Sway Bar Disconnects

KJRenny · **Joined:** Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:52 pm **Posts:** 72

does anyone make a quick disconnect swaybar end link that will work with ours? Or do I have to make one?
Or... is there anyone on here not running sway bars at all?

jpzkj · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2005 9:31 pm

KJRenny wrote:

does anyone make a quick disconnect swaybar end link that will work with ours? Or do I have to make one?
Or... is there anyone on here not running sway bars at all?

Some of us are running no rear sway bar.

There is not a commercially available front disco for the KJ yet. Be careful when experiementing with a front disco...it's much different to disco an IFS vehicle than a solid axle vehicle. (read" potentially more dangerous' )

KJRenny · **Joined:** Wed Oct 19, 2005 10:52 pm **Posts:** 72

How does it handle with no rear sway?

also I want the front disconnect for offroad/flex purposees... i figure its got to help the front end to move completly independantly

daddio · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2005 10:21 pm

I ran trails my first year with the front sway bar connected, and was disappointed with a couple instances of being stopped by what looked like minor articulation challenges. So over the winter I was busy shopping for a rear locker to solve 'the problem. '

The second year we experimented with the front disconnected (test runs and Ciff's, real runs at Camp Jeep, Jeep Jamboree Paragon, etc.). We were amazed at the spectacular increase in performance. We have since shelved the idea of lockers as unnecessary! Just disconnecting the front took care of all our needs (short of a modest lift that is). It is well worth the minutes under the car before and after the trail. No doubts. We ran into a second Libby owner who did and felt the same, and read enough happy praise in LOST trail stories to seal the case.

I have painted up the parts I remove with marks and arrows that show 'front' and 'up' and even the upper and lower torque specs for when I put them back on. And unlike my Grand, the Libby has enough clearance around the bolts for a wrench and a torque wrench, without having to jack it up. So only a blanket is needed to lay on.

Once I had only a couple miles to the trailhead from the hotel, and decided to 'loosen' the bolts before driving there, to save some minutes before the sunrise run. I was afraid of driving even the straight road without the front sway, for fear of having to dodge a deer or something and rolling over. But the slightly 'loosened' (imagine 20ftlb instead of 100) bolts made a heck of a racket on every bump.

So I ran back to the hotel after the trail without the bar connected as an experiment, and lived. :-)

It wasn't nearly as bad as I thought. My TJ gets way, way more 'drunk' when disconnected than the Libby. But I still won't do a highway or anything too far or too fast.

Photos from the more violent runs show the rear axle is flexing impressively as is. So we have not felt yet the need to disconnect back there.

Eddo · **Joined:** Thu Jul 07, 2005 7:01 pm **Posts:** 1214

I run the front disco'ed all the time when I wheel. I think it definitely makes a difference, atleast enough for me to crawl under there and take the whole thing off everytime. You get pretty darn efficient at it after a couple times. Takes as little as about 3 minutes when you get good. That is the time it takes to air down/air up.

I really don't recommend runing with the front off on the road, eventhough a ton of people do it more off than they should. If you have to just make sure you go slow and know what to expect.

lilmatty · **Posted:** Tue Dec 13, 2005 11:24 pm

I guess the simple rule for those just entering this discussion to to not disco in front on road, ever. Search this board for long a hairy discussions as to why.

As far as a quick disco product goes there is none that anyone wants to sell because of the safety issues. Having said that the quick disco is to remove the whole thing before trailing and putting it back on after. Its easy; 6 18mm nuts and you're rockin'.

The rear disco: I'd recommend trying it with and without and see how it feels to you. With my lift and 245s on steel Cragars the back end just sits down nice and pretty. Not going to win any road rallys in a KJ anyhow. :roll:

As far as front flex when disco'ed just take a look at my avatar for an example.

TheChucklesStart · **Posted:** Wed Dec 14, 2005 12:07 am

It also "feels" like discoing the front helps the back stay on the ground and keep the jeep more level during adventures.

Eddo was with me the first time I removed mine, and it made a world of a difference.

Only thing you have to remember, remove the swaybar on a level surface. It is really picky and you can't just force it in like you might be able to do on a thinner sway bar.

lilmatty · **Posted:** Wed Dec 14, 2005 12:12 am

And put it back on on a level, paved surface.

USAFCOP · **Posted:** Wed Dec 14, 2005 12:42 am

Are you guys removing the end links or the whole assembly links bar and all?

lilmatty · **Posted:** Wed Dec 14, 2005 12:56 am

links, bars, and all. 6 nutz.

CarNutCertifies · **Posted:** Fri Dec 16, 2005 2:10 pm

looks like this is going much better than when i asked..... :wink:

Guyute1210 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 16, 2005 5:19 pm

CarNutCertifies wrote:

looks like this is going much better than when i asked..... :wink:

Yeah really...my first thought was "UT-OH, here we go again!"

Sway Bar Disconnects

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