How to remove front sway bar

[South-O 4RnR]

I know there has been plenty of discussion regarding the removal of the front sway bar, but I haven't seen posts showing how to remove the bar. If this is an easy process, can someone quickly walk me through it? Also, should I assume it will be just as easy to re-install afterwards if necessary?

 

[m85476585]

Going from memory from when I did some front suspension work:
-Put front end on jack stands and remove wheels
-Unbolt the sway bar end links using a hex key (5mm or 6mm, I think) to keep the link bolt from rotating while you turn the nut
-Remove front skid plate (4 bolts, easily stripped)
-Remove sway bar mounts (2 bolts on each)
-I didn't look to see if anything else is in the way, but if not, the sway bar should fall off when you remove the mounts.

 

[t-man]

Going from memory from when I did some front suspension work:
-Put front end on jack stands and remove wheels
-Unbolt the sway bar end links using a hex key (5mm or 6mm, I think) to keep the link bolt from rotating while you turn the nut
-Remove front skid plate (4 bolts, easily stripped)
-Remove sway bar mounts (2 bolts on each)
-I didn't look to see if anything else is in the way, but if not, the sway bar should fall off when you remove the mounts.

Accurate. I ditched mine last winter. Best decision I ever made for offroading.

 

[t4rghost]

you don't even need to jack it up or remove wheels. Just pull skid plate, unbolt sway bar end links and remove the two brackets holding the bar to the frame.

First time I went offroading I did this at the trailhead in about 5 minutes because I forgot to do it before I left

 

[cpark_12]

How does it drive on the highway without the sway bar?

 

[t-man]

How does it drive on the highway without the sway bar?

I had both front and rear off mine for 8 months and loved it. Never had any issue on highway. It would lean more when cornering on tight roads and city, but the shocks did a great job of stopping it. It did take me a couple days to get used to it. I did recently do the custom (ish) rear sway bar links because I haul a ton of work gear that is heavy and have ladders and such on top of my truck which makes it lean more. With the rear only it is stable as stock and without the front hooked up I still get the added flex up there.

 

[mfcjdwoyah]

you don't even need to jack it up or remove wheels.

 

[South-O 4RnR]

I'm hoping the King co's and 700lbs spring in the front will compensate for the sway bar. I assume I will have more body roll, but hopefully not enough to be an issue. I don't see a reason to remove the rear yet. I have a 2" lift in the back, and I don't see any signs of the rear suspension being limited. I will eventually replace the rear links to allow for more flex.

I think I read somewhere that the 2wd sway bar is thinner than the 4wd, but i may be confusing that with the 3rd gen. I'll pull the front sway bar off and report my findings.

Should I re-install the bolts I removed or leave them off? What about the bushing brackets? If not, do the holes need to be sprayed with anything?

 

[CruzadoBlanco]

I'm hoping the King co's and 700lbs spring in the front will compensate for the sway bar. I assume I will have more body roll, but hopefully not enough to be an issue. I don't see a reason to remove the rear yet. I have a 2" lift in the back, and I don't see any signs of the rear suspension being limited. I will eventually replace the rear links to allow for more flex.

I think I read somewhere that the 2wd sway bar is thinner than the 4wd, but i may be confusing that with the 3rd gen. I'll pull the front sway bar off and report my findings.

Should I re-install the bolts I removed or leave them off? What about the bushing brackets? If not, do the holes need to be sprayed with anything?

i run the Toytec BOSS kit with the 600Lb front coils and the superflex HD rears and dont have a problem with running no front swaybar. i do still have the rear with longer links and dont have any issues with emergency maneuvers, heavy loads or towing, you should be just fine

 

[noshortcuts]

Chiming in to echo that the bar drops out quick and easy as long as you drop the skid plate... and ... I like how it drives without it and have to push it hard on the highway to notice a big difference in body roll but even then it keeps traction and goes where intended. I have 3" Toytec ultimate and extended rear sway bar links.

 

[South-O 4RnR]

Going from memory from when I did some front suspension work:
-Put front end on jack stands and remove wheels
-Unbolt the sway bar end links using a hex key (5mm or 6mm, I think) to keep the link bolt from rotating while you turn the nut
-Remove front skid plate (4 bolts, easily stripped)
-Remove sway bar mounts (2 bolts on each)
-I didn't look to see if anything else is in the way, but if not, the sway bar should fall off when you remove the mounts.

I thought I'd report back after removing the bar yesterday. You don't need to remove the front wheels, but I did us ramps to get more working space underneath.
-End links only required some torgue and a socket wrench.
-The 4 bolts on the skid were very fragile. They came of easy enough, but when torquing them back on, I may have stripped one or two. I'll know when I replace the skid plate in a few weeks.
-Removed sway bar mounts (2 bolts per mount)

Easy to remove. Took all of 10 minutes, including celebratory beer. :beer:


Later in the day went for a drive up to Ramona, which is 45 minute drive on a 2 lane winding road. With my suspension setup, I did notice a difference without the sway bar, but I never felt a lack of control. I made a point to lean hard into a few turns. While it doesn't drive like a Porsche, it still was able to hug the road. I'll be interested to see how it handles on the road under full load. There was a major improvement when hitting speed bumps or drainage dips at a 45 degree angle. Each wheel was able to absorb the hit independently and was less jarring in the cabin. I'll be headed up to Big Bear this weekend, so I'll be able to test the differences off pavement.

Thanks to those who chimed and helped make this happen.

 

[Hayden_]

Keep me updated in curious as how you like it and if I should remove mine

 

[South-O 4RnR]

I love it on pavement. If you have upgraded your front suspension with co's, I wouldn't hesitate to remove the front sway bar. I'll report back after this weekend offroad's adventure.

 

[470SNC]

On my FJ, had my swaybar off for 5 years, loved it causes a lot more body roll and sway but nothing not manageable. I also just took off the front sway bar on my GX470 after installing my Icons, now im nice and comfy. Also helps to downshift a gear for sharp turns, keeps the truck more stable.

 

[CO_Fletch]

How is the tire wear with sway bar disconnected? Do the outside shoulders wear faster?

 

[t-man]

How is the tire wear with sway bar disconnected? Do the outside shoulders wear faster?

Why would they? The geometry of the suspension is the same either way. Only thing a sway bar does is equalize the load when leaning.

 

[CO_Fletch]

Why would they? The geometry of the suspension is the same either way. Only thing a sway bar does is equalize the load when leaning.

I'm not sure how all the components work together but I was thinking that with more body roll, more weight/stress would be put on the outside of the tires in a turn and creating more outside wear.

 

[t-man]

I'm not sure how all the components work together but I was thinking that with more body roll, more weight/stress would be put on the outside of the tires in a turn and creating more outside wear.

I can understand that. I haven't noticed any wear and I put a TON of miles on my truck daily. I've done some good offroad runs, drove with wheels full of mud and off balance, and still haven't had any issues. I hooked up my rear again cause of the weight I haul around, but even with front and rear unhooked I had no issues at all.

 

[South-O 4RnR]

Without the sway bar, the truck handled like a beast.

Playing in Big Bear near Holcomb.
http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k611/mattdinsd/IMG_9773.jpg

Backside of Snow Summit on Skyline
http://i1118.photobucket.com/albums/k611/mattdinsd/IMG_9787.jpg