Poll - How many DD their 4Runner without a rear swaybar?

[dms1]

Thanks for all of the replies and votes.

15 Yes votes vs 21 No votes

I think I will remove mine and test it over a couple of days to see how I like it. Do any of you use limiting straps to keep your springs from falling out?

And for those of you that reference the video of the 4Runner rolling, that 4Runner is stock whereas most of us have highly modified suspensions with stiffer springs and shocks, wider tires etc, so in my opinion that is comparing apples to oranges.

I will report back my findings on the subject in a week or two.

 

[BrianSD_42]

And for those of you that reference the video of the 4Runner rolling, that 4Runner is stock whereas most of us have highly modified suspensions with stiffer springs and shocks, wider tires etc, so in my opinion that is comparing apples to oranges.

LoL :noidea: you do realize right that, even with the sway bars still on, a stock 4Runner is MORE difficult to flip than a lifted 4Runner - right?

Perhaps it is apples and oranges but in this case your lifted truck is even more likely to flip than the stock one.

Definitely not trying to pick on you or be a pain but I just want to mention what I have because there are a lot of people who read these threads and take them as fact. Toyota put the sway bars on there for a reason and if you are "daily driving" (presumably on pavement with family) then it is a good idea to leave them installed.

 

[dms1]

You know that how? Do you have a video of a lifted 4Runner flipping on dry pavement? Have you tested this on your 4Runner? Or your buddies?

Is it possible the stiffer suspension and wider tires make up for the swaybar. Wider Tires and stiffer suspension do make a big difference in handling.

Most pictures I have seen of rolled or tipped over modified 4Runners are because they were negotiating a trail with steep side hill or driving over a large obstacle on one side of the vehicle, I havent seen many on road 4Runner rolls.

I think without testing nobody knows for sure. And every application is different, my lift is only 2 to 2.5 inches taller than stock, it is a 99 which already had taller springs, but the same shocks as other years.

Also, you could be right, that all lifted trucks are more likely to roll over, but that hasn't stopped anyone here from lifting their truck, has it.

It kind of reminds me of the other internet myth that wheel spacers are unsafe and always come loose. I ran them for three years on my 85 4Runner and never had any of those issues, just like countless others. I did replace them however when I could afford new wheels with proper backspacing.

Like I said, I am going to try it out and test it on some deserted roads nearby and will decide for myself and report back here. I may not like it at all.

Editied to add, anyone reading this thread hereby makes all modifications to their vehicle at their own risk, what works for me might not work for you. Every lift is different.

 

[dms1]

Of the 15 guys who voted they removed the rear sway bar, have you come close to rolling your vehicle while daily driving?

 

[thardy]

I ran mine with no rear for a long time and loved it until i pulled the front one! then HOLD ON TIGHT!

 

[MStudt]

I only run the rear. The majority of your body roll is going to come from the rear anyways, so I left it. Plus the fact that I travel about 20 miles a day on windy back roads.

If someone if looking for new and stronger links. There is a group buy going on now until the end of May. Could add up to some big savings if enough people get in on it. GROUP BUY

 

[JWaldz]

Have ran without a rear swaybar for years. There wasn't really any adjustment for normal driving. You'd damn near have to be an idiot and/or doing something very wrong to roll your 4Runner on dry pavement. In a situation of that actually happening, having a rear swaybar or not probably wouldn't have mattered.

 

[BrianSD_42]

For what its worth ... I think the video is intended to show someone trying to avoid something on the road at high speed. I've actually had to do that twice in the last 10 years with the 4Runner. Both times I was sliding sideways and almost loosing control - on dry pavement. If I hadn't abruptly dodged the wreck that just happened in front of me I would have hit them. When I went into a LEFT to RIGHT to LEFT slide the truck didn't flip but I do worry that it might have been different if the sway bars had been removed.

Everyone says it drives much looser without the front / rear sway bars installed. In the end you may not need the sway bar until you need it to save your life.

That said, lots of guys run without them so :beer:

 

[JWaldz]

^^ I understand the situation and that's something beyond your control, but I don't think it was just swaybars that saved you from rolling. Had you gotten to the tipping point of your rig it would have rolled regardless.

All our vehicles have different tipping points when you start customizing the suspension, cog, track width, etc.. Sure, the swaybar may play a roll in the whole equation but I don't think it plays a big enough roll to say, "the reason I rolled, dodging that dog in the road, was b/c I took my rear sway bar off". Remember, people allow for more flex when removing them. Meaning, the tire is going to stay on the ground longer. So who's to argue that when you are losing control on the road that it might actually help by keeping the tire on the ground longer?

 

[dms1]

I tested my 4Runner without the rear sway bar (front has been removed for a while) and I did not like it, so I will keep it on.