Disconnecting Rear Sway Bar

[99ExploratorySUV]

Hey everyone. I was probably going to just take off my rear sway bar completely. The car's a daily driver. But a year ago, my front sway bar disconnects broke off completely and I had been driving without it attached for months and hadn't known! That's been obviously fixed since then, but I don't figure that it'll affect handling too terribly since it's the rear bar and its thin and crappy. Anyway, I just wanna know if there's any other adverse consequences of removing the rear bar, such as stretched brake lines from increased flex, or other nasty things. I'm getting my shackles sometime this week, but other than that, it's stock height. I don't plan going any higher than having tt/shackles/addaleaf and 31s in the future, so let me know if this'll work out okay. Thanks

Kyle

 

[MountaineerGreen]

My rear sway bar is gone, has been for a long time. I first made quick disconnects, then realized it made little to no difference except for limited flex.

 

[storlied]

What about taking corners at sorta high speeds? Much body roll with stock leaf pack?

It being winter here, we like going out to the ice track or an empty parking lot to spin brodies n drift... I'm not gonna... roll.. am I? *gasp*

 

[aldive]

Hey everyone. I was probably going to just take off my rear sway bar completely. The car's a daily driver.

On a daily driver, I would NEVER remove the bar. In fact, I recommend an even bigger bar ( such as the offering from EE ) be added.

Explorer's need all the help they can get in the handling department.

Good luck ...

 

[storlied]

=) An EE bar with quick disconnects sounds nice right about now...

Still wondering about the questions above though..

 

[Pollarican]

Guys run stock brake lines on Explorers here with 31's and shackles/tt/spacers. I'm sure you'll be fine at stock height with no rear swaybar. From what I read it seems the front swaybar is more important in the handling department than the rear.

 

[gijoecam]

The rear brake line is in the center of the axle (OK, just off center to one side). The sway bar has no effect on the brake line length.

Removing it will make the rear of the vehicle less stable. It may not be by much, but removing it (obviously) removes the rear end's ability to inhibit sway.

Asking if it affects anything is like asking if the suspension will bounce up and down with a square tire. (Duh!??!)

-Joe

 

[Paraphoe]

If it's a daily driver, leave it on. Why would you purposely make the vehicle less stable? You didn't really post any reason for wanting to take it off, and on a daily driver, I don't really think there is. With the history of the Explorer, I'd err on the side of caution and leave it on.

 

[carlover]

Ive had mine off on my DD for quite some time now. However i have been thinking of putting it back on and doing some simple road testing to see how/what it affects with it on/off. Im lifted on 33's so we will see how it affects things.

 

[99ExploratorySUV]

Well, I was mainly asking because I've heard it helps with axle articulation while off-roading. However, I see that even you guys with some of the lifted trucks have left it on, I guess the safe bet would be to do the same for now, and maybe figure out some sort of quick disconnect system. Thanks for all the input guys, I appreciate it!

Kyle

 

[99ExploratorySUV]

Paraphoe, that's a sweet ride you got there, and whereabouts in Jersey are you located? I'm down in South Jersey, Voorhees, dunno if you've ever heard of it.

 

[Paraphoe]

99,

Not to hijack the thread, check out this forum sub section:

http://www.explorerforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=59

We have a lotta Jersey stuff goin on in there.

 

[storlied]

Mine is my DD, but I do some mild off-roading too.
I guess I'll be making some quick disconnects.

 

[Silver X]

You don't really even need quick disconnects for the rear. The end links are really easy to disconnect with just one wrench....or ratchet and socket if you prefer. Its just a few extra seconds.

 

[storlied]

Could disconnecting it on the track screw up my handling pretty bad?

 

[Silver X]

You actually want a rear bar at the track. It helps keep the vehicle launching level (side to side). Removing the front bar is fine at the track though.

 

[storlied]

By track, I mean the ice track.. in which there are lots of crazy random turns.. fyi..

 

[aldive]

Could disconnecting it on the track screw up my handling pretty bad?

Why would one want to do that?

 

[Silver X]

OK, my last comment was assuming racing at a drag strip, since that's mostly where people with Explorers run them. Very rare to see Explorers raced around any turns.

Anyway, If you're racing on any kind of track with turns, you'll need both bars...preferably stiffer than stock if available. Stiffer springs too.
You don't want the body wallowing around, trying to tip over.

 

[storlied]

Well considering it's an ice track, I can drift easily.. so it's not like the top is rolling over while the tires are sticking to the ground...

Aldive, the track is surrounded by nothing but off-road trails n whatnot.. lots of hills to climb and other obstacles so that's why I was asking.. I guess..