Sway bars, to use not to use? (TJ)

[DesertRat]

I disconnect during air down.

[SHNIPE]

I used to connect after wheeling... then i started to forget. Then i took the whole thing and put it in the dumpster. There are times i wish i had one though. Antirock would be better than nothing. it will limit your flex somewhat but it would be nice to help keep the rig stable on off camber.

[Spongebob]

I am a big fan of the Antirock. It does limit flex a bit, but the increased stability is definately worth it.

[desertfabmotors]

Stock sway bar.... Yes disconnect

If you use a Anti-rock NO you do not need to disconnect.. The Anti-rock does not limit flex droop enough to worry about it. The sway-bar helps with stability along with making the vehicle climb better in certain situatons.:)

[BRUZR]

On the original BRUZR, I canned both front and rear... In retrospect, I shoulda kept em... I learned a lot with my first Jeep, the question now becomes how much of that will I apply to this Jeep....:D

[Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales]

I disconnect...thought about the teraflex disco..simular to antirock..But has a knob for disconnecting..

Jason

[SavageSun4x4]

Antirock would be better than nothing. it will limit your flex somewhat

It does limit flex somewhat, but not very much. I can only think of a couple of times that the AR wasn't letting me get it on the ground. That said, not sure that anything else would have either:)

Forgot who is making this, but I saw a disconnect system that uses a Warn hub to disconnect/connect. Anyone here using one, if so what do you think? Looks like a good idea to me.

We just wrapped a good thread on the pros-cons of various sway-bar systems about a week or so ago. www.virtualjeepclub.com/showthread.php?t=19471

[Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales]

Don, its Skyjacker..Very simular to teraflex

Jason

[SavageSun4x4]

Don, its Skyjacker..Very simular to teraflex

Jason
OK, thanks. Seems like a good idea, adapting an existing tried and proven product, how well it works, dunno:confused:

[danno]

I currently disconnect my JKS Quicker Disconnects. Down the road I plan on running an Antirock or a dual rate (Antirock if I end up trailering the Jeep more often, dual rate if I drive to the trails)

I really have not had much trouble disconnecting. Running something like an antirock will probably give me a tad more stability on the trail, but really in the end, the difference will be fairly unnoticeable.

II have yet to have someone tell me "you would have made that obstacle if you had an antirock"

However, I have had lots of experiences with "if you had lockers", or "if you had the clearance" or "if you had lower gears" or "if you had an automatic tranny" or even "if you had a winch"

Based on that, with a limited budget, I would consider replacing a disconnectable swaybar less important to me and my personal wheeling style than some of the other things listed above.

[rockwerks]

buy an XJ and dont worry about it:D

[DesertRat]

buy an XJ and dont worry about it:D


Hey the title says TJ not XJ!
Don't come in here :p
JK

[rockwerks]

Hey the title says TJ not XJ!
Don't come in here :p
JK

LOL:D Its a wheelbase thing

[Cherokee-MP]

Ok sorry to intrude but i have an XJ too and why does one member say to buy one and not worry aobut it? Is it that you can drive on or offroad without it... because thats what i do on my XJ and it seems to work for me... Thank You!

[Phx Cobra]

I used to disconnect and reconnect every time I went off-road, now I just leave it discoed all the time. It doesn't bother me to much, however there have been times on the freeway where I have swerved at a high rate of speed and it leans more then I would like. Once I get the long arm put on, I will run some discos, or maybe an anti-rock.

[rockwerks]

Ok sorry to intrude but i have an XJ too and why does one member say to buy one and not worry aobut it? Is it that you can drive on or offroad without it... because thats what i do on my XJ and it seems to work for me... Thank You!

you got it...........its that wheelbase thing...........more stable on and off road

Hijack over.:D

[DesertRat]

you got it...........its that wheelbase thing...........more stable on and off road

Hijack over.:D


Well I have a LJ so the proud parents are a TJ and XJ...not sure if I wanted to go there but I did :eek: :D

So I can run with one of the arms disconnected..ha!

[rockwerks]

Well I have a LJ so the proud parents are a TJ and XJ...not sure if I wanted to go there but I did :eek: :D

So I can run with one of the arms disconnected..ha!

IVe got one of the miracle discoed swaybars ordered to retrofit to th 89 xj Im starting to build tomorrow

[desertdawg]

I run with the AntiRock so my rig is better than yours!:D Plus it looks cool.:cool:

[azcharlie]

I've been thinking about getting the AR. If it does limit the flex alittle that might help with over-flexing. My LCA mounts are bent from over flexing. And sometimes I hate driving without the front sway bar.

