Removing sway bars? (1 Viewer)

[ShottsUZJ100]

With the 100 and our Tacoma being our daily drivers, the 80 was built for and is only used for the most difficult trails. Considering that we drive short distances with this rig I am thinking of permanently removing both sway bars. Or course I know the on-road risks (though most of the time we take the 100 on the off-road runs). What I don't remember is if I can remove the bars without losing the springs? I think the shock is what limits the travel and therefore hold in the springs? If I'm correct, I should be able to remove the bars??? Right?

 

[cruiserdan]

The shocks limit wheel travel hence they also keep the springs in check. It appears that the consensus is that sway bay removal does not gain you that much in an 80. I imagine if the vehicle is a trail-only rig it could be done. I would not remove them from a street-driven vehicle even if it sees little street usage. You never know when some dumbass is going to cut in front of you.

 

[Doc]

If it's any help, I'm considering adding a sway bar to my 60 even though it's my main trail use vehicle.

Sway bars rock.

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

My thought on this came after I busted the rear bar on my 100. I could tell on it that it flexed easier than before. Maybe I'll try it and see. You're right about the "dumbass" especially here in Tucson (wow, did I just discredit myself?).

 

[Curran]

I run my daily driver without the sway bars. Though it has much more roll in corners and is not for everyone, it's sweet off road. Dan is right, you will not gain any flex, however, the suspension will move through its full range of motion much easier with less motion transfered to the body. I removed the sway bars after adding Christo's 6" springs which by many accounts are heavier than the OME heavies (850/633).

Curran

 

[ShottsUZJ100]

Yessss Curran. Ths is what I thought. I'm going to give it a try at least. J

 

[Scott_sFZJ80]

I got a look at alia176’s quick disconnect set up and it looked like the preferred method that I would take. Maybe he can chime in and give us a pic and write up.

 

[Waggoner5]

I don't think that with most peoples stock shock location, that swaybars do make much of a difference in flex, but with better shock placement alowing for longer shocks, you can run the trails without the swaybars and see a huge improvement in axle travel. This was dicussed earlier with Christo also chiming in saying that the L shocks were the limiter on suspension flex with 6" springs or even J springs for that matter. After making new mounts and adding longer shocks, the sway bar removal does make a big difference. Now whether you need more flex in an 80 on most of the trails, is the question.

 

[bjowett]

I removed my bars 2 days ago due to tearing off a mount... which took out a brake line. I agree with Curran (Christo has mentioned this, too) one will get more lean on road, but offroad the ride quality goes up a noticable amount. Take them off, go find a parking lot, and try some easy emergency lane changes and avoidance type turns to get the feel. Then find a nice rough section of trail, hammer it and smile.

 

[dclee]

I removed my bars 2 days ago due to tearing off a mount... which took out a brake line.

I had a similar experience during Rubithon `04. Tore the mount off at the axle (and I even had drop blocks!), and it ripped open the axle breather. Didn't realize what had happened until AFTER running through water. Ended up having the swap out all the gear oil while camped at Buck Island Lake, and duct-taping a vice grip to the frame (vice grip was pinching shut my torn breather hose, heh).

Anyway, I have been giving this some thought lately as well. On the 80, it seems that the front is more reluctant to flex than the rear. Due to the design of the sway bar mounts, it is also much easier to disconnect the front at the axle (if I remember correctly). So what about simply unbolting the front bar, pivoting up toward the frame, and securing it there somehow? And leave the rear connected. Seems this might be worth investigating?

 

[CreeperSleeper]

Any more ideas on this. I was thinking of finding a quick-disconnect system or pulling off one or the other. I'm very interested to hear if anyone has done this and how it was on the street.

 

[NW-sickboy]

I don't think that with most peoples stock shock location, that swaybars do make much of a difference in flex, but with better shock placement alowing for longer shocks, you can run the trails without the swaybars and see a huge improvement in axle travel. This was dicussed earlier with Christo also chiming in saying that the L shocks were the limiter on suspension flex with 6" springs or even J springs for that matter. After making new mounts and adding longer shocks, the sway bar removal does make a big difference. Now whether you need more flex in an 80 on most of the trails, is the question.

this has been my experience as i have remounted my shocks. It seems your biggest concern is losing a spring? I cant imagine that happening with stock spirngs, no way. i also agree that it makes a diffrence only when going a bit bigger ie: six inch spings and longer than L shocks...... i have made some pretty healthy turns on the freeway goind 75 and i am pretty tall and its a little sketchy.

 

[Darwood]

The shocks are what keep the springs seated so go for it. Just learn how it drives without the swaybars.

Personally for me I would only ditch the swaybar after I've changed the shocks for some better shocks where the compression rate is higher. After I went with the sway-a-way shocks on my Tacoma I felt comfortable enought with the compression rate to do away with the sway bar. I really didn't miss it at all and the body sway in an emergency was less than what it is now in my 80.

Of course the 80 is a different beast, however I'm sure it can be tuned accordingly.