How many of you have removed your front sway bar and are fine w/o it?

[mitchinphx]

Seems to me that w/ the Donahoe 2.5" CO's installed now that i may be able to get by just fine w/o the front sway bar. Especially if i elect to go w/ the Hellwig in the rear after i get the topper put on.

i ran a pretty flexy XJ w/o swaybars for a while and could easily thro it up on 2 wheels in a turn. i know the Tundra won't be that silly w/o out the front swaybar but was curious as to what others experienced.

Hell, i may just take it off tonight after work and see....

[smd3]

I registered just to discuss this, and here's why.

I race in Autocross events, and that has given me a bit of experience in vehicle handling.

If you eliminate the front sway bar you will make the vehicle more prone to oversteer, which is the back end sliding out. This will become even more pronounced if you add a rear sway bar.

I would suggest keeping the factory bars in place, or be very careful the vehicle will behave quite differently during emergency maneuvers or maneuvers close to the vehicles handling limits. The characteristics will change.

[mitchinphx]

Originally Posted by smd3

I registered just to discuss this, and here's why.

I race in Autocross events, and that has given me a bit of experience in vehicle handling.

If you eliminate the front sway bar you will make the vehicle more prone to oversteer, which is the back end sliding out. This will become even more pronounced if you add a rear sway bar.

I would suggest keeping the factory bars in place, or be very careful the vehicle will behave quite differently during emergency maneuvers or maneuvers close to the vehicles handling limits. The characteristics will change.

that makes sense. i'm going to see how it feels w/o it tonight. i can see how that would be undesirable when auto crossing for sure. but my Tundra is just for camping and weekend excursions. so far, the only offroading i've done required some decent articulation and i'm concernded that i'll bend the bar and/or links.

[MARINE_WINGER]

Originally Posted by smd3

I registered just to discuss this, and here's why.

I race in Autocross events, and that has given me a bit of experience in vehicle handling.

If you eliminate the front sway bar you will make the vehicle more prone to oversteer, which is the back end sliding out. This will become even more pronounced if you add a rear sway bar.

I would suggest keeping the factory bars in place, or be very careful the vehicle will behave quite differently during emergency maneuvers or maneuvers close to the vehicles handling limits. The characteristics will change.

Am I reading this right, that to add a rear sway bar is not the best idea?

[TMS2U]

With the addition of the aftermarket coilovers, you can do without the front sway bar. I use to run SAWs and actually broke the D braket bolts on one wheelin trip so I was forced to take it off. Will help improve the front articulation, but you will need to take it easy on mountain roads and maintain good situational awareness for reasons smd3 stated.

[mitchinphx]

Originally Posted by TMS2U

With the addition of the aftermarket coilovers, you can do without the front sway bar. I use to run SAWs and actually broke the D braket bolts on one wheelin trip so I was forced to take it off. Will help improve the front articulation, but you will need to take it easy on mountain roads and maintain good situational awareness for reasons smd3 stated.

pretty much what i figured. haven't gotten around to taking it off yet but will give it a try.

i was more concerned about the highway behavior and just how much more body roll i would really experience with a swerve here n there - again w/ the Donahoes which really stiffened up the front end.

my XJ w/ 5.5" of lift and really flexy coils/leafs would flop at a moments notice if you wanted it to. was fun to drive around town that way but too sketchy for the highway.

[smd3]

Originally Posted by MARINE_WINGER

Am I reading this right, that to add a rear sway bar is not the best idea?

I'm not saying it's a bad idea, but I want to make anyone that is thinking of modifying the vehicle in this way aware of possible consequences.

If you completely remove a sway bar it will change the handling characteristics considerably.

Be careful, and be aware, that's all.

[drewbush]

I have removed my swaybar due to the long travel setup I have. The vehicle will understeer not over steer like previously stated. The body roll will cause a "push" problem towards the outer side of the turn. Around town it will be ok, but at freeways speeds or above 70mph becareful. I have taken big sweeping turns on the freeway at 70 and the truck will wobble side to side in the turns- as if you were turning left but at the same time turning the wheel a bit left and right. Hard to explain. You will just have to get use to it. Also quick steering at speed( like swerving around an object at the last second) is reduced.

[59Apache]

i took mine off before the first oil change. It really doesn't bother me at all. All this talk of it being dangerous is crazy. It does drive different than with it on. Take it off and drive for a week see if you like it.


Justin

[editmars]

I took mine off just last night. It does have a considerable effect on the handling. I have a body lift too so that makes it even worse but after driving around town for a day Im already used to it and cant tell. It made my ride smoother too. It does feel like it could be scary if I were to swerve really fast, but thats part of having a lifted truck anyway. Like Apache said, just drive without it for a week or even a day, then put it back on. For me it works better.

[mitchinphx]

took the front swaybar off last night. can barely tell it's gone.

i'm sure if the soft factory bilstein coils were still on there the effects would be more pronounced. but w/ the Donahoes i really have to jerk it around to get any significant body roll.