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How necessary is the sway bar???

jimmyleetn

jimmyleetn

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I've been thinking about this a lot off and on over the winter, but how necessary is the sway bar? I have an '88 Blazer with a 3inch lift on 33in tires and have redone all the suspension and steering (see my build), but I'm trying to decide if I should get the ORD kit to correct my sway bar geometry or just ditch it all together. I am no where near driveable, but I thought this forum would be a great place for this discussion. If I ask on FB who knows what kind of answer I'll get but I trust the folks on here. So if you think it's necessary, why? If you tossed it, why?
 
Depends on your springs. If you got stiff enough springs you may not even notice it's gone. If they are real soft it may scare you on corners. All you can do is drive it without, and see. At 3" it should not be hooked up without correction anyway.
 
ORD has a quick disconnect, which I have on mine. Engage on street disengage off-road, super easy.

Having one I doubt is necessary, but I wanted so...

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I don't run them on anything but stock anymore. Probably don't need it on stock either. On a lifted truck they bind without a kit. I have 2 right now without sway bar and notice more articulation without any wandering or problems. I would remove the sway bar and spend the kit money on some other parts.
 
When I did the 3" custom ord springs on my burb, cornering it leaned way to far for my liking. So I did the corrections. But my old blazer with a 6" rough country I never ever noticed it being gone.
Guess it's all a feel or comfort thing.
 
jimmyleetn said:
I've been thinking about this a lot off and on over the winter, but how necessary is the sway bar? I have an '88 Blazer with a 3inch lift on 33in tires and have redone all the suspension and steering (see my build), but I'm trying to decide if I should get the ORD kit to correct my sway bar geometry or just ditch it all together. I am no where near driveable, but I thought this forum would be a great place for this discussion. If I ask on FB who knows what kind of answer I'll get but I trust the folks on here. So if you think it's necessary, why? If you tossed it, why?
Click to expand...
what sway bar
 
there was another thread recently where I gave my Landcruiser relativity fix for the Chevy sway bar situation.















drive a Landcruiser with its sway bars connected. then go drive the blazer with the sway bar removed... and just like that -poof! the Chevy is fixed.
 
I wouldn't be concerned about having it with the combination that you described, with my personal driving style. But I would bet that on road manners should be better with one installed properly.
My suggestion is to wait on ordering anything for it, get the truck driving and leave the bar disconnected or off for now. Then see how you like driving it.
The disconnect kit should be quick and easy to get and install if you decide that you want it.

I have soft ORD springs under mine, but also have crossover steering, so I can't run the factory sway bar. I haven't had enough spare cash that I have thought about the ORD one as if yet. I have gone over 85 mph on the interstate with it and it's not bad for what it is.
 
I will say, I don't think I even noticed a difference with mine connected. But I don't know really how to test its effectiveness or the difference ones looking for when connected and not. I don't turn hard it's mostly street driven as well. I have ORD custom rear springs and not sure on the front springs with ORD bilsteins all around 4' lift and 35's.

I've read out body roll etc but... hahahaha

Also food for thought

For those on the fence about removing sway bar...

DO IT!!! LoL.. I have owned my K5 for 10years or so. I had the ORD sway bar disco kit a while but I didnt care for it. It was a nice kit, but the sway bar was so tight to move , I had loosen the center brackets for the bushings to get it to move, like I said, not worth the effort. So, I sold...
ck5.com ck5.com
 
I have a Jeep Wrangler without a swaybar and I wouldn’t let an inexperienced driver behind the wheel, it has a flexy lift and leans way over in corners. My three trucks without sway bars…..don’t even notice they’re gone. Like the others have said drive it first and see what you think but I’d be willing to bet you don’t notice much difference….
 
My k20 burb had 4" lift with no sway bar correction, unknown spring mfr. Drove mostly on maintained road's, would tow toys to off road camps on unmaintained roads never needing 4x4. Bluetooth front drive shaft.
It handle well around corners flat when aggressive left turns.
I did the sway bar correction 2 years ago, little softer, more body roll on those aggressive lefts.
I have not disconnected it to compare.

You can use the sway as is, then disconnect at spring plates and compare. Then decide if you want correction

If you go crossover steering the stock sway bar will not work for you. ORD does make sway bar that will work cross over.
 
I haven't had a sway bar on a lifted truck in almost 20 years even with 52's and then ORD springs. I buy good shocks which helps. And I embrace the lean. I can pretend I have a desert race truck or something.
 
I don't have a sway bar on my burb with 52s and crossover steering.
It will just about scrape the outside mirrors on the road if you corner too fast but thats part of its charm. It has the added benefit of eliminating rear locker tire scrub by lifting the inside rear tire off the ground in turns.
 
scouthead said:
what sway bar
Click to expand...
I have a 3” lift on my 86 Jimmy with 35” tires. I definitely notice the sway when on the freeway. However, I have not rolled it yet and I have pushed it. I will not put it back on. I will however replace the springs.
 
I took mine off 15 years ago. With my stiff rough country springs, I don't even notice.
 
jimmyleetn said:
I've been thinking about this a lot off and on over the winter, but how necessary is the sway bar? I have an '88 Blazer with a 3inch lift on 33in tires and have redone all the suspension and steering (see my build), but I'm trying to decide if I should get the ORD kit to correct my sway bar geometry or just ditch it all together. I am no where near driveable, but I thought this forum would be a great place for this discussion. If I ask on FB who knows what kind of answer I'll get but I trust the folks on here. So if you think it's necessary, why? If you tossed it, why?
Click to expand...
 
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