[desertfabmotors]

I've been thinking about getting the AR. If it does limit the flex alittle that might help with over-flexing. My LCA mounts are bent from over flexing. And sometimes I hate driving without the front sway bar.

Charlie,

Do not worry about losing flex, You will not notice it unless you get out a tape measure. The AR will actually make you Jeep work better offroad.:D

[Crawldad]

I run with the AntiRock so my rig is better than yours!:D Plus it looks cool.:cool: X2
Plus I have an LJ[Wheelbase]X2 & a Longarm X2 again.
Sorry, I could'nt help myself.

Seriously though, The A.R. made my rig sway a little more onroad, but I got used to it.But it also made it a lot more stable offroad, where stability seems to be more of a problem.

[DesertRat]

I run with the AntiRock so my rig is better than yours!:D Plus it looks cool.:cool:

Ya but mine is longer :p

[DesertRat]

X2
Plus I have an LJ[Wheelbase]X2 & a Longarm X2 again.
Sorry, I could'nt help myself.

Seriously though, The A.R. made my rig sway a little more onroad, but I got used to it.But it also made it a lot more stable offroad, where stability seems to be more of a problem.



ummm...let me think about this one....
Where is Shnipe when you need him!...:rolleyes:
Be right back :D

[BaileyAZ]

Love my AR! I would not go disco again. Anti-Rocks!:D

[Jdemonto@Airpark Jeep Sales]

Well I have a LJ so the proud parents are a TJ and XJ...not sure if I wanted to go there but I did :eek: :D

So I can run with one of the arms disconnected..ha!

Mike, I would say the TJ mated with a TJL and the grandfather would definetly be the rare CJ6!!!!

Jason

[macinyart]

My $.02 based on experience. I installed quick disconnects on my YJ with leaf springs and no coils. The flex difference was huge when disconnected. Then I tried it on the highway without reconnecting and could tell no difference. Then went to a 2" suspension lift and still no difference on the highway. I think it is because the ride with the leaf springs is so bad that one can't tell the difference between connected and disconnected. Airing down offroad makes a lot more difference in the ride. So I am always disconnected now and have considered completely removing the sway bar simply for the weight issue along with the set of quick disconnects. Anybody want to make an offer? Cheap OEM swaybar? Just kidding, I doubt anyone would want that stuff anyway.

[ob1jeeper]

My $.02 based on experience. I installed quick disconnects on my YJ with leaf springs and no coils. The flex difference was huge when disconnected. Then I tried it on the highway without reconnecting and could tell no difference. Then went to a 2" suspension lift and still no difference on the highway. I think it is because the ride with the leaf springs is so bad that one can't tell the difference between connected and disconnected. Airing down offroad makes a lot more difference in the ride. So I am always disconnected now and have considered completely removing the sway bar simply for the weight issue along with the set of quick disconnects. Anybody want to make an offer? Cheap OEM swaybar? Just kidding, I doubt anyone would want that stuff anyway.


As a point of clarification... because no one has yet touched on the whys...

The purpose of a sway bar has SIGNIFICANTLY less to do with controlling vehicle lean (or sway) offroad, than it does with controling the lateral traction in emergency highway speed maneuvers, for the axle on which it is placed.

For example, if the suspension on either axle is so torsionally stiff, that it does not allow body lean (or axle articulation)... THEN, under a severe lateral force maneuver (sharp turns like lane changes), the result will be that the tire that is on the inside of the turn during this emergency maneuver, will be lifted upwards reducing the normal force of the tire on the pavement, and the lateral traction of that tire and axle assembly.

If that happes to the rear axle, the axle will slide sideways, and cause OVERSTEER, which is when the vehicle turns more shaprly than the input intended by the driver. Vehicles which have oversteering tendencies swap ends readily... IE: no matter what the driver does, once it begins to swap ends, it happens SO QUICKLY, that only in RARE instances is the driver anything more than a spectator once that occurrs.

If this torsional stiffness is instead placed on the front suspension, THEN... the inside FRONT tire will lift first, causing the front axle to loose lateral traction, and begin to wash out... This creates the condition known as UNDERSTEER, in which case NO amount of additive steering inputs to try to make the vehicle turn will do any good, because the limit of lateral traction has been reached, and the vehicle simply tends to "plow" out of the turn, trying to go straight as opposed to turning.

