Rear sway removal - experiences?
- Thread starter ahtoxa11
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I have extended travel Kings, if that matters. Not LT though. Wonder if I'd be shock limited in that case? I don't want to overextend the shock.
I ran without a rear sway on a lifted gen1 Xterra and it wasn't an issue, but each suspension design is different - thank you for the input. I don't want to give up road manners a whole lot.
The sway bar is not what limits the downward travel; the shocks limit the downward travel.
It is not a good idea to remove the rear sway bar for it can cause weirdness in the handling.
The sway bar does limit the amount of "articulation" of the axle. Thus, it is best to get a 4Runner with the KDSS system for that will allow more articulation when off roading.
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MStudt
official vendor
The EXT's have the internal bushing removed, and only gives you around 1/2" of additional travel. Not enough to warrant a sway bar removal in my opinion. Like others have said, just get longer sway bar links to help get your sway bar parallel to your LCA. This will help you more than you think.
Mike
rdruss
Senior Member
Mine is 4th Gen V8 and removed rear sway bar last fall, I don't notice any handling difference on road, takes an exit ramp at a good clip and no noticeable sway or feeling of unstableness.
Can't speak for the travel off road.
I doubt I will reinstall, see no reason to at present.
Can't speak for the travel off road.
I doubt I will reinstall, see no reason to at present.
rayofsi
New member
is that the best setting? parallel with the LCA? about to install your sway bar links soon.
I've been talking about rear sway removal, not front. I have experience with removed front sway on another vehicle and handling sucked badly.
MStudt
official vendor
Parallel or close to parallel with the LCA. A lot of people think the sway bar should be parallel with the ground, and that's not the case.
Removing a sway bar isn't always doom and gloom. Vehicles like Jeeps are a great example of where sway bars can be removed without much concern since they're smaller, lighter, and don't usually carry as much weight. When you get a 4700lb 4runner with extra weight that's a different story. A lot of that weight tends to sit higher, and that will cause body roll. The gains from removing a sway (front or rear) don't outweigh the negative in my opinion.
Mike
Mike
rayofsi
New member
thank you sir. i was going to make it parallel to the ground lol.
Xtremluck
New member
I think you need to be realistic about your use case. Are you planning on doing really technical trails that will require max articulation? When I say technical I mean rock crawling because frankly the marginal benefit of no swaybars offroad isnt worth the trade off in pavement handling unless you're doing stuff like that.
I run with no front swaybar and it had a dramatic effect in on road handling. Ill be removing my rear swaybar soon as well because I like to play in the chunky stuff. In regards to the rear brake line. I think anyone lifting their rear over 2" should be extending their lines. The OEM ones are super short and they are real easy to change out.
My opinion,
I've ran the following vehicles with no front sway bar during the years I owned them:
YJ jeep on 32's,
XJ on 32's,
Diesel Liberty on 31's,
08 JK 2door on 32's,
current 5th gen 4runner.
On all those I didn't find that removing the rear sway bar made much difference. Usually the rear sway bar is thin enough to allow it to twist under the load of the axle articulating. I'd leave it on.
I also found that removing the front on the Liberty and 4runner, (both IFS), made little improvement in articulation but seemed to smooth out the offroad ride so I'll leave them off.
I've ran the following vehicles with no front sway bar during the years I owned them:
YJ jeep on 32's,
XJ on 32's,
Diesel Liberty on 31's,
08 JK 2door on 32's,
current 5th gen 4runner.
On all those I didn't find that removing the rear sway bar made much difference. Usually the rear sway bar is thin enough to allow it to twist under the load of the axle articulating. I'd leave it on.
I also found that removing the front on the Liberty and 4runner, (both IFS), made little improvement in articulation but seemed to smooth out the offroad ride so I'll leave them off.
Jono.ful
New member
Had my front and rear off for years. Zero regrets.
I wouldn't recommend this unless you had large diameter shocks that were properly set up however. There is definitely more body roll without the sway bars, but it's a non-issue once you get used to it. The thing to remember is these trucks aren't race cars, make sure you don't try to drive it like one, and especially not if you have anything up on the roof.
I wouldn't recommend this unless you had large diameter shocks that were properly set up however. There is definitely more body roll without the sway bars, but it's a non-issue once you get used to it. The thing to remember is these trucks aren't race cars, make sure you don't try to drive it like one, and especially not if you have anything up on the roof.
Runnin4mylife
New member
Question for those of you that have removed the front sway bar; did your steering become jumpy after it was removed? I pulled mine a few nights ago after replacing the upper ball joints and now every bump that I go over the steering jumps to either side. I know this is a rear thread, but it's most recent.
Xtremluck
New member
No it should have no impact on that, Swaybars counter body lean.
borfoo3
New member
I'm running EXT travel KINGS with sway bars still on.. doesn't seem that the sway bar is limiting the shock travel. Mine is the KDSS version though.
I would never remove my sway bars for anything other than a mostly dedicated off-road vehicle mainly for safety purposes. Especially for highway driving.
Yes a good shock setup will compensate a bit for body control and still drive fine without them, under most 'normal' conditions. However, if you ever have to make an emergency brake maneuver, you would quickly realize how horrible your lifted truck handles, with a high chance of losing control and flipping over.
Living in an area with so many idiots on the highway, I'm keeping mine on.
I would never remove my sway bars for anything other than a mostly dedicated off-road vehicle mainly for safety purposes. Especially for highway driving.
Yes a good shock setup will compensate a bit for body control and still drive fine without them, under most 'normal' conditions. However, if you ever have to make an emergency brake maneuver, you would quickly realize how horrible your lifted truck handles, with a high chance of losing control and flipping over.
Living in an area with so many idiots on the highway, I'm keeping mine on.
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