The sway bar is a suspension component found on many four-wheel-drive vehicles. A sway bar performs two functions: it reduces body roll and helps maintain traction. This article will discuss the uses of your vehicle’s sway bar, as well as the benefits of installing one if you do not have one installed already.
Sway bar/Anti-roll bar
An anti-roll bar is a part of many automobile suspension systems, which help reduce the body roll of a vehicle during fast cornering or over road irregularities.
Your sway bar is an essential piece of off-road hardware. It helps keep your Jeep stable on the trail by fighting excessive body roll. When driving over rough terrain, your suspension moves up and down to absorb the bumps. This movement can cause your Jeep to lean sideways, making it more difficult to control. The sway bar prevents this from happening by keeping the body level.
The main benefit of having a sway bar is increased traction. Your vehicle can better grip the ground when your Jeep isn’t fighting against excessive body roll. This means you’ll be able to traverse rougher terrain more quickly and with greater control.
When off-road, it’s often helpful to have as much wheel travel as possible. Disconnecting your sway bar is one way to improve traction on the trail. By disconnecting your sway bar, you allow the suspension to move more freely and absorb bumps and obstacles in its path. However, this also makes your vehicle less stable, so it’s essential to use caution when driving in such a configuration.
A disconnected sway bar also affects how your Jeep handles on the road. Without the bar, the body will roll more freely, making the vehicle difficult to control at high speeds. For this reason, it’s not recommended to drive your Jeep on paved roads without the sway bar connected.
Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to disconnect your sway bar comes down to personal preference and how you plan to use your Jeep. If you’re primarily interested in off-road driving, then leaving the sway bar disconnected is a good option. However, if you’ll also be using your Jeep on paved roads, it’s best to keep it connected.
Off-road Disconnected
Off-road disconnects are used to provide more traction off-road when one side of the vehicle is raised. The sway bar attaches at one end to a link that lowers with increasing suspension droop on that side (for example, if it’s located between front struts). A longer stock arm or rod can be used so both sides will still have even height – an adjustable rear track bar is ideal for this purpose.
The Jeep Wrangler Rubicon comes from the factory with a bar disconnected from the vehicle. This is done by removing a bolt that holds it to the frame and then hanging it down. When off-road, this can be helpful due to the extra traction you now have on one side of the Jeep. The downside is that you lose some stability and handling you have on the pavement when the bar is reconnected.
If your sway bar/anti-roll bar does not disconnect from the vehicle, there are other ways to achieve a similar result. One way is to remove or cut the end link(s) to hang loose. By doing this, you will effectively “disconnect” the sway bar from the suspension while still keeping it attached to the vehicle. This method should only be done by someone who knows what they are doing to prevent damage to the suspension.
Another way is to disconnect your sway bar from the end without cutting the link(s) off or removing it entirely – this can easily be accomplished with a socket wrench and some wrenches. You will get all of the same benefits as using an off-road disconnect while still keeping full functionality, so you won’t have any issues if you run into something on the pavement. This method, too, should only be conducted by a professional who has enough experience working on vehicles due to mistakes that could lead to more problems than merely not having extra traction when needed most.
Off-road Sway Bar
An off-road sway bar is a valuable tool that can provide stability and traction while off-roading. When the sway bar is disconnected, it allows for more wheel travel and articulation, essential when traversing rough terrain. The connected sway bar will keep your vehicle more stable on uneven surfaces, allowing you to maintain better control over your car.
Traction is King
One of the most important benefits of a sway bar is improved traction. When you’re off-road, traction is king. A disconnected sway bar will help to enhance your vehicle’s traction by transferring more power to the ground. This is especially helpful when driving over rough terrain or steep climbing hills.
Put Your Sway Bar to Use
Utilizing your sway bar is a great way to improve your off-road performance. By disconnecting it, you’ll enjoy increased traction and better handling in rough terrain. Sway bars are also beneficial on the street, providing improved stability and cornering ability. So whether you’re hitting the trails or cruising around town, make sure to use your sway bar.
