jackflack44
New member
Stupid question, but what does removing the sway bar allow? And what is the sway bar there for?
Swaybar questions
- Thread starter jackflack44
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Re: Jason4x4's 2006 TJ project
The swaybar is there to help control the vehicle during cornering. It helps the body stay flat and controls roll during cornering. The reason for disconnecting it when offroading is that it allows the front axle to flex independent of the frame which significantly increases the available suspension travel on most vehicles (on the Jeep TJ you're talking about 5-8" of additional travel).
The swaybar is there to help control the vehicle during cornering. It helps the body stay flat and controls roll during cornering. The reason for disconnecting it when offroading is that it allows the front axle to flex independent of the frame which significantly increases the available suspension travel on most vehicles (on the Jeep TJ you're talking about 5-8" of additional travel).
jackflack44
New member
Oh ok, what does it look like and how is it disconnected? I'm only 16, and I'm curious. Haha.
Re: Jason4x4's 2006 TJ project
It can be difficult to unhook your swaybar when you are getting ready to offroad, so most people install what are called sway bar disconnects that make it easy to unhook.
Take a look here:
http://www.jeepz.com/forum/suspension/29826-installing-sway-bar-disconnects-your-jeep-wrangler.html
It can be difficult to unhook your swaybar when you are getting ready to offroad, so most people install what are called sway bar disconnects that make it easy to unhook.
Take a look here:
http://www.jeepz.com/forum/suspension/29826-installing-sway-bar-disconnects-your-jeep-wrangler.html
jackflack44
New member
Do you completely remove them or just disconnect them? Apologies for hijacking this thread.
I've moved this to it's own thread so that we don't clutter Jason's build thread.
As to Dylan's question, you normally just unhook one end, then zip tie the other end so that it doesn't flop around while you drive.
As to Dylan's question, you normally just unhook one end, then zip tie the other end so that it doesn't flop around while you drive.
jackflack44
New member
If it's not disconnected are the two wheels still able to flex independently or no?
Ok, first of all typically when you disconnect the swaybar for off-roading, you do not completely remove it, you just disconnect it from the axle. The easiest way to do this is to remove the swaybar end links (a bar with bushings on each end that bolt to the swaybar on one end and the axle on the other). You can take the stock links off to achieve this but it tends to be pretty time consuming. To remedy this a lot of companies make quick disconnect kits. The ones I use are made by JKS. This basically replace the stock sway bar end links. If you're getting a lift of more than an inch or two, you'll need to replace your end links with longer ones anyway, so a lot of lift kits come with swaybar disconnects (although some cheap 'economy' lifts will just come with longer non-disconnecting links).
The way the JKS 'quicker' disconnects work is that they have a top part that mounts to the swaybar which consists of the upper bushing and end link and lower bushing and a bottom part that consists of a post that mounts to the axle. The lower bushing slides over the post that is mounted to the axle and is secured by a click pin which is a metal pin that slides through a hole and goes all the way through the end link and the post and "clicks" in place. When you want to disconnect the swaybar for offroad use, you pull the pin out and pop the lower bushing off the post. The whole link then can pivot on the upper bushing which is still connected to the swaybar. You swing the link up and out of the way and slide the lower bushing over a 2nd post which is mounted to the frame, then secure it with the click pin and you're good to go.
I hope I did a good enough job of explaining this. If you want to see what they look like you can go to JKS' website or if you want I can take some pictures tomorrow.
And to answer your other question, if the swaybar is still connected the two wheels can still flex independently somewhat just not nearly as much. The idea is to try to keep both wheels on the ground as much as possible for maximum traction, so you want as much flex as you can get without damaging the suspension (there is such a thing as too much flex).
The way the JKS 'quicker' disconnects work is that they have a top part that mounts to the swaybar which consists of the upper bushing and end link and lower bushing and a bottom part that consists of a post that mounts to the axle. The lower bushing slides over the post that is mounted to the axle and is secured by a click pin which is a metal pin that slides through a hole and goes all the way through the end link and the post and "clicks" in place. When you want to disconnect the swaybar for offroad use, you pull the pin out and pop the lower bushing off the post. The whole link then can pivot on the upper bushing which is still connected to the swaybar. You swing the link up and out of the way and slide the lower bushing over a 2nd post which is mounted to the frame, then secure it with the click pin and you're good to go.
I hope I did a good enough job of explaining this. If you want to see what they look like you can go to JKS' website or if you want I can take some pictures tomorrow.
And to answer your other question, if the swaybar is still connected the two wheels can still flex independently somewhat just not nearly as much. The idea is to try to keep both wheels on the ground as much as possible for maximum traction, so you want as much flex as you can get without damaging the suspension (there is such a thing as too much flex).
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jackflack44
New member
Pictures would be nice, if its not too big of a hassle. It would allow me to visualize, and that was an amazing explanation. Thank you.
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