is it common place to remove the swaybar on trackers?  i've read this a couple places and just wondering what the benefits are and most importantly(because i know what one benefit would be) what the cons are to it if any? 

mike

Yes, it's very common.
you'll barely notice it's gone.
Makes a softer ride too.
BTW: mines lifted and I've removed them

I personaly would not remove it with stock worn springs/struts... But if your struts are good and you have good spring, take it off. It is a nicer ride, better flex/droop, with only minor body lean like on on-ramps. But c'mon this ins't a sports car, you learn to live with it... 

I don't own a vehicle with a swaybar, it's one of the first things I remove from my 4x4's.

I've taken it off of high mileage stock Trackers and my lifted Tracker didn't come to me with one so I can say I don't see the need for one at all.  They drive fine without one.  Your springs and struts would have to be so old, worn out, and rusted that they were virtually completely useless to make a difference.

Its pretty subjective, I didn't like the way mine handled with no swaybar even with new shocks and struts on a 6000 mile vehicle. When I fitted 1 1/2" wheel spacers the handling was restored to stock. I had the spacers from another project so it didn't cost if I was going to pay money I would get offset rims. It doesn't take long to put the swaybar back on so give it a go and see how it feels to you.

cool, thanks guys.  i'm going to take it off and see how it goes for now,  then when i get my strut mounts flipped and my spring spacers in i'll see how that is too... 

mike

If you just want to see if you like it, just un-do the link from the A-arm, and flip it up, no need to completely take it off(it's only a 12mm nut per link, easy to do). I did this with mine to see if I would notice a difference.... I broke the links away from the bar, so there was no turning back for me. Good thing I didn't notice a difference in handling

Does doing this give you noticably more flex?

Does doing this give you noticably more flex?

I noticed a big difference with mine off, I tested it out on a loading ramp at work.
I don't have any strut extensions in in these pics, I know it's not worthy of a flex picture, but I really wanted to see what happened without a sway bar, before the front would not move separatly like this, it would a little, but not this much.

The simple difference in the amount of road vibrations and road "feel" that you DON'T get with the bar off makes it a worthwhile mod.

well i took my swaybar off my tracker last evening and took it to the store today and i immediately noticed an improvement going down my driveway.  but my driveway is about 1/4 mile long and all stone/shell.  at one part there's a ditch the water has dug going across the driveway and before it was a really jolting bump to cross but now it didn't feel like such a jolt.  also i noticed that when i drove one side up onto the side of the driveway which is higher than the driveway that the tracker didn't tilt as it did before but the suspension actually got to do some work.  over all i like it,  can't tell that much of a difference on the road but i'm certain it's a big improvement for off roading.

mike

I recently took mine off as well and the difference is quite noticeable, in a good way. Way nicer ride on the street and off-road it is MUCH improved.

Jeff

I had mine off for a while. the ride was really soft and off road the front suspension was so active and nice I couldn't believe it and my suspension was stock! it was really fun to slolom it with people in it cause it would freak them out. it really leaned far. there were a few times going over rail road tracks on a corner and stuff that it felt iffy. probably mostly cause my rear shocks were stock and crap. I put it back on and it goes around corners much much better and I feel much mor ecomfortable at higher speeds. I personally think it's best to have disconnects on sway bars so you can have the stability on the road and have the suspension actually work off road cause you'd be amazed how much teh sway bar freezes up the stock suspension. I'd try and find a way to disconnect it cause my 2nd gen was pretty tippy feeling without the sway bar.. (not as bad as I thought it would be though)

Bah.  Wuss.

My wife has driven ours without the bar for almost a year now and she thinks she's Mario Andretti.

NO, YOU SHOULD NOT TAKE IT OFF....

In fact, it would be wise of you to carry a spare when you go offroad because it's the most commonly broken part on trackers.  I can sell you a good replacement if you like.  Comes with everything you need so that you will be able to continue your wheeling adventure and not have to bow out like the Jeeps do...


Just kidding.  I think everyone takes them off as soon as they get any sort of lift out of the springs.