To put this into perspective, once you remove the front sway bar, you LOWER the front roll stiffness, and thereby upset the vehicle's roll stiffness balance, such that it the REAR roll stiffness is now higher than the fronts, and as a result the vehicle becomes a one that has SIGNIFICANT amounts of OVERSTEER... IE: in an emergency lane change or evasive maneuvers at highway speeds, it will swap ends quicker than you can possibly imagine, or will be able to control...

BOTTOM LINE... It is significantly safer to RECONNECT the front swaybar when done playing offroad...;)

[Wayco]

Or don't make radical lane changes at highway speeds...:rolleyes:
I put on the Currie anti-rock last year and immediately benefited on loose climbing situations. When I installed them, the rods connecting the arms were a little long, so the horizontal arms tilted up, adding more articulation when dropping your wheel into a hole. I like it this way and have not shortened the rod like some have.

[SavageSun4x4]

When I installed them, the rods connecting the arms were a little long, so the horizontal arms tilted up
I assume you mean the arms that are parallel to the ground, if so, they should point up at approx a 15 degree angle.

[Wayco]

Yes Don, here, this pic might help. Mine are showing about 20 degrees. Even at full stuff, the arms don't touch anything, so I don't see any reason to shorten the rods.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y126/allands/IMG_2683.jpg?t=1170693672

[SavageSun4x4]

Yes Don, here, this pic might help. Mine are showing about 20 degrees. Even at full stuff, the arms don't touch anything, so I don't see any reason to shorten the rods.


You are in good shape on that:)

[Washington_XJ]

Question: Whats the disadvantage of not using sway bars when on the road. I forgot to connect mine once and drove all the way home - can this damage something?

[GLEN REAMS]

Question: Whats the disadvantage of not using sway bars when on the road. I forgot to connect mine once and drove all the way home - can this damage something?

no it wont damage anything i run with out sway bars it just makes it a little more sloppy on the road

[aszaunmi]

It can be more tippy and could cause an out of control situation. If you stomp on your brakes hard or attempt to dart one way to avoid a car or hazard in the road.

Andrew

[joshsteele99]

Don't do sharp u-turns without them on the road... I lifted the front wheel about five inches off the ground doing a quick u-turn... Scared the crap out of me, I made a button on the seat :)

[daniel]

Don't do sharp u-turns without them on the road... I lifted the front wheel about five inches off the ground doing a quick u-turn... Scared the crap out of me, I made a button on the seat :)

that makes live funner with out the sway arms:aagh:

[The Ben]

I use mine as little as possible,I think it makes it alot more fun without them on the the road as long as you antisipate the extra body roll,

[AZLugz]

I disco at Air down on my LJ, but I have forgotten to connect a couple times (like others have said), BUT, with the RE Superflex SA kit on this thing, it sways way too much at road speeds and even changing lanes is spooky so I always re-connect now, I have been looking at that one from Skyjacker tho, looks GOOT


My Samurai however....."what is a Swaybar"....That was never got put back on when the 3" lift leaves went on and it drives fine

[AZG23]

I used to run it without reconnecting...but I think it makes the tires wear differently. I normally reco when I get home...since I DD it alot.

[Crawldit]

No sway bars front or rear. I removed the front on purpose and Lower Terminator was nice enough to relieve me of my rear sway bar. It was really scary at first but since I switched to Rancho 9k's I just run the shocks at full stiff on road and the body roll is nearly non-existent.

[Fire Ball]

Sway bar? What sway bar :D

I have a nice set of disconnects rolling around under my seats :D

[Allen]

I have discos on the jeep! I connect them if I'm going on the freeway! Other than that they are disconnected!

[1BLKJP]

I actually did see enough of a loss of flex with my Anti-Rock after I switched to the RK setup that I just took it off and sold it. Also ditched the rear a couple months ago and am much happier with it off road in all situations. Climbing, off camber, etc..... Keeping a tire on the ground had significantly helped me in a lot of situations that I use to have to rely on one tire to do all the work.

Honestly there is a pretty significant difference on the road with both of them gone. However my TJ is not going to be on the road for very long so I'm not worried about it. It has made for a couple of fun rides down from Payson however. :D It's cool when you make it almost half way thru a curve before the body catches up with the rest of the rig. :D

[Papa Mo]

I used to disconnect at air down then reconnect...but since I broke one of the disco's I stay disconnected all the time...much more sloppy on the road but has taught me to slow down and remember she is not a race car shes a JEEP!!!

[amber.hodge]

I use mine as little as possible,I think it makes it alot more fun without them on the the road as long as you antisipate the extra body roll...I especially love letting my wife drive the jeep and not warning her about the sway bars being disconnected. She really gets a kick out of being all dressed up and getting grease all over herself reconnecting them in a parking lot.

fixed it for ya, Jerkface McJerkerton :wub::rolleyes:

I vote swaybars on pavement, no swaybars off. :D

[lancetkenyon]

None....ever....at all.........F/R........ever...........never.........at any time..........

