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who runs a sway bar?

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Offline igaug

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who runs a sway bar?
« on: May 16, 2010, 09:24:48 PM »
does anyone use their swaybar on their samurai's? or just trash them?

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Bobthebiker

Re: who runs a sway bar?
« Reply #1 on: May 16, 2010, 09:37:42 PM »
mine is still on there.  I just dont really want to bother with crawling under there and uninstalling it really is all.

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Offline igaug

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Re: who runs a sway bar?
« Reply #2 on: May 17, 2010, 12:16:45 AM »
do you ever notice is to limit flex? is your samurai lifted?

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Offline doughboy0379

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Re: who runs a sway bar?
« Reply #3 on: May 17, 2010, 01:05:38 AM »
I junked mine when I did spring over, just have to remember not to take tight turns on pavement at higher speeds, no reason to do that anyway though.
86 Samurai, SPOA, 3" HD leaf springs, 31/10.5/15 Big-O XT Tires, K&N Air Filter, Doug Thorey Header, more coming when I find the funds :)

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Offline igaug

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Re: who runs a sway bar?
« Reply #4 on: May 17, 2010, 08:07:05 AM »
why only right turns?

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Offline Drone637

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Re: who runs a sway bar?
« Reply #5 on: May 17, 2010, 12:18:58 PM »
Tight turns, not right.  :)

The sway bar ties both sides of your axles together.  This way when you are driving down the road and go around the corner it will pull the entire front end down instead of allowing the body to lean heavily to one side.  The metal is flexible so it allows some amount of twist, but it does limit your flex considerably in off-road situations.

With a disconnected sway bar, or completely removed, you have nothing to stop your body from rolling.  In a lifted vehicle with a higher center of gravity then stock this issue is amplified and can cause unsafe handing when performing high speed maneuvers.  With practice you can become used to this behavior and know that you won't be hitting that turnpike at 50mph without rolling the vehicle over.
96 Geo Tracker, x-SJ-410,  x-White Rabbit, x-Project Trouble
Crawlers NorthWest
x-Trouble Racing

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Offline igaug

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Re: who runs a sway bar?
« Reply #6 on: May 17, 2010, 08:36:09 PM »
im pretty familiar with the function of a sway bar. i had a jeep cherokee that i removed the rear one from it, it did absolutely nothing from what i could tell. as far as the front goes with lifts you would use swaybar disconnects. im new to samurai suspension and i was wondering with a spoa lift is everyone removing them, or do they make disconnects for them, or does it really limit your flex enough to bother with?  i will be installing my SPOA lift in the next two weeks or so, just wondered if it needs to be addressed or not?

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Offline doughboy0379

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Re: who runs a sway bar?
« Reply #7 on: May 18, 2010, 01:35:23 AM »
good description Drone637, I could be wrong but as far as I know there is no such thing (yet) as quick disconnects for Zuks there are "Panhard kits" available. I don't think they are meant to replace stock sway bars but they do not limit flex the way a sway bar will. If you still have questions about how much a sway bar limits you just unhook it from your axle and lift one side then hold up the bar and see if it will still reach the axle.
86 Samurai, SPOA, 3" HD leaf springs, 31/10.5/15 Big-O XT Tires, K&N Air Filter, Doug Thorey Header, more coming when I find the funds :)

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Offline igaug

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Re: who runs a sway bar?
« Reply #8 on: May 18, 2010, 09:49:58 AM »
so i guess my question is do you guys unhook them when wheeling or do have you just taken them off? do you not need to install extensions on them when using bigger springs?
« Last Edit: May 18, 2010, 01:33:30 PM by igaug »

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Offline Drone637

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Re: who runs a sway bar?
« Reply #9 on: May 18, 2010, 03:13:49 PM »
All three actually.  Most people just pull them off and drive it around for a bit, see if they really notice the difference and if it is worth keeping.  A majority of the time it stays off and is never heard from again.

If you want to pull it off at the trail, it's a pretty easy process.  Just a couple of nuts and a zip tie to keep everything lifted and out of the way.
96 Geo Tracker, x-SJ-410,  x-White Rabbit, x-Project Trouble
Crawlers NorthWest
x-Trouble Racing

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Offline igaug

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Re: who runs a sway bar?
« Reply #10 on: May 18, 2010, 08:00:15 PM »
ok ill give it a try. thanks all for the help

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Offline sunzuki

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Re: who runs a sway bar?
« Reply #11 on: May 19, 2010, 10:08:09 PM »
Not sure where eye read it, but one chap left his sway bar on after some easy mods.
He cut the sway bar in two, then welded a piece of thick pipe to one side of the sway bar after he drilled
through the other side of both the cut sway bar and pipe. He then used a pin, bolt, (your choice) to join
the two sides together. When on road, pin was in, when off road, he removed the pin so the two sides
were not connected.
Seems like a very doable compromise.
Been meaning to do it on my Callifted Zuki.
Front sway bar is off and eye don't seem to miss it.
Regards.