Seen a few threads like this, but never really gleaned a good answer....is it a good or bad idea to not run the front sway bar on a daily driver? Just in the garage and pulled mine off (6" lift and no drop brackets, etc for the bar) and noticed the front end articulates a LOT better now. Haven't gotten to take it for a spin yet (no inspection, rear diff still hanging open), but the only thing I'm worried about is ride stability.
CK5
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No front sway bar on a daily driver?
- Thread starter Element
- Start date
Hossbaby50
3/4 ton status
With a 6" lift you don't need a front swaybar. Get rid of it and you will be fine/better off. I haven't run a swaybar on my 2.5" or 4" springs with no problems. I DD'ed my K5 for several years with no swaybar.
Harley
Harley
i never even knew it was gone. its much better IMO
redneckdude
1/2 ton status
no sway bar with old ass stock 52s up front...im going to 56s shortly if that says anything...
took my sway bar off when I installed my 4inch lift. none of my buddies believed that it would drive decent and several people have asked me how I keep it on the road. I notice no difference except for better ride and better flex.
Very cool. I noticed, when I was standing on the front bumper with the sway bar off, the nose actually moves now (and I'm no lightweight) where before, the thing wouldn't budge more than 1" when I was standing on the nose.
I took mine off when I lifted it 4" too. I'll see how it handles, and decide if I want to put it back on or not later...
it will move better now cause there is no sway bar there to bind up. mine does nose dive a little when I brake hard but you've gotta remember its not a sports car so it wont drive like one. drive it and respect it like its a lifted fullsize (which is what it is) and you should have no problems with driveability.
hunterguy86
1/2 ton status
Throw the swaybar away.
Cajun4x4
1/2 ton status
hunterguy86 said:
x2
no swaybar with my soft ass alcans up front, no complaints here
Dweller99
Registered Member
I wll throw in my +1
I bought my 73 with the 6" lift already installed and no swaybar. I was concerned at first but honestly I have not missed it a bit. Cornering is not an issue at all.
I bought my 73 with the 6" lift already installed and no swaybar. I was concerned at first but honestly I have not missed it a bit. Cornering is not an issue at all.
Swaybars?...... We don't need no stinking swaybars!
y5mgisi
1 ton status
I think this pretty much conferms that the sway bar in many cases is a ditchable item. Oh i also run with no sway bar and love it.
mxfireman said:Stop sweating it and just go drive it. I garauntee you will never put it back on.
Soon as I get home, the rear diff is getting filled with oil. Might make one of those wonderful "....%^$%#^!" moments if I tried before that
I had the same question on whether to remove or not on my blazer I drive on the road since I did on my trail only rig and was very happy with the results. The only reason I hadn't pulled it yet is because I occasionally will pull a trailer behind it. Do any of you also tow anything and have you seen any handling issues or reason why I shouldn't sh*t can it?
I guess i am asking for it, but running a DD without a sway bar is very dangerous. What i havent seen on this tread is panic stopping or swerving to miss something or someone. When it comes to turning if you had to swerve to lets say not hit a child crossing the street the truck will continue to go in the opposite direction of the turn due to momentum. Especially if its a lifted truck. Not having a sway bar will not allow you to turn as fast or cause you to roll over due to too much body roll which could cause injuries to you and maybe someone else. When your driving on the street you have to think of safety over capabilties. You dont need to flex on the street. Not trying to be a buzz kill. Just trying to keep everyone safe.
I'm also in favor of a swaybar on a street driven truck. The bodyroll wouldn't be so bad with crossover steering, but with push-pull steering it's the same thing as a steering input. Yes, you get used to it, but it never performs as good in cornering and steering (and yes, that includes safety).
The real problem with swaybars is the different geometry of lift springs. If you don't correct for this (i.e. use swaybar disconnects) then the binding of the swaybar is so bad that it's better to run without it. If you run 12" springs, they are probably as stiff as a swaybar anyway, but a lot of rigs get extensive work to improve flex. The better the flex, the more need there is for the swaybar.
Now offroad, the swaybar is straight up terrible.
Of course, this has all been discussed in several threads before.
The real problem with swaybars is the different geometry of lift springs. If you don't correct for this (i.e. use swaybar disconnects) then the binding of the swaybar is so bad that it's better to run without it. If you run 12" springs, they are probably as stiff as a swaybar anyway, but a lot of rigs get extensive work to improve flex. The better the flex, the more need there is for the swaybar.
Now offroad, the swaybar is straight up terrible.
Of course, this has all been discussed in several threads before.
