So the sway bar in the rear is missing I noticed when installing my 4" Ironman lift, any thoughts on whether I should replace it or run without it?
Sway bar Missing
- Thread starter ceby
- Start date
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I Havn't had mine on for months. Don't really notice too much of a difference.
Removed mine on purpose so not a huge deal not having one. Some are pretty adamant about keeping it if it's a DD. I just don't take corners like I'm driving a Porsche.
bloc
SILVER Star
I took mine off when I installed my lift.. And after just a single lap around the block it got put back on. Made a HUGE difference in the feel of the rig.. Even small adjustments to steering had the truck wallowing around.
Thing is.. It wasn't linear. If it just allowed more body roll I'd deal with it, but as hard as it is to describe it just added a strange unpredictable dynamic to how the truck handled. I think it'd be fine for 99% of driving but if I had to make an emergency lane change or something I had very little confidence the truck would do what I wanted without the bar installed.
Just my experience with it.
Thing is.. It wasn't linear. If it just allowed more body roll I'd deal with it, but as hard as it is to describe it just added a strange unpredictable dynamic to how the truck handled. I think it'd be fine for 99% of driving but if I had to make an emergency lane change or something I had very little confidence the truck would do what I wanted without the bar installed.
Just my experience with it.
I don't run swaybars on my 97 and its my trusted dd.
1973Guppie
Supporting Vendor
lots of guys will say they just removed them but for me I am a big fan of the swaybars. They really don't limit off road flex all that much on these trucks in stock form and make a huge difference on road. I recently rebuilt both of mine with poly bushings and the on road manners were improved. For me though on road manners are as important as offroad prowess.
- Thread starter
- #7
Thanks for all the input, I think I'll try to find one and put it on… At least to see the ride difference if anything.
I agree with bloc. If you were the only car on the road no sway bars would work but other drivers cause surprises which require quick maneuvers that are impossible to manage without both sway bars. You can pick up a used one for cheap just to satisfy your curiosity.
The front one has a more profound affect on quick tugs to the steering wheel than the rear but you will definitely notice a difference with the rear bar installed.
I run the Rubicon Trail several times per year and never remove the rear bar because it seems to make no difference on the trail. Also, I notice that my rear sway bar has taken a lot of hits on rocks that would have otherwise been taken by the rear differential, parking brake cable and shock mounts.
The front one has a more profound affect on quick tugs to the steering wheel than the rear but you will definitely notice a difference with the rear bar installed.
I run the Rubicon Trail several times per year and never remove the rear bar because it seems to make no difference on the trail. Also, I notice that my rear sway bar has taken a lot of hits on rocks that would have otherwise been taken by the rear differential, parking brake cable and shock mounts.
I'd get one and put it on. Emergencies happen and on the trail I leave mine in place. The front gets messed up on harder trails so that one has gotta go before wheeling.
2fpower
SILVER Star
Think I have 3 available if you can find good way to ship it to you.
Clearly, I have pulled them off, did not notice anything major.
PM
Clearly, I have pulled them off, did not notice anything major.
PM
inkpot
SILVER Star
I really prefer using both sway bars. It gives me maximum control and maneuverability on the road at speed.
I came over a quick rise on the freeway Monday and discovered a Prius Taxi sitting dead still in the middle lane for no obvious reason! I was doing about 75+ , and I had to do several quick hard maneuvers to miss him AND the 2 lanes of high speed merging traffic on my right.
Off-road, for me with my current setup, I have never felt the need for more wheel travel. Y rear stub slightly when I really Max it out and my fronts just barely clear. More droop on the low side will cause more interference on the high side, so I like the way it works now. John
I came over a quick rise on the freeway Monday and discovered a Prius Taxi sitting dead still in the middle lane for no obvious reason! I was doing about 75+ , and I had to do several quick hard maneuvers to miss him AND the 2 lanes of high speed merging traffic on my right.
Off-road, for me with my current setup, I have never felt the need for more wheel travel. Y rear stub slightly when I really Max it out and my fronts just barely clear. More droop on the low side will cause more interference on the high side, so I like the way it works now. John
- Thread starter
- #12
2fpower, how much would you want for it, do you have all the mounts and links that go with it. The previous owner stripped everything for the sway bar off the vehicle
That slow lean that comes on late goes away after a some driving. Once the springs are broken in you end up with a linear lean instead of that weird late lean.
surfpig
The Anti-Tech
You'll likely need an extended bracket or longer links because of the lift. No biggie, a few vendors sell them or you can make your own.
- Thread starter
- #15
Yeah, the lift came with the extenders, that's when I noticed the sway bar missing.
ran without either sway bar on the marshmallow with 4" lift/315s/ome shocks. now have both sway bars on fat bastard with 4" lift/315s/fox2.0s and i find the sway bars really don't seem to have decreased the sway all that much, but could be the shocks. we'll find out when i pull the fronts and put the ome's on
bloc
SILVER Star
Even if it did, there was a drastic difference with the sway bar installed.
Not to mention.. my rear coils are progressive.. so not sure if it'll ever really be "linear" lean.
