...that is the question. Got my BOSS lift sitting in the garage, ready to install this weekend. My question, as stated above, is this: what are the pros and cons of removing the front sway bar altogether, during lift install? I see mention of some running without it, and preferring the ride quality. Are there any negatives to removing the sway bar for good, as long as you've got some good quality coilovers? I'm a bit of a newb at all this still, so forgive me if the answer to this question is obvious.
To sway bar, or not to sway bar...
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BigredTEX
New member
My son has the BOSS set up on his 4th Gen (essentially the same running gear as the 5th Gen) and has removed his front sway bar. I really can't tell it's not there, but his rig has significantly more articulation than mine. It doesn't take much to remove or re-install the sway bar so I'd recommend trying it to make your own decision.
I plan to swap out my OME lift (too stiff) for the BOSS in the near future and will try it both ways to make my own decision at that time.
I plan to swap out my OME lift (too stiff) for the BOSS in the near future and will try it both ways to make my own decision at that time.
bimrunner
New member
I have mine out and don't ever plan to reinstall it. I like it personally. However, you will notice that it is gone. I can feel the lean. It isn't something that bothers me but it definitely leans on the corners! I haven't been in a situation where I've felt unsafe but I do drive more defensively on the road without it. Emergency steering is going to be crazy if not dangerous. You have to be prepared. You have to know who else may drive it or who will not be allowed to drive it in the future. For example, I don't plan to let my kids drive mine and the wife stays in her MDX. Drive with it off and see if it bothers you. It is a fast item to remove and replace. Watch your face when you remove it! It likes to jump out and try to knock your teeth out.
Engineer
New member
Having never done it I don't know the effects but I would guess that unless you are doing hardcore offloading the articulation improvements are not worth the on road handling tradeoffs.
If someone has a good measure of how much additional drop/articulation etc removing it provides I would love to see it.
If someone has a good measure of how much additional drop/articulation etc removing it provides I would love to see it.
bimrunner
New member
Benefit is only if you have LT suspension. Without removing or disconnecting you essentially take out the last 2" or so of travel. Mostly notice on the back but front removal removes the counter pull on the rocks keeping the wheels more independent and causing you to 3-wheel less often. I don't know the exact measurements but it is noticeable in feel and performance off road. You will want stiffer springs without the swaybars to help cut the lean. I have HD front and rear springs.
4Running Daily
New member
Driving without a sway bar is like having sex without a condom, it feels better, but it isn't safe. If you know how to drive, you're fine.
Waterman2112
Member
Newbie Boss Install Glitch
Wow... interesting proposition... never even considered not running the sway bar...
I will say this after just completing a Toytec Boss installation - the instructions were lacking in one crucial area for the sway bar. They supplied an RSDK kit with the struts and a spanner wrench… I downloaded the instructions from their web-site and proceeded accordingly…
All was good. Installed the relocating brackets for the sway bar which are required for my vehicle year and shit – the sway bar would NOT bolt in. It was interfering with the lower radiator mounting assembly. I was completely unaware that the RSDK was not just for the Diff drop (which I decided not to do) but also contained spacers for the (2) radiator support brackets that run from the radiator to the frame. See in picture. The instructions did not mention any of this and when I called Toytec technical they immediately sent me a PDF of the install... which I’m also attaching – which calls out installation modifications for FJ Cruisers… not necessarily 4Runners. Weird. But after install of the spacers everything was fine.
Just a FYI here. Don’t know what vehicle year you’re talking about installing your Boss system to; hopefully your install goes without my little glitch.
Wow... interesting proposition... never even considered not running the sway bar...
I will say this after just completing a Toytec Boss installation - the instructions were lacking in one crucial area for the sway bar. They supplied an RSDK kit with the struts and a spanner wrench… I downloaded the instructions from their web-site and proceeded accordingly…
All was good. Installed the relocating brackets for the sway bar which are required for my vehicle year and shit – the sway bar would NOT bolt in. It was interfering with the lower radiator mounting assembly. I was completely unaware that the RSDK was not just for the Diff drop (which I decided not to do) but also contained spacers for the (2) radiator support brackets that run from the radiator to the frame. See in picture. The instructions did not mention any of this and when I called Toytec technical they immediately sent me a PDF of the install... which I’m also attaching – which calls out installation modifications for FJ Cruisers… not necessarily 4Runners. Weird. But after install of the spacers everything was fine.
Just a FYI here. Don’t know what vehicle year you’re talking about installing your Boss system to; hopefully your install goes without my little glitch.
