Removing sway bars?

[Tozan]

I was watching a commercial the other day on some foreign SUV doing the devils revenge in Utah a very fun trail to run.

I noticed in the disclaimer they disconnected the sway bars I am wondering if the reason for this is to get the wheels to react more independent of each other to improve 4 wheel drive traction. If so would removing them help when I am rock crawling trails like Devils revenge or Rubicon trail?

I know it will affect street performance.

 

[01Konvict]

Yes it helps off road because it doesn’t try to equalize the front to each other. Rear is bar connected to frame on solid axle so yes it stabilizes but differently to front end. With a lift kit you definitely want them on when street driving. Just unbolt when you get to the trails.

 

[Tozan]

That is what I was thinking. I will have to make some quick disconnect mounts for them.

 

[nocal95-2dr-yukon]

Fwiw I removed the front sway bar and think it handles better off road and have had no issues on pavement. Mine hasn't had a rear sway bar ( or prior owner removed it). 3" suspension & 3" body lift on 33's and no substantial body roll imo.

 

[Bill 1960]

Post up some pictures of what you build for disconnects. I’ll probably do the same. There’s plenty of aftermarket devices for more popular trail rigs but nothing commercially available for GM insofar as I know.

Disconnecting anti roll bars definitely helps off road. I even do it on moderate trails because it reduces the tendency to rock side to side quickly as you roll over ruts and bumps. Makes for a more comfortable and relaxed ride.

 

[OR VietVet]

If you check around you may find quick disconnect kits for your sway bars. I used to off road a lot. Have been on the Rubicon. I have been to Moab. I did Potato Salad Hill at Moab. I have been to many trails here in Oregon. The disconnects work very well if you can find them. The idea is to allow separate wheel travel and to allow for MORE wheel travel as well.

 

[63Blackseries]

I am also thinking about removing mine when offroading i just gotta find some quick disconnects

 

[Tozan]

It has been over a year now with my front disconnected.

 

[Jason in DLH]

I’m assuming you like it better with them disconnected? I took off the sway bar on my old Jeep and loved it. Recently I broke one of the end links and was going to replace it, but now I’m thinking I’ll take off the other end link.

 

[nocal95-2dr-yukon]

I removed the sway bar. Imagine taking the part off and throwing it over your sholder, that is what it looks like now!! If I encounter problems on pavement I will slow down. Off road???, pound the pedal!

 

[Tozan]

Yea off road it works great on the road the only time I worry about it is when I go over a set of RR tracks at a 45 degree angle at 50 mph. That gets a little interesting lol For that sort of stuff I will slow down a little.

 

[mrpeterclark]

Still have the rear in? Ever disconnect it? I'm not sure how it would hang if temporarily disconnected

 

[Tozan]

At one time I had both of them removed it did give a softer ride off road but, not enough to be worth sacrificing on road stability.

 

[Dustin Jackson]

I removed my front sway bar about 6 months ago, corning certainly is much worse but for highway driving and road trips it doesn't make a difference.

 

[mikez71]

Are the quick disconnects manual or electric? I seem to remember a dodge ram had an electric disconnect.. Not sure how hard to adapt.
Drove a Jeep wrangler with big offset wheels and no swaybars once, felt very unsafe on street. Maybe it had bad shocks too, but it was scary at slow speed even.

 

[63Blackseries]

Depending on your suspension setup example if you have tuned shocks elka fox kings etc... you probably dont even need swaybars they still corner very well just not as stiff as if swaybars are on still very predictable.

 

[Tozan]

Depending on your suspension setup example if you have tuned shocks elka fox kings etc... you probably dont even need swaybars they still corner very well just not as stiff as if swaybars are on still very predictable.

I am not sure I would agree, I have custom built King suspension for my Tahoe I supplied them with exact weight on each wheel and the type of driving I expected to do. With both sway bars it is far more stable in turns on and off road. With a well tuned suspension and sway bars I don't see very much advantage in disconnecting them. My rig has over 10 inches travel in the front with or with out the sway bars connected.