Swaybar, Disconnect It For Offroading??

[Spaceman]

I am very interested in understanding all aspects of disconnecting the front Swaybar.

I am finding the front suspension to be very tight. Most all of the body roll action when a front wheel is climbing over a big rock is handled by the rear suspension. For the most part, the car body tracks the front wheels.

When climbing over a big rock that causes a rear wheel to lift off the ground, that front wheel suspension only moved up 1 5/8." WOW!! That's Stiff. Upward travel appears to be very limited. Conversely, the opposite rear wheel moves up a whopping 6"(under the fender).

This system may be stiffer than most realize. I was really surprised and disappointed. That front swaybar must be real stiff.

Because of all of this and since the body seems to track whatever the front wheels do, I am thinking that disconnecting the front swaybar will be very helpful when driving say...the Colorado backroads.

Benefits: >>>Smoother ride hopefully.
1. The body should remain more level?
2. The suspension should appear softer when one wheel climbs over a big rock? (that is up until it bottoms out which i expect it to now occur quicker)
3. ??

Negatives:
??? Can anyone think of some here??

Is it easy to disconnect?
I assume you have to disconnect both ends?
How do you tie it back?

Hopefully someone has lots of experience with this.
I would really appreciate any information or advise.

Thanks

 

[T?@\7]

tho i have no experience disco. the swaybar, i have read that the FJ bar tho its only 1mm thinner offers quite a bit more flex. ( i think i read this on another highly competitive and secretive toyota board.) ;-)

Im planning on ordering the fj bar soon, I think you'll be able to find more info on disconnection at the afformentioned board , yotatech.com, im pretty sure the info is there.

 

[AmbideXtrous]

I just put a spacer lift on my 4R. I can attest that removing the sway bar, for me and my 5 year old 4Runner at least, was the hardest part of the install.

If you do take it off I would be interested to find out how it affects your day to day driving.

 

[Spaceman]

I just put a spacer lift on my 4R. I can attest that removing the sway bar, for me and my 5 year old 4Runner at least, was the hardest part of the install.

If you do take it off I would be interested to find out how it affects your day to day driving.

I would never take it off for day to day driving. I will take it off only when on back roads driving very slowly.

So, how did you finally get it off. What will i have to do to get it off?

Who's and what size spacer did you use? Top-over or coil spacer??
Is it working great for you?

 

[MAC4Runner]

Everything you ever wanted to know and then some can be found HERE

 

[T?@\7]

THATs the thread i was talking about! not YT

 

[Desertyodaboy]

They do sell quick disconnects for it as well but i removed mine in my truck and it made a huge difference both on and off road...as long as you dont drive crazy on road you will be fine

 

[Spaceman]

Everything you ever wanted to know and then some can be found HERE

Thanks for the info.

Hope to read through all of this very carefully during this next month. I've already started making some measurements on my 4R. Can't wait to disconnect this thing then climb over a big rock. I will be expecting a big improvement to a smoother ride.

Thanks again.

 

[richbaker]

i think Trials are probably the safest form of motorsport because All progress is made at low speed, and the emphasis is on skill rather than finishing first. However, trialling can be highly competitive. There are three traditional forms of off-road trialing.











______________________
Engine Management System and Exhaust System are very important for my car

 

[Spaceman]

i think Trials are probably the safest form of motorsport because All progress is made at low speed, and the emphasis is on skill rather than finishing first. However, trialling can be highly competitive. There are three traditional forms of off-road trialing.

For me, all form of off-roading is slow. We just don't want to be thrown from side-to-side so much for each rock we drive over. I'm am hoping this change will reduce such significantly. We are not in a hurry. We are there for the scenery.

What is Trials? Where can I read about that?











______________________
Engine Management System and Exhaust System are very important for my car

 

[Thai]

From this link: http://www.sonoransteel.com/store_complete_liftkits.html

(scroll down to FAQ)

"5. Why don't you include front sway bar disconnects? Because they are completely useless. By disconnecting the front sway bar you may gain a very slight amount of added a-arm droop. But here is the problem with an IFS truck. The only tire that has any weight on it is the one compressed, so it does not matter if the other tire is in the air, almost on the ground or on the ground. It will spin because it has no weight on it. The front IFS solution is an ARB RD90 front locker, not anything to do with a sway bar. It is however correct to disconnect a sway bar on a straight axle truck as it will increase articulation. The real benefit of having a straight axle is that both front tires bear the weight at all times. Not only one like an IFS truck under articulation."

Above info may be bias, but is consistent with what i have read about IFS. And this explains why the Range Rover (IFS/IRS) has cross-linking shocks...so that if one side goes up, the other side gets "electronically" pushed down, thus simulating the action of a solid axle.