What does a disconnecting front sway bar do?
Disconnecting the sway bar allows for greater suspension articulation over rough terrain, enhancing off-road capabilities, while reconnecting the sway bar improves on-road handling and stability. It’s the latter—the reconnecting part (or the lack of it)—that’s at the core of the issue.
Is it bad to disconnect sway bar?
More simply, you want your left and right front tires to be able to move up and down more independently from one another. With your sway bar connected, this movement is limited. If you disconnect that sway bar, you can roam the dusty hills more freely.
Can you drive with sway bar disconnected?
If you suspect that a sway bar is broken, you can still drive the car, but you must use caution. It will feel “looser”, particularly when driving at high speeds. It’s very possible that this will cause you to lose control of the car, resulting in a serious accident if you’re not prepared for it.
Are sway bars good for off-road?
For easy and moderate off road, having a sway bar is a non-issue. Sway bar helps a lot when turning corners, reduces body roll (lean), especially for lifted trucks.
Do lifted trucks need sway bars?
An upgraded sway bar is important on lifted trucks since the lift increases the height of the Center of Gravity, decreasing stability and increasing body roll. The upgraded sway bar increases the anti-roll stiffness to improve both safety and comfort, whether it is daily driving or in tow/haul conditions.
How does sway bar disconnect work?
The motor is attached to a shift fork which holds up the spline. Once the driver presses the disconnect function on their control button, the motor will push against a small switch attached to the shift fork. This causes the spline to push the two ends of the sway bar apart, disconnecting them.
Do sway bar links affect alignment?
An alignment isn’t necessary after any sway bar install.
What makes sway bar links go bad?
The sway bar link maintains the camber angle of the inner wheels to control motion. Like many automotive parts, over time the sway bar links will wear out. Water intrusion that leads to rust, age, and lack of lubrication all contribute to deterioration over time.
Does sway bar affect steering?
Since the stabilizer bar links are attached to the lower control arm, steering and handling are also negatively impacted when they begin to wear out. The steering wheel will appear to be “loose”, and