Front sway bar on/off?

[hunterdan]

Pulled my front end links as a test. I'm running factory 2021 rebel front struts and springs on my 2019 classic. There's a massive difference in ride quality. It rides so much smoother and far less harsh. There's a definite increase in body roll, but I haven't driven it on the highway to see how stable it is/isn't, particularly on emergency maneuvers. Ideally, I'd like to have the front sway bar connected for better cornering, but the vast improvement in ride quality and reduction in harshness is hard to ignore. I saw these for jeeps and sxs's and honestly look like the ideal solution, just would be nice if they had something similar for our trucks.
airLYNX - Jeep JL/JT/JK (Front) – Apex Performance Products https://share.google/0V6eplNtB4L6qG2TC

 

[olyelr]

If those are what they look like, basically a shock, then i dont see the real benefit. It would pretty much be like installing a very weak sway bar. Would give a little more articulation and more sway.

If you are enjoying the ride with it disconnected, i would just get quick disconnect ones. Could leave them off most of the time and then lock hook them back up when you wanna go into sport mode.

 

[hunterdan]

If those are what they look like, basically a shock, then i dont see the real benefit. It would pretty much be like installing a very weak sway bar. Would give a little more articulation and more sway.

If you are enjoying the ride with it disconnected, i would just get quick disconnect ones. Could leave them off most of the time and then lock hook them back up when you wanna go into sport mode.

They're like air shocks, at 300 psi, they're fully locked. Not exactly sure what you use to get to 300 psi, but haven't looked that far into it.

 

[hunterdan]

They do have them for the 2500, pricey though at $670.

 

[dieselscout80]

I don’t know if any on board air system(s) can produce 300 psi, so how do you air them up fully?

 

[Docwagon1776]

It's one of those things that's never an issue until it's an issue. If you need to swerve in an emergency, you're increasing your risk of a rollover if things go wrong since more uncontrolled body roll is shifting your center of gravity further and faster. If that modicum is risk is worth it is an open question, and maybe one that's only truly answerable in hindsight.

 

[DILLIGAF]

IFS truks won't roll over because the front sway bar is removed... LoL... If that was the case I should've been on my roof at least 100 times in the last 5y...

I don't have a rear sway bar either

 

[rzr6-4]

Neither of my trucks have a front sway bar. My RAM is a completely different animal to yours but my Sierra is also an IFS 1500.

Thanks to the local cr@ckhead and elderly populations, I've had to do emergency maneuvers a number of times and honestly in the moment you don't even notice it. Some of the highways around here have some pretty sharp corners and you can feel it but it's not a problem.

 

[Docwagon1776]

IFS truks won't roll over because the front sway bar is removed... LoL... If that was the case I should've been on my roof at least 100 times in the last 5y...

I don't have a rear sway bar either

Of course they won't roll because the sway bar was removed any more than having a sway bar makes them immune to rollovers.

But they will roll *easier* without a sway bar than with one. Body roll that's faster and goes further provides both increased inertia and shifts the center of gravity further. It's beyond intelligent debate that that make the vehicle roll over easier just as much as adding weight high up on a rack vs the same weight down low in the bed will, and for the same reasons.

Note I'm not saying it's a risk that's significant enough to not do it if you choose, simply that it is an increased risk.

 

[hunterdan]

If it were just a slight improvement in ride, I wouldn't even debate it and run the sway bar, but it's a massive difference. It went from being overly harsh to being compliant and almost pleasant over the same potholes and rough roads. Perhaps that's a product of having an end link that's too short causing preload on the swaybar, but like I said it's a night and day difference with/without connected. I plan to run it a few days and few trips back and forth to work to see how it handles. If I don't like how it handles the highway or roundabouts, I'll put them back on.

 

[Docwagon1776]

Neither of my trucks have a front sway bar. My RAM is a completely different animal to yours but my Sierra is also an IFS 1500.

Thanks to the local cr@ckhead and elderly populations, I've had to do emergency maneuvers a number of times and honestly in the moment you don't even notice it. Some of the highways around here have some pretty sharp corners and you can feel it but it's not a problem.

Generally vehicles don't have enough traction to roll just from a swerve on flat ground at anything like sane speeds and more gentle steering input. they'll slide first. Modern cars with stability control help as well, of course...but push them to the limit and:



Or this Grand Cherokee:

Jeep Grand Cherokee moose test -- the full story

All performed moose tests with Jeep Grand Cherokee. All failed.The full story and figures at: http://www.teknikensvarld.se/jeepmoosetest-part4/

www.youtube.com

The bigger issue is when they swerve and the tire catches something during the lateral movement. Slight impact with what they were trying to avoid, slide into a curb, that sort of thing. Then the vehicle becomes a lever and if the CoG is already shifted in that direction it's going to roll at a lower speed than a vehicle that hit it "flat". The vast majority of single car roll over incidents I've seen have involved hitting a hole or a curb during the maneuver, and often with a blown tire as well.

Some incidents, you're going to roll no matter what. Some you won't no matter what. There's going to be some stripe in the middle were flat handling would have made the difference.

 

[DA67Goatman]

...the power wagon and jeep rubicon have have electronic disconnecting front swaybars for years...

 

[Wild one]

Cars didn't really start getting swaybars till the late 60's/early 70's,and alot of trucks didn't get swaybars until the late 70's ,and they didn't start putting rear bars on 1/2 tons until the 80's

 

[Docwagon1776]

...the power wagon and jeep rubicon have have electronic disconnecting front swaybars for years...

Yeah, but the nanny locks it back up if you go too fast. I think its a touch over 20mph in mine.