Those without sway bars-

[Doc]

how do you like the ride?

I'm contemplating removing my sway bars because of some problems and I'm wondering how the ride will be on my 80 with OME heavy lift.

The front sway bar bushing on the driver side is completely missing and thumps over any kind of bump. It's annoying and I have a feeling it's going to be hard to fix. I'm thinking the bushing is pressed in and I'm not sure I want to go through all the trouble of replacing a pressed in bushing if the truck will drive fine w/o the sway bars. I've heard some folks on here say the trucks drive better w/o sway bars if you have aftermarket springs. True?

The rear sway might come off too....

 

[2badfjs]

sway bars are over rated
my soa 60 does'nt have them.
i love the lean in a turn

 

[TiredIronGRB]

Mine went in the dumpster.

 

[FJBen]

DOn't have them front or rear. Doesn't bother me. I would just ditch the front one first, I doubt you'll really notice it honestly.

DITCH IT!

 

[Riad]

There will be a certain degree of body roll when turning, sudden lane change in high speed and etc. That is with your heavy lift. With your stock springs you WILL feel the difference. All depending upon how you use your truck, you will experience more body roll as the time goes by.

Don't forget to extend your axle breathers and brake lines..

 

[Doc]

Don't forget to extend your axle breathers and brake lines..

Breathers, OK, but brake lines? Why? Christo said they weren't needed with the heavy lift.

 

[Riad]

Well, I did the test myself when I ditched them. I disconnected both sway-bars and jacked up each corner of the truck to see the articulations. During that process I discovered that due to added articulation the stock lines (axle to frame) get streched. In regular road driving this is/may not (be) a problem but in offroad (especially the kind of wheeling I do) this can cause some serious issue. That's why I replaced all of'em. It's just another thing that you don't want to worry about, that's all..

 

[Doc]

Maybe his comment was based on a truck with sway bars attached then...

 

[MaddBaggins]

I broke the mounts for my front one so I took both off. This rig is still a DD and I didn't like how much roll I got. I put the rear one back on and I'm happy with that setup.

 

[OGBeno]

I've had both of mine off for awhile now.

Been happy. If you still want a bit of stability, for DD use, keep the rear one on.

When you wheel, just detach and you are ready to rock the rocks!

 

[Riad]

I broke my DS bracket which led me to ditch both bars. I was tired of that rattleing noise down there.

 

[clownmidget]

Personally, I prefer the front one connected with a pseudo-quick disconnect and the rear off. On long highway trips I put the rear one back on. Most of the time the rear is always off and if I get to a trail I can pretty quickly disconnect the front. I just didn't like doing steering at anything over 40 mph without at least the front connected.

 

[Curran]

My sway bars have been gone for nearly two years now. I don't miss them a bit. I first removed them when I still had the OME 850/863J setup and liked the ride much better than with the swaybars. Soon there after I switched Slee's 6" springs and never put the bars back on. I have a lot of body roll in corners but I love the Caddy like ride on and off road. Pot holes no loger exist when I drive my 80.

 

[NW-sickboy]

no fronts and not crazy about how it feels but hated them for trail so they're toast.. extended my rears nicely and like having at least one set on...

 

[Slomo]

Running OME heavies and no front swaybar. Kept the rear for some stability and to help "balance" the F/R suspensions. Around town I noticed much less side to side movement when pulling into angled driveways or speed bumps at an angle. Only slightly more body roll at speed which I consider acceptable.

 

[Nay]

Another nod to front off and rear connected. I leave the rear connected on the trail as well - extremely well balanced with my suspension.

I do not notice the front off at all in any situation when it is just me driving, except it is much better around town because you don't have 35's and a swaybar working against each other over angled entries.

Having said that, with family and gear onboard it is noticeable at highway speed in a bit of extra lean. Springs and shocks can do a lot to control this and I personally prefer it, but there are differences and it's something to be very careful about.

Nay

 

[Vitesse_6]

Just a thought, But Why not buy a set of bushings for under $10.00? I have the same issue and was told by the tech. the parts are very cheap and easy to do your self.

 

[Doc]

I have not researched it, but assumed the bushing was a press fit (requiring a press..) which I don't have access to. If they just pop in and out I might put them back in.

 

[kennyv0826]

Do you think it's safer or more dangerous on the road without sway bars? Both in stock form and a 6" lift with 37's. I am thinking about ditching at least the front and maybe both when I lift mine.

 

[Martin White]

I had both swaybars off the truck when I picked it up. Heavy / medium, it was a pig without them. Putting them back on made a HUGE difference. I would not drive on road much again without them.