable quick disconnect option for this vehicle. Probably not doable or else it would have been done already.

 

[OnespeedTRD]

Breaking one side of the end link always results with end link stabbing the CV Boot. Maybe removing one endlink completely might be OK. Try it and let us know.

Yep, definitely taking the whole link off one side. I’m thinking the connected side would hold the bar from rolling down and the end hanging straight down, and then just kinda rotate as the connected side cycles up and down. I’ll see what happens and let you know.

 

[OnespeedTRD]

So, took the driver side end link off and cycled everything around and no dice. Just too much movement and too close for comfort around the coil and axle boot. I then removed both links and tried to rotate the bar all the way forward and figure out a way to secure it to the bumper, but it hits my resi hose and couldn't be done. I suppose if you didn't have shock reservoirs it may be possible. Removed it altogether and took a short drive and I think I'll just keep it off for a while.

If anyone ever comes up with a quick disconnect option for this platform I'd love to see it. Until then I'll just try with it off for a while and see how it goes. Taking it off just for wheeling trips is not something I want to think about since I have to remove the skid plate... its just not that quick and easy.

 

[captainva]

If you look up a sway bar disconnect on the FJ, there are a few different things that have been tried and tested over the years. None of them really worked that well hence they never caught on.