Sway Bar Removal

[JAMAS]

People always think a car is more likely to roll over with the sway bars removed. But the laws of physics don't change, your center of gravity is still the same. Your body will roll more within the framework of the suspension (sway bars are more accurately called "anti-roll" bars), but you're not going to just flip over because those little bars are disconnected.

I believe the "motion in the ocean" can help to push you over though.

Think about when you push/pull someone out of a ditch (without a vx)...you rock the car back and forth until you can finally complete the push. Without sway bars, you take a couple back and forth bends and the momentum will be much greater without the sway bars.

[BigSwede]

Strictly speaking, the momentum is the same either way, but it may carry a bit farther to each side. If you had a tall vehicle and a lot of weight up on the roof I could see a change in the COG, otherwise not so much, not enough to matter anyway.

Out in Moab I disconnect my sway bars for the entire week...drive winding roads like hwy 313 to Canyonlands NP...you get used to the body roll. Aired down tires are a bigger menace to highway cornering than disconnected sway bars.

[VXorado]

I never felt the VX handled dangerously with either sway bar off and I don't ever see myself putting the rear bar back on. I just noticed the front had a lot of under steer that persuaded me to leave it on full time.

Swede... I figured you weren't running a rear sway bar in Moab. We we're the only 2 Zus that had issues with unseating our coil springs. Too much flex

[BigSwede]

Yep, I have disconnects for both sway bars...that was the first time I had lost a coil on this Trooper; I didn't know the Ranchos that came with it were long enough to allow that to happen. I now have OME shocks that are a bit shorter and so should retain the coils from here on out.

[Maddawg]

People always think a car is more likely to roll over with the sway bars removed. But the laws of physics don't change, your center of gravity is still the same. Your body will roll more within the framework of the suspension (sway bars are more accurately called "anti-roll" bars), but you're not going to just flip over because those little bars are disconnected.

Yep, that's what I was referring to.

[Triathlete]

My rear swaybar has been in 2 pieces for the past 18 months with no adverse affects. If there is any differences in handling it is very little.

[Maddawg]

The defense rests its case.

[VXorado]

The defense rests its case.

I'm surprised you haven't had understeer with the front sway bar removed. Maybe more noticable with bigger, wider tires?

Possibly something to consider when you go bigger...

[Maddawg]

Could be, my turning radius seems to be unaffected. I'll be putting on bigger tires with a wider stance wheel soon so I'll see how much of an effect it has. I'll let you know.

[Maddawg]

Yes, the wider stance did affect my turning radius understandably.

[Scott Larson]

Drastically so??

[Maddawg]

No, but enough that it is noticeable. I have a corner I turn every day that is approx 110 degrees. The wheel input I always used puts me a bit nto the oncoming lane. Not a big deal, I just have to crank the wheel a bit more. Not thrilled but I can live with it.