POLL: Sway bars Connected or Disconnected?
- Thread starter awpsome
- Start date
AZTOY
New member
For me, I leave my front the way it is and disconnect the rear. As far as the front, I would be worried the cv shafts might be put under extreme stress at full droop with no sway bar.
Gerdo
New member
I run with both swaybars on road. I remove the links on the front for wheeling. I have welded tabs onto my front links to ease the removal.
It just takes a minute, 14mm and 17mm wrenches.
I also extended the rear links an inch (one inch is the magic number, shorter will restrict droop, longer and they will come in contact with the lower control arms when stuffing wheels). Extended, they don't restrict droop.
Removing the front bar will allow the wheels to "independently" step up ledges. It also smooths out the ride since the wheels aren't tied together.
It just takes a minute, 14mm and 17mm wrenches.
I also extended the rear links an inch (one inch is the magic number, shorter will restrict droop, longer and they will come in contact with the lower control arms when stuffing wheels). Extended, they don't restrict droop.
Removing the front bar will allow the wheels to "independently" step up ledges. It also smooths out the ride since the wheels aren't tied together.
Snowy21
New member
I don't worry about it, I think that the lack of a front bar seems to mostly help gain up travel. Still have to be careful when drooped but I don't believe it's a large change in CV strength.
Gerdo
New member
I don't think the lack of a front SB is going to change anything with the CVs.
PNWRunner
New member
Ive run no sway bars for about a year now, I like it most of the time.
It took me a while to get used to, but now I dont feel the need to put he front on even for long trips. I take mine over windy mountain passes a couple times a month and still manage to keep up the same speeds as when I was running a front SB.
It took me a while to get used to, but now I dont feel the need to put he front on even for long trips. I take mine over windy mountain passes a couple times a month and still manage to keep up the same speeds as when I was running a front SB.
catalina34
New member
I'm running no front or rear at all times. Definitely lots of body roll, but it's manageable.
One thing to keep in mind, is that the spring rates folks are running will have a large impact on the handling of the vehicle. Stiffer spring rates compensate for the lack of sways, whereas soft rates will exacerbate the lack of sways producing greater roll.
One thing to keep in mind, is that the spring rates folks are running will have a large impact on the handling of the vehicle. Stiffer spring rates compensate for the lack of sways, whereas soft rates will exacerbate the lack of sways producing greater roll.
rideexileex
Senior Member
So one trend I notice is that on all the various threads I've read over the years, it seems like the people that are snapping the most CV's also have their sway bars disconnected. I don't often hear people with their front sway bars still attached breaking drive axles. HOWEVER, the other association is that, yes, the trend of people disconnecting the sway bars are also doing more 'extreme' wheeling, which breaks axles itself. So whether how much association the disconnecting sway bars vs 'extremeness' has on breaking CV's is still a mystery to me.
Gerdo
New member
True.
As I said, I disco my front when wheeling. I also do extreme trails/obstacles and have not broken a CV yet.
4ever4running
New member
Sorry to get off a little off topic...but I am getting ready to install my LX450 coils, am I understanding correctly that I will not be able to reconnect the rear sway bar unless I get extended links?
Snowy21
New member
It will hook up fine but it won't fully articulate on the rocks without extended links/no links basically.
4ever4running
New member
Here you go. End Links & Quick Disconnects 96-02 4Runner | WabFab Off Road
Cool, thanks for the help. I would just like to have it hooked up on road for daily driving and I will disconnect it when I'm off road.
RedDragonATL
New member
Well, FWIW, I broke two CVs this weekend. First ones I've ever broken. It may not be solely due to being disconnected, since I just did the ToyTec ultimate lift, but didn't put the diff drop on. So, between no diff drop, no swaybar & running 35s, I think it was a bad combination. I broke the first after a day of wheeling. Put on the new one (aftermarket, tho, so no idea of quality) the next morning, and broke it within an hour. The second one broke with the wheel at full droop. Not sure about the first one. So...doing the diff drop & putting sway bar back on. As I said, this is the first time I've ever broken a CV shaft, so I suspect being disconnected had at least some part in this.
SnowLizard
New member
bump old thread... anyone new want to comment?
JayRolla
New member
I have found the best setup for me and I have tested all possible different ways to run with or without sway bars for maximum off road and on road performance.
Front disconnects adjusted for lift.
Rear SS Sway bar lift brackets. 2nd Gen rear sway bar links (1" extended) with rubber bushings.
I have had no breakage offroad with the rear links even running cheap non OEM links. The rubber bushings allow them to flex without bending like poly bushings can cause.
Front disconnects adjusted for lift.
Rear SS Sway bar lift brackets. 2nd Gen rear sway bar links (1" extended) with rubber bushings.
I have had no breakage offroad with the rear links even running cheap non OEM links. The rubber bushings allow them to flex without bending like poly bushings can cause.
