Yes and no! You can get away with out them, but if you run with the swaybar disconnected, the next limiting factor is the brake line (actually the shock and the brake line max out at the same time). If you flex the suspension just right, you can tear the inner liner of the hose and cause it to start leaking (I did this twice on each side with my old X). If you don't disconnect the sway bar you will be fine. If you do, remember there is a chance of damaging the line.