Ok today I was checking out a buddies heep and he removed all of his sway bars. Is that safe? He told me to get more flex I should do the same. I do not drive on highways regularly but do plan on an hour long highway trip to the dunes in Feb. If I removed my sway bars will I be sorry. I am guessing I will be even more top heavy if I do so. Whats up? Blue

 

I'm in the middle of a tranny o/h and have my sway bar off (front)and am considering running with out as well.
I'm being told it'll be a little more flexy (ifs) but still stable enough to drive.
I was all set to do it like this but started thinking about the placement of the bar ,it looks as though sway bar is routed to protect the tranny oil pan some what form direct impact of say big rocks and such. Just a thought
by the way mines an 88 with a/t.
Daniel

 

I just put my sway bar back on after running with out it for a month and it's amazing how much better it feels on the road. Driving with out is something you can get used to but it reminds me of driving an old 60's or 70's car. I'm stock height so I'm sure that you would lean on your doors alot harder then I did. I was warned when I took it off that the truck wasn't going to resond like I was used to if I got into an emergency situation. I would definitely recomend getting disconnects instead of removing it all together. This is coming from a guy that used to drive a ricer so I'm biased to good road maners. If you try it and don't like it there is only six bolts to put it back on. And having it off gives you a good excuse to put some poly eurathane (sp) bushings in.

 

Not to discourage the factory height guys but just wanted to hear a lil on what the big guys have an opinion about on this. Thinking that my balljoints are going out I am considering while replacing those also modding all of my bushings with an Energy Suspension kit. Or is there a better kit on the market? Blue

 

What, no ball joint spacer yet? It would give yo a little more lift...

You get up WAY TO EARLY!! What's it like, 3:30 am there?

 

Early? I dont get up til 2PM. I just got off work. Bed time in ten mins though cuz muddin at 12 noon. never heard of a ball joint spacer. Your kiddin right?

 

Nope. Let me see if I can dig something up.

 

OK, here's a thread over at the wire. The pic isn't working in the first post, but they discuss it in some good detail.

EDIT: Helps if I post the link.

 

Ben,

It feels kind of sketchy driving without the swaybar connected, at least on a lifted 3rd gen. I'd recommend getting some quick disconnects for the front swaybar, I think Lee (firefighteremt, or something close to that) on this board makes them for 2nd gens. This way you can just disconnect on the trail head. As mentioned above, you can drive without, but it does feel a bit tippy. You've probably got plenty enough flex in the rear as it is, its usually the front that is bound up a bit more by the swaybar.

BTW- stickers went out yesterday.

 

yeah lee makes both front and rear disco's. he also sells the poly bushings. after i get my lift, im going to get some bigger sway bars, disco's and new bushings. im beginging to sound like a broken record. once i get my lift...... god i need money to pay off my debt!

 

I have 25mm torsion bars and the presence or absence of swaybars makes not a darn bit of difference on my truck. I have gone without for something like 40k miles now.

Search for the positive off-road impacts of being barless.

My truck is low and wide though, so that may be part of it.

 

What kind of Jeep did he have? Leaf-sprung vehicles (CY & YJ) are a lot more forgiving without a sway bar. I haven't had one on my wheeling truck for more than ten years now with no ill effects. I've ridden in some IFS trucks though and it could get a bit hairy.

 

I drive from bozeman to woodinville which is a nice 700 miles each way. I don't have a sway bar front or rear. Yes, it is a little scary at times, but that just makes me drive a little slower (75 or so).