[jperez]

this may sound like a dumb question, although I am a noo-b and entitled to thes sorts of questions...

Are your chances of rolling your Jeep higher, when wheelin off road with out a sway bar?:confused:

[jperez]

bump....

[lancetkenyon]

Depends on the situation. In very severe off camber situations, there might be a little bit more of a chance of flopping. You get more body roll with no swaybars, which may pull your Jeep over.

This is over 50* offcamber, which is about as far as you want to go. No swaybars at all.

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16692&stc=1&d=1198197569

...but you will never get flex like this with swaybars connected.

http://www.virtualjeepclub.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=16693&stc=1&d=1198197569

[jperez]

HOLY @#&^! now thats what im talkin about!!!

Thanks for answering that ? Lancetkenyon

[brian lujan]

i run connected on the road but when off road disconnected and i've taken off the rear swaybar all together:yes:

[TomHatch]

You can get a lot of flex out of the AntiRock--ie. ramp over 1000. Also, swaybars do more than mitigate body roll; don't forget about traction.

http://lh3.google.com/tommyhatch/R2sqwzTYnoI/AAAAAAAABPc/2j1UOztcKJk/PICT3294.JPG?imgmax=512

Note that the tire is stuffed all the way into the fender. This was taken before my flat fenders were installed. My tire now rubs on the tube edge of my flat fenders.
http://lh6.google.com/tommyhatch/R2sq9jTYnpI/AAAAAAAABPk/O8Iv6mwimiI/PICT3295.JPG?imgmax=512

[lancetkenyon]

What have you noted with a traction advantage? I honestly feel 4 wheels on the ground always have better traction than 3 wheels. I can ramp around 1300 without swaybars, and traction is phenomenal. But a ramp is not real world experience.

[misfittom138]

I had the teraflex swaybar setup. It was nice. Turn the dial and it works better than antirock in my opinion, turn it back and it works like stock swaybar.

[TomHatch]

What have you noted with a traction advantage? I honestly feel 4 wheels on the ground always have better traction than 3 wheels. I can ramp around 1300 without swaybars, and traction is phenominal. But a ramp is not real world experience.

Anti-rock and others use a torsion bar through the front cross member. The torsion bar acts like a spring forcing the front tires down during articulation. As one tire drops in a hole, the torsion bar sends downward force to the other side of the axle increasing traction. Taking before and after measurements, my AntiRock kit took around an inch of flex away; but, I'll trade that for less body roll and possibly better traction. I agree with you 100% that 4 on the ground is better but have yet to notice anytime an inch of flex would have helped me with that.

My flex is limited in part by my lift size. I am only running the RE 3.5 springs (with no body lift) while you have the RE 5.5 springs. My front tires stuff all they way to my tube fenders. To get more flex, I need to create more room for the tire to stuff into (ie a body lift or the 4.5 or 5.5 springs). Once a Jeep gets as tall as yours, the AntiRock may limit flex in a noticeable way. I only brought up the ramp because mall crawlers or noobs who read this thread know what 1000 means on the ramp.

I ran Willow Springs on a Saturday, installed the Anti-rock during the next week, and ran Willow Springs again the next Saturday. I was really impressed with the stability of the cab during off camber lines and how it felt while the front end cycled through the rock gardens.

When are we going out again! :smug:

[lancetkenyon]

I would say it is your SHOCKS that are limiting your flex, not the length of your springs(lift height). Install longer ones, with a touch more bump stop and you will get way more droop. Much better articulation, even with the anti-rock.

[lancetkenyon]

And we can wheel anytime! I am thinking about the NY weekend. PM me.

[Sedona Jeep School]

I am too lazy to get out and disconnect every time, so when the JK's came out with push-button discos, I was golden! The anti-rocks are great, too--used them for years on TJ's--even tour Jeeps. And you don't have to worry about the wiring harness like you do on the JK's! ;)

[DesertX04]

I've wheeled with and without swaybars, and with antirock. I prefer the antirock over disconnected. I really don't think one has an advantage over the other as far as how far your Jeep can go, but I definately prefer the handling of antirock.

[cdhowell]

A lot has to do with spring rate as well and shock valving. I have the Skyjacker coils which are a little stiffer than most and see no difference when disconnected. But i have disco's on the rear and really tell a difference since I removed a bottom leaf.