99Yotarunner
New member
hey guys i know a few of you run no sway bars...how does this perform on raod with out them on...im debating on removing mine but unsure how it will handle on road....its my dd
quick question to you guys runnning no sway bars??
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99yota4
New member
I'm running my stock ones with the lift and they don't perform as great. I notice alot of body roll at highway speeds. I've heard that running no sway bars is great for off road use because you get alot of flex. however if it's your DD and you are on the freeway alot, I wouldn't recommend it at all. The vehicle will roll and feel "squishy". Just my $0.02
Pikeman
New member
I run without a Rear sway bar and disconnects on the front. The back tends to want to lean more and noticeable sway when making quick manuevers. I did forget to reconnect my fronts one time and almost lost it going around a turn with a high crown(bump). I know Brian runs without any on his and he will probably chime in when he sees this. To me it is not worth it to run without and recommend running at least one due to the occasional oh shoot panic manuever.
brian2sun
Elite Member
Ize here! Yeah, I agree with Pikeman that it sucks on road, especially with both removed, but it's great off road. You'll get more travel in the suspension and easier flex. Some think running just one bar is good enough for on road, but your truck does stand a better chance of flipping or loosing control if you have to make a sudden manuver on the freeway or something. I would put at least the front back on and run discos like Pikeman if it were my DD, but it's not so I'm fine with leaving them off.
And a quote from cpizzle42 from yotatech...
econhonda
New member
Thanks for asking this question. I've been wondering the same thing for a while. Those Wabfab's disconnects are pricey. I wish there was a better alternative. Would it make a noticeable difference in terms of the suspensions ability to flex easier if I replaced sway bar bushings?
manhunter
New member
Sway bars are a safety feature installed on there for a reason - to prevent sway. If they are disconnected, especially in the front, you stand a chance of swaying one way or the other more than you need to and can result in loosing control, flipping over, etc, etc, etc, ...... If you drive on public roads and highways with them disconnected, you are putting yourself and others in danger. I know many take them off and leave them off, but myself, I am not willing to take a risk when they are not the difficult to disconnect.
I disconnect my front ones everytime I go off-roading. Remove all the bushings and washers, push the sway bar up out of the way, and lay the short connecting rods back and zip-tie to the outer tie-rod leaving a little slack for movement. This will give you the added flex you need on the trails, and then when you are done, simply cut the zip-ties and reconnect. I have never touched my rear sway bar. The solid axle in the rear gives you sufficient flex.
I disconnect my front ones everytime I go off-roading. Remove all the bushings and washers, push the sway bar up out of the way, and lay the short connecting rods back and zip-tie to the outer tie-rod leaving a little slack for movement. This will give you the added flex you need on the trails, and then when you are done, simply cut the zip-ties and reconnect. I have never touched my rear sway bar. The solid axle in the rear gives you sufficient flex.
Pikeman
New member
I have also heard that some Insurance Companies wil refuse a claim if you are involved in an accident after removing your Swaybars since they are considered a "Safety Item".
Also to the person that asked if replacing bushing and other swaybar parts will make it easier to flex. the answer is NO. The sway bar is designed to reduce sway(body roll) if you put new parts in you are making it work more efficiently therefor reducing body roll even more.
brian2sun
Elite Member
I got ~1.5" more travel out of the rear and ~1" more in the front with the bars removed. It does make a difference as I have gone over the same obstacles as other 4runners who had same size tires and had their sway bars connected and got to see how they compare. There were several spots that I was able to keep my tires on the ground where the other 4runner got wheel lift and had to rock his way over with momentum.
I'm totally used to having mine off for driving around in the mountains where I live, but I don't like the freeway because you never know when some jackass is going to cut you off so I just stick to the slow lane mostly.
As far as insurance companies, you are correct that it could be used against you. However it isn't likely IMO (I'm an insurance agent). Most insurance adjusters wouldn't even know what a sway bar is, where they would be located on a 4runner, and probably would never think to check. Also you could always just say "huh, what's a sway bar?" or "Oh, the PO must have taken it off". Not that I endorse pleading ignorance, but it sure doesn't stop people from doing it all the time.
I'm totally used to having mine off for driving around in the mountains where I live, but I don't like the freeway because you never know when some jackass is going to cut you off so I just stick to the slow lane mostly.
As far as insurance companies, you are correct that it could be used against you. However it isn't likely IMO (I'm an insurance agent). Most insurance adjusters wouldn't even know what a sway bar is, where they would be located on a 4runner, and probably would never think to check. Also you could always just say "huh, what's a sway bar?" or "Oh, the PO must have taken it off". Not that I endorse pleading ignorance, but it sure doesn't stop people from doing it all the time.
econhonda
New member
:ybrick: You know, that does make sense. Next time I'll give my questions a little more thought... Thanks for the response.
JohnsD90
New member
I had my front sway bar disconnected for months and although the ride was sh¡t, i still performed oh sh¡t manuevers and not rolled it, i personally didnt know my links were off as i had a lot of things wrong on the truck and i assumed the body roll was from the shot suspension, but i would really just leave them on, it takes all of 10 minutes to disconnect the end links anyway.
The ride is so much better with the sway bar connected.
The ride is so much better with the sway bar connected.
Duhockey
Senior Member
With a tight newer suspension I only notice on curvy mountain roads.
For long trips I would prefer it, but I have my fronts off right now cuz the link broke and my back one is bent...
but my coils are so rigid in front that for normal driving I barely notice.
I will be putting the fronts back on for my road trip to Oregon and Cali in the spring.
also, if you get an extra set of front swaybar endlinks, put them in the back for extended sway links in the rear. CSL ran that setup, works like a charm from what I hear.
For long trips I would prefer it, but I have my fronts off right now cuz the link broke and my back one is bent...
but my coils are so rigid in front that for normal driving I barely notice.
I will be putting the fronts back on for my road trip to Oregon and Cali in the spring.
also, if you get an extra set of front swaybar endlinks, put them in the back for extended sway links in the rear. CSL ran that setup, works like a charm from what I hear.
brian2sun
Elite Member
Good point. I have stiff OME heavy coils all around so I think that makes it not feel so sloppy.
99Yotarunner
New member
thanks for the info guys, i think that was a good idea to try....buying front ones and installing them on the rear. il leave the rear on and maybe just remove the front when doing seriose off roading . has anyone act tryed instaling the fronts on the rear it looks like it ill def allow for more flex...:roadkill:
LINY4Runner
New member
I run 75% street, 25% off road (rocks, hill climbs, mud). I have removed and discarded my rear sway bar. As for the front, I would NEVER street drive my truck without the front sway bar. When I go wheeling I unbolt the end links(all of 10 minutes) at the hotel and drive the 8 miles to the park and it is SCARY.
Keep the front bar and run discos. I'm even thinking of upgrading my front bar to a stiffer one.
I have the 882 stiff coils too, BTW...
Keep the front bar and run discos. I'm even thinking of upgrading my front bar to a stiffer one.
I have the 882 stiff coils too, BTW...
driffter33
New member
I have been running without any swaybars for couple of years now. I won't let just anyone drive my runner. I grew up driving a 75 Scoutt and let me tell you my runner handles 10x better without swaybars than that thong ever did. My runner is a truck not a sports car and is driven as such. I do not advise any one to run a DD without them thoigh, and I have been considering upgrading to a good aftermarcket front with discos and no rear.
J-money$$$
New member
i daily drove my runner for a year without sway bars and it was fine, now its strictly a trail rig so i dont care at all
driffter33
New member
I did some math and I'm between 25-30k miles with no swaybars.
J-money$$$
New member
thats exactly where im at
