What exactly is the front stabilizer do?

[silverlx]

So what exactly does the front stabilizer/sway bar do? The bushings in the sway bar link/stabilizer bar link are cracked, broken, split and are anything but doing what they should be. I'm taking a 1600 mile road trip and was wondering if I could just remove the stabilizer bar or does it actually have a noticeable function? I also get pops and inking when turning, slowing down or when there's a little body roll and I think it's because the bushings are busted.

The reason I ask is because in my old Mustang I removed em to save weight...

 

[Modded]

If you remove them you will have a way higher noticeable amount of front end body roll. I did it once and that was the result.
Just leave them as is if you cannot find new parts to replace the flawed ones.
They are better in and busted, than not there at all.

 

[silverlx]

I think you are right, there'd be way more roll in a 7000 lb truck than a Mustang.