Front Sway Bar Removed. Limiting Straps Required?

[nobb]

I just removed my front sway bar for more articulation offroad. I am just wondering if there is any risk to the front end components such as the ball joints and CV in offroad situations where the wheel may be hanging in the air? If so, would limiting straps be necessary? I am running a small 2.5" lift in the front via OME 881 springs and matching OME shocks. All other front end components are stock.

On a side note, the 4Runner rides VERY WELL without the front sway bar. The only disadvantage would be body roll on high speed manoevers, but the ride and handling are 100% improved on dirt/bumpy roads.

Let me know your experiences if removing the front sway bar has caused any wear/tear issues.

 

[white_n_slow]

No issues here. I don't think it's necessary.

BTW, I eventually put my swaybars back on because I couldn't stand the sloppy handling, but it works fine either way, IMO.

 

[JWaldz]

If you had extended travel suspension components I would suggest limit straps but in your situation I don't think you need them. Just be careful. You may not break a cv, but you can tear the boot. Also, be sure to check your ball joints more often now after offroading.

 

[steezemcqueen]

The shock is the limiter of the suspension. The sway bar doesn't have any affect on the travel so you have not increased the amount of travel from removing the sway bar. Only the articulation from side to side.

No need for a limit strap.

 

[shouldbeasy]

No real need, it sure is a nice safety factor though.

Basically, your shock is 'topping out' when fully extended which places the load on to the internal shock components and so obviously, cycling at maximum droop isn't ideal.

Rock crawling = generally slow maneuvers and therefore lower forces on the suspension (albeit, perhaps cycling farther)

Desert Racing = higher speeds, quicker shock actions and therefore limit straps are required to avoid these loads being transferred to the internals of the shock when fully drooped out.

 

[maclean216]

I over extended a shock and it wasn't pretty. The inner tripod joint over flexed and became bound up which led to my differential case cracking.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/104252-cracked-my-front-differential-housing.html

Now I have limit straps in front. Cheap and easy insurance.

 

[nobb]

From your pics it also looks like you are running extended length upper control arms. Do you think that would have been the culprit?

 

[maclean216]

Might have. Its cheap to put on limit straps.

the broken axle and cost to rebuild and clean out the diff was around $400.
Steve at Sonoran Steel did warranty the shock with zero problems.