Sway Bar Upgrades

[Jeckles]

What is the collective wisdom and experience of this board concerning upgraded sway bars and/or bushings.

I want to improve handling, but don't want to sacrafice too much comfort or capability.

Explorer Express has bushings, but says they don't do a whole lot. They recommend one of several sway bar kits of varying diameters.

If you've upgraded or replaced your sway bars, I'd like some feedback. Please include bar diameters if you have em.

 

[Gopher]

I have a 94 and have the biggest sway bar that xplorer xpress sells. I have both the front and back with the poly bushings. All i can say is that it is a HUGE improvement. When you compare the stock to the ones from explorer express. Theres just no comparison. The front sway bar lifted my truck a little too. The biggest difference is the turning. It handles like a car.(well very close). If i had to do it all over again i would. My dad even loved them and couldn't believe the difference in the truck. The sway bars definelty help more now that my truck has a lift on it. Makes it a little more stable. A definite thumbs up for the sway bars. I have the largest ones that they had. I think they were 1.375 for the front. I can't remember the exact numbers. I'll double check the numbers when i get home.

 

[Chris A Johnson]

Yes, I did the front and back sway bars and I have to say it was the single mod that I am most proud of. The SUV handles tight on corners and just feels great!

Trust me, go with a thicker sway bar and urethane bushings! Its money well spent for the enthusiast.

 

[swak6287]

i just insatlled RS5000 on my 99 xlt. now am thinking of thicker swaybar cause the truck still rocks. my question is, how will it affect off road performance? i do some offroading, nothing major. will it affect flexing on the wheels? i did not know that there is sway bar at the front. is that standard for 99 xlt 4x2 4 door?

 

[Chris A Johnson]

Hopefully someone can help you--i'm not hip on your year. My 95 has them on the front and back. I am going to quickly assume it makes total sense that you do too.

I am thinking the sway bars would probably be even more beneficial for the offroading. I'm not sure if it helps in the 'bottom out' category or not but when you consider the fact one end could be lifted up high and another not (like a rock on the right) then I am simply guessing it would help--i'm not a big offroader sticking to trails--no qualms there.

 

[Ray Lobato]

Chris,
Sway bars actually hamper your truck in off roading. Your 95 has a independant front suspension, but the sway bars do not allow this to happen. The sway bars keep both wheels tied together. What you want to do is disconnect your sway bars when you are off roading.

Jeckles,
Ploy bushings WILL stiffen up the ride alot more than Explorer Express would want to admit. going into a turn, that OEM rubber bushing will deform and flex first before the sway bar starts to flex.

 

[Chris A Johnson]

I always love learning new things--as I admit i'm not a big offroader. Thanks for the insight!

Yeah, I have poly bushings and thicker sway bar which is right on the money for city driving.

 

[swak6287]

what is the cheapest and thickest swaybar u guys know that i can get? i have a 99 xlt 4door 4x2 with rancho 5000

 

[Jeckles]

New Bushings

Ray was right! The new urethan bushings did stiffen up the ride quite a bit. It feels like a perfect compromise for street and off-road use. Any stiffer and I think I'd need some sway bar disconnects for off-roading.

Thicker bars would still improve things, but I don't recommend them for off-road unless you install disconnects too. I'm glad I didn't let Explorer Express talk me out of the bushing upgrades! They were exactly what I needed.

Happy motoring..