Swaybar delete- front or rear?

[Roc Doc]

With all the mods you do, spend a little time and do it right:

If'n I might make a suggestion. Nylocks are a no-no in suspension, because of all the movement the nylon portion can wear out. You're much better off with
with red loctite, stover nuts, or even double nuts if you have the room.

 

[A.Wilson013]

In the interest of science, I decided to stop being lazy and threw my front swaybar back on this evening using longer Energy Suspension endlinks, and the same P.O.S. eye bolts from Lowes that I used in the back.

Initial impression: I should have done this long ago.

IMMEDIATELY after pulling out of my neighborhood I could tell a difference in the handling. It's hard to explain the feeling, but the steering just felt tight, and confident.

I'll leave it on for awhile longer and see if I change my mind, but I don't think that's going to happen. It felt really nice to drive.

 

[Scramble]

Fair enough, I guess my point was lots of the mods we do decrease the safety of the vehicle as a trade off for some other attribute. Tires make it harder to stop. Lifts make it easier to roll. Adding interior accessories can make projectiles (if not suitably mounted) during a roll or wreck. At the end of the day people need to decide how far they want to go down that road. The way I see it the sway bar is just another item along the same line. It's not like you don't gain anything by removing it.

what a pandora's box...

thanks for the discussion, everything has been very insightful.

from what I have gleemed/understood, I'm going to do the following...

new front links for the rear (cause of lift)

then for the front I'm thinking two ways...
a) look into 'longer' links for front (2nd gen is longer)
OR
b) create my own q-disco front link... if price is compatible to new 'autozone' prices

I'm certain I'll keep both sway bar's, arguments make sense both directions... but I am on road mostly right now... life prohibits me from more than 10% off road right now.

in the future I know q-disco's are planned front and rear.

That's why I suggested getting longer links for the front & rear with the front being disco's for wheelin'. Best of both worlds.
No need for disco's in the back, for me anyway.

 

[A.Wilson013]

Day 1 of swaybar use is upon us, gentlemen, and I am still liking it.

One thing I've noticed is that if I take a corner hard (like an idiot) it makes a clunking sound. I'll have to get back under there (thank Obama I left the skid plates off) and take a look. I'm thinking that the washer on the endlink is hitting the LCA side mount. It was pretty tight when I was installing it.

Driving on the freeway is nice. Braking feels the same- maybe a LITTLE less "sway" side to side when I stomp on the brakes going 60, but there was never much.

 

[SpidermanGeek]

Day 1 of swaybar use is upon us, gentlemen, and I am still liking it.

One thing I've noticed is that if I take a corner hard (like an idiot) it makes a clunking sound. I'll have to get back under there (thank Obama I left the skid plates off) and take a look. I'm thinking that the washer on the endlink is hitting the LCA side mount. It was pretty tight when I was installing it.

Driving on the freeway is nice. Braking feels the same- maybe a LITTLE less "sway" side to side when I stomp on the brakes going 60, but there was never much.

Is there a noticeable difference in vehicle behavior when hitting potholes or bumps in the road?

Right now when I hit a pothole (no sway bars) the truck wants to dart/bounce in all sorts of different directions (especially when hitting a pothole while turning), does having sway bars mitigate that at all?

 

[bajallama]

Is there a noticeable difference in vehicle behavior when hitting potholes or bumps in the road?

Right now when I hit a pothole (no sway bars) the truck wants to dart/bounce in all sorts of different directions (especially when hitting a pothole while turning), does having sway bars mitigate that at all?

Yes it does. As one wheel hits a pothole the other is flat. The sway bar uses the other wheel to "push against" or torque against the other. It increases your spring rate the more the spring is compressed and when your suspension compresses you experience bump steer. So the less your suspension compresses, the less bump steer you have during a pothole situation.

 

[A.Wilson013]

Is there a noticeable difference in vehicle behavior when hitting potholes or bumps in the road?

Right now when I hit a pothole (no sway bars) the truck wants to dart/bounce in all sorts of different directions (especially when hitting a pothole while turning), does having sway bars mitigate that at all?

There's one good bump on the freeway on my commute and when I hit it this morning it felt very controlled. Also, when I hit some big speed bumps this afternoon it did feel different as I came off of them (they're the big like 5' wide ones).

All in all everything just feels much more "fluid" if you will. I like it.

I also figured out my clunking. It was the bolt head on the bottom of the Energy Suspension links hitting the LCA mount. I just added a nut to act as a spacer. So far so good.

Going to drive my wife to her volleyball games tonight. That section of I5 is TERRIBLE, so it should be a pretty good gauge of how much better it is.

 

[A.Wilson013]

Front sway bar update:

I have had the swaybar on for a few days now and am still loving it. Handling is MUCH improved.

HOWEVER.

Today after ~180miles trip on the freeway going 70 over Snoqualmie Pass, and a couple off camber creek/washout crossings my front passenger side eyebolt is very close to failing. It's severly bent, and the nut appears to be getting pushed down the threads.

I'll stand by my previous statements that this eyebolt + Energy Suspension endlink setup works in the rear, but it's clearly not up to the task of the front suspenion.

 

[JayRolla]

I have had the swaybar on for a few days now and am still loving it. Handling is MUCH improved.

HOWEVER.

Today after ~180miles trip on the freeway going 70 over Snoqualmie Pass, and a couple off camber creek/washout crossings my front passenger side eyebolt is very close to failing. It's severly bent, and the nut appears to be getting pushed down the threads.

I'll stand by my previous statements that this eyebolt + Energy Suspension endlink setup works in the rear, but it's clearly not up to the task of the front suspenion.

If they can't hold the front. What makes you think it's okay for the rear. The es links are trash.

 

[A.Wilson013]

If they can't hold the front. What makes you think it's okay for the rear. The es links are trash.

Mostly that have have been working for well over a year now without any visible signs of failing.

 

[TXLX1]

I test drove without sway bars and comparing to stock suspension on my other two trucks, I can tell you I don't like the body roll on the road. Quick disconnects seem to be the way to go, best of both worlds.