To sway or not to sway

[snailwagon]

Sway bar or not? This has been visited a few times in the past, but a clear concensus was never reached. I have been wheeling without mine for the last couple of weeks. It is different, especially on road. Without a sway bar, I wouldn't be comfortable driving the pig over 70mph. Off road, the extra articulation is very noticable.

I'm going to hook it back up and just occasionally unhook one arm on more difficult trails.

I'd like to take a poll and see where we stand.

 

[rove_mcanus]

well i have a 60 without sway bars (it was a base model, and didn't come with them)

high speeds on the freeway 90kph+ (55mph?) and the wagon flops side to side on the windy roads. being a diesel it's important to keep the revs up on the hilly bits so having to slow down on corners to avoid sliding off the vinyl (again a base model thing) seats, becomes a bit of a pain in the bum.

from what i've heard having a sway bar on the front has the most impact. At some point i will fit one to the front of the 60.

i voted to keep them on as i don't wheel much. but i think if you wheeled alot, as well as freeway the disconnects would be the go.

 

[usmcruiser]

I only have one side of my rear sway bar connected right now as the POS PO broke it off and I havent had time to fix it as of yet. I am curious to see how much better it performs on road when both sides of the sway bar are connected.

At the same time I will most likly fab up a quck disconnect for when I do hit the trails in the piggie.

 

[LC_Hamma]

It matters what type of rear suspension you're running. I assume you're running the stock stuff - leafs. For my rear I'm running coils on my 40 & don't need one. I'm pretty sure I won't need one on my 55 but I haven't got to that part of the build yet.

 

[nuclearlemon]

i'm soa and decided that as heavy as they were, i would leave the sway bar and just pull pins when i head off road.

 

[PabloCruise]

I only have one side of my rear sway bar connected right now as the POS PO broke it off and I havent had time to fix it as of yet. I am curious to see how much better it performs on road when both sides of the sway bar are connected.

At the same time I will most likly fab up a quck disconnect for when I do hit the trails in the piggie.

So it only leans when you turn one way?

 

[ridgerunner]

I've been driving a sway bar less 55 for the last two years. My friends think I'm going to tip it over every time they ride with me and I take sharp turns. I also have had to do some emergency manuvering when my right rear wheel fell off at 60mph. Don't know why it didn't roll.

In the end, if the PO hadn't cut the mounting brackets off to make more clearance for the shocks, I'd bolt it back on in a heart beat. Pulling a pin or two is no big deal to me, and I'd be happy to do it.

 

[solidfrontaxle]

My SOA daily driver has no sway bar. Leans alot on corners. Scares people, but its ultra fun to drive. I have no problem going 80mph with no sway bar (if I can get going that fast). Its too heavy to tip over. Off road the flex is great.

 

[snailwagon]

On the road if I rock the pig back and forth, it feels like I have mild rear steering. Not the most comfortable feeling. Off road, the extra bit of droop helps keep it a little more level.

 

[nuclearlemon]

So it only leans when you turn one way?

only having one side connected allows the axle to move basically like there is no sway bar. only when you connect both sides, will it severly limit the travel as now both sides have to move.

 

[PabloCruise]

only having one side connected allows the axle to move basically like there is no sway bar. only when you connect both sides, will it severly limit the travel as now both sides have to move.

I was messing w/ Nick - thus the - but thanks for enlightening those who might not figure it out...

 

[bkcruiser]

its really personal preference.

If you dont mind a little sway, then leave it off.

if it scares or worries you put one on.

however if it is hard to control, definately get one.


Mine has a long standing reputation of looking like it falls over on corners, on and off road, which has never really bothered me much. It was suprisingly worse sprung under. With the spring over the sway actually diminished. I now have two shockes per wheel, and an addaleaf, the sway is negligable until loaded heavy(4 people, 3 or more day trip). It will rock on corners if going to fast, basicly have to stick to the yellow sign speed.
I usually run the swaybar on the road and disconnect for the trail.