Sway bar questions (1 Viewer)

[Pinittowinit]

So i installed new extended sway bar links and have two issues. When the sun comes up I'll take pics and post them, but in the mean time I'm trying to get educated on the theory if the sway bar and the benefits of keeping it and removing it. My rig is my daily driver and 75% on road. Thanks and aloha

 

[2mbb]

the sway bar reduces body roll. So it is a good thing on the road. However, how effective it is depends on your other suspension components. Stiff springs may produce not as much body roll, therefore the sway bar may have reduced effect.

The sway bar also reduces articulation. This is a bad thing for off-highway driving.

There is no perfect solution (although some newer truck have electric-disconnect sway bars). Leave it on, take it off, or disconnect when going off-highway.

 

[Pinittowinit]

Could you elaborate on how stiff springs create more body roll? I do have HD springs. I'm happy with how it handles I just like to get educated on everything.

 

[Pinittowinit]

Wait I think I got it worked out in my head. As you turn the body wants to roll, with stiffer springs the weight of the body isn't enough to keep it parallel to the ground. So basically I think it rolls more because the suspension is more rigid

 

[Wile E Coyote]

That's bass ackwards. Stiff springs will reduce body roll. I'd leave the sways and welcome their benefits on a daily driver.

 

[Pinittowinit]

Ok here are my two issues. #1 it appears my sway bar is slightly bent on the left side. I guess that's why that side bushings were shot and the right side were fine,
Other issue.... Where the link attaches on the frame mount, the hole in the mount is much larger than the stud. In fact the hole is just smaller than the washers supplied. I can whip up bushings at work today to take out the slop. Also how right do I tighten the nut on the bottom nut? Right now it's tightened until sharp rise in torque was felt.

 

[2mbb]

Could you elaborate on how stiff springs create more body roll? I do have HD springs. I'm happy with how it handles I just like to get educated on everything.

Sorry...I meant to say that the stiff springs may NOT produce as much body roll. sorry for the confusion. I corrected my original post.

 

[Pinittowinit]

Here is the main issue. No way this can be proper

 

[Pinittowinit]

This pic is from man-a-fre

 

[Output Shaft]

Here is the main issue. No way this can be proper

When using the Toyota solid bolt links, or most "normal" links, the sway bar upper support bracket hole is supposed to be larger than the bolt OD so that the link can rock forward and back without binding in the holde when at full spring articulation

Since you've got the fancy MF links with an articulated joint below the bracket, the larger hole in the bracket is no longer needed, but does no harm. You can safely forget about it. It's fine as is.

 

[Pinittowinit]

Good to know, but I already fixed it. Well almost. The bushings I have are from a H-60 sea hawk. I just need to turn it down to be flush with the bracket. In the mean time I cut an old bushing in half to mushroom down on the extra material for a nice solid fit.

 

[Chester]

Looks like you got it licked.

That wobbling around would have given you a "bang" now and then, and you'd feel it. Sometimes it get's mistaken for binding in the steering control and relay.

 

[Delirium]

So, are the rubber bushings not supposed to be on that upper bracket with the MF sway bar links?

 

[Dynosoar]

Your setup is all wrong. There is supposed to be a rubber or poly bushing on each side of the upper mount. Think sandwich style with the rubber/poly bushings being the bread and the upper mount being the meat. The large hole is filled by the bushing and allows for some flex. The way you have it set up will lead to the link breaking in short order. It should look just like the way it attaches to the sway bar on the bottom. It looks like you used some kind of articulated joint at the top. That may work with the bushing you turned but it is an atypical Land Cruiser setup. I can post pics if you want when I get home later today.

Dyno

 

[Delirium]

I think the man-a-fre links are designed differently. According to the pic on their website at least. Remember they have that ball joint up there just below the upper mounting bracket.

anyone know if the 60 series man-a-fre extended links will work on a BJ74?