Anti-swaybar disconnects

[mental_help]

Disconnecting the stock sway bar like it wont mess up any parts now will it? Also if I disconnect it will it give me more travel?

 

[cgriffin_5139]

do quick disconects

 

[mental_help]

Where could I get some at? Also could I disconnect them with out the quick disconnects for now and not mess any thing up and still get more travel?

 

[IZwack]

mental_help I'm going to rename your thread, please use Titles that arent open-ended questions.

 

[mental_help]

Sorry about that.

 

[IZwack]

Thanks mental_help!

 

[mental_help]

your Welcome.

 

[cgriffin_5139]

Parts List under $10
edit
1. 2 7/16’’ x 2 1/2’’ ajustable clevis pins
2. 2 pull pins (same size as the hole in the clevis pin)
3. 8 7/16’’ washers
4 1/2'' washers


Unbolt the links from the sway bar and frame. You will notice the bottom bolt is pressed in. The top has a nut which has a frame clip, take it off. Flip the link over and bolt it in to the frame using the existing hardware. This will be a little of a pain and you need a washer for a spacer being that the bolt is bit to long. After bolt in up the bottom hole should match up as before. Now take your clevis pin, slip on a washer slide it through both the link and the sway bar. Use two or three more washers for spacing and put in the pin. There your done!

 

[glfredrick]

To answer a couple of your questions...

1. Yes, you will gain a LOT more travel up front. Especially if you also cut off the front shock mounts and replace them with F250 mounts, use WAY longer shocks, and also add a set of Superduty brake lines. Make sure you cage the top of the springs, or you will spit them out on the trail.

2. No, it won't mess up any other parts.

3. It will affect handling on the street. Not so much off-road, and in fact, it will ride softer with it disconnected.

4. DO make a set of quick connects. You will likely want it hooked back up for street use.

You can get some fairly awesome front end travel of you do that stuff. Might have to address steering though...

 

[mental_help]

Parts List under $10
edit
1. 2 7/16’’ x 2 1/2’’ ajustable clevis pins
2. 2 pull pins (same size as the hole in the clevis pin)
3. 8 7/16’’ washers
4 1/2'' washers


Unbolt the links from the sway bar and frame. You will notice the bottom bolt is pressed in. The top has a nut which has a frame clip, take it off. Flip the link over and bolt it in to the frame using the existing hardware. This will be a little of a pain and you need a washer for a spacer being that the bolt is bit to long. After bolt in up the bottom hole should match up as before. Now take your clevis pin, slip on a washer slide it through both the link and the sway bar. Use two or three more washers for spacing and put in the pin. There your done!

How many 1/2'' washers?

 

[cgriffin_5139]

How many 1/2'' washers?

10

 

[Stic-o]

I was gonna say, i thought there was a write up i did forever ago

 

[mental_help]

I have bin looking around and it seems if I unhook my rear sway bar it wont make a difference in control or ride even on the high way but it will still give me flex....is this true?

 

[cgriffin_5139]

No you want the control on the highway, like when going around a high speed corner at 65-70 mph. With sway bar discos you un hook them when wheeling, then hook them back up when done wheeling it thaks 5 min tops.

 

[mental_help]

I was all set for doing this mod but when I go to start my truck up to go get the stuff my battery was dead....it sucks

Also will your mod work for the rear sway bar to?

And 1 more thing will this work on my 94 explorer because I see you have a gen 2?

 

[cgriffin_5139]

Also will your mod work for the rear sway bar to?

i think so

 

[glfredrick]

The mod will work with any sway bar that has links.

For instance, it will not work with some Ranger and BII front sway bars because they are mounted from the rear of the radius arms, and there are no links. These type bars need to be removed and can be replaced with the Explorer version that has links and mounts to the front of the axle arms.

The rear poses a bit of a problem in figuring out a way to tie up the bar, which is mounted to the axle instead of to the frame.

I'd say just get rid of it and don't worry. Some heavy duty shocks will do as much as that bar does anyway. Unless you are towing heavy stuff you won't even miss it.

As far as running on the freeway at speed without bars attached... Well...

I do, but I know my vehicle, what it does, and how to drive it. It is NOT a sports car. You don't go "throwing" it into a corner and expect to live. It doesn't work that way with a loose suspension. You enter a corner, then "drive" the vehicle around the corner with a correct application of throttle to jack the weight where it needs to be. This is a basic race car driving skill, but I've watched a WHOLE bunch of people drive all around me that haven't a clue how it works. I learned it while living in Wisconsin and driving about 1/3 the year on glare ice...

With that being said, I'd expect that I can drive next to a linked-up Explorer at the same speeds and perhaps more with my "loose" version (I also have soft springs!). I also tow, etc., with the truck, and its not as if I don't drive it... We live in Louisville, KY and the truck has been to Florida, Wisconsin (just last weekend) Utah, Pennsylvania, and all points between. It is "soft" enough that I can pull it side-to-side by hand close to a foot... But again, I know how to drive my vehicle and have over 1.5 million miles experience, including off-road racing, SCCA racing, OTR trucking, etc.

 

[mental_help]

If i kept just my back sway bar unhooked would it make that much of a difrence on highway driving?

 

[glfredrick]

If i kept just my back sway bar unhooked would it make that much of a difrence on highway driving?

Nope...

Think about it. Probably 90% of all vehicles made don't even have a rear anti-sway bar from the factory.

Leaf springs are very resistant to sway, in any case. Is the street handling better because of the bar? Yes. Is it something you will miss? Likely not. Just dump if if you are looking for off-road travel.

Here's another couple of pics of a 1st gen with no bars in action.

 

[little x]

I haven't had a front or rear bar for over a year. My truck sways side to side more, but it's a more controlled body roll and easier to anticipate handling. It also gives a nice ride over bumps.