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wfo9
New member
Just try it and see what you think. Start with removing the front then try the rear.
It will give you much better traction with a smoother ride off-road. On the road, your 4 runner will feel like a 70s Cadillac.
I currently run no front with extended swaybar links in the rear. I feel this is a great compromise and the handling still feels pretty solid on the road. it would still be a mess in a high speed maneuver.
If you don't plan to take your truck off-road on pretty difficult trails, just keep the sway bars on.
I plan to take some measurements on the rear travel next week when I install my long travel setup to see how much removing the swaybar helps in the rear. As a point of reference the std MT LT kit yeilded 27" of total wheel travel without a sway bar and 23" with one installed. This is fully articulated wheel travel. The sway bar being on or off will not impact vertical travel (that is mainly a function of you shocks fully extended length) .
Keeping your wheels on the ground is probably the most important aspect of a good suspension for a trail truck. Down travel being much more important than up travel.
It will give you much better traction with a smoother ride off-road. On the road, your 4 runner will feel like a 70s Cadillac.
I currently run no front with extended swaybar links in the rear. I feel this is a great compromise and the handling still feels pretty solid on the road. it would still be a mess in a high speed maneuver.
If you don't plan to take your truck off-road on pretty difficult trails, just keep the sway bars on.
I plan to take some measurements on the rear travel next week when I install my long travel setup to see how much removing the swaybar helps in the rear. As a point of reference the std MT LT kit yeilded 27" of total wheel travel without a sway bar and 23" with one installed. This is fully articulated wheel travel. The sway bar being on or off will not impact vertical travel (that is mainly a function of you shocks fully extended length) .
Keeping your wheels on the ground is probably the most important aspect of a good suspension for a trail truck. Down travel being much more important than up travel.
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Wow. Thanks for all the replies, fellas. I don't expect to do much hardcore wheeling right away, so I'll likely keep the swaybars. Sounds like that's the consensus here. My 4runner is also my daily driver, and sees far more road miles than trail miles right now (something I hope to rectify in the next few years). And thanks to Waterman for that informative pic and PDF. I would have likely struggled with the same issue. You just saved me some headache, my man!
Jimmy_D
Member
My 2013 4-Runner TE is fairly heavily modified but since it's my DD I only use it for light to moderate wheeling. I save the serious stuff for my FJ. I used to take the front swaybar off the FJ every time I went to Moab but at some point I decided to just leave it off. Didn't notice any real difference when driving on pavement, but the Icon suspension might have contributed to some extent to the lack of a noticeable difference.
Jono.ful
New member
take a tight off ramp at 45mph and tell me if you still feel that way (after changing your shorts that is :toilet: )
I have both front and rear bars off, with an extended travel set up in the front, and long travel and adjustable 4 link in the back. there is a fair bit of extra articulation while off road, but the downside is there is a lot more articulation in the corners on the highway too. you get used to it, but the first few trips are definitely interesting.
hotsteel41
New member
I removed my front sway bar on my fj it helps offroad a bunch. I run the bilstien 5100 shocks with the stock springs . It had alot better articulation when I went to the toytec adjustable coil springs. I tried it next without the rear sway bar man it heeled over great. I went over large rocks and ledges it was eating it all. One day I went down a large side hill and it healed over so far I thought it was gonna flip. Put the back sway bar back on. When I lift my 2014 TE front swaybar is coming off.
nevetsvsx
New member
I took the front and rear off and it definitely leans a good bit when taking any turn over about 20MPH. It takes a lot of getting used to at first, but after that it is not that bad. Honestly I don't feel it is safe to drive entirely if I had to make an emergency maneuver, so I am going to see if I can have a fab shop modify my front sway to be a quick disconnect (I saw that somewhere on here I think) and I already have a pair of rear quick disconnects that I am putting on.
Offroad the thing drives like a DREAM though!! It is a HUGE improvement for me offroad!!
Offroad the thing drives like a DREAM though!! It is a HUGE improvement for me offroad!!
hotsteel41
New member
When I got into the 2014 4runner te after the 2008 fj without the front sway bar it did handle better on the road. The first thing I noticed was no weight transfer leaving the stop lights. It handled the curves better and felt more stable. I took the 4runner out to the ks rocks park and did the main trail. I went through a washed out section . With swaybar one front tire picked up off the ground like my dogs paw when I got a treat. I don't know anyone that has a 4runner with kdss and if you lift you can lift it 3.5 inches and run 35's. So I just took the sway bar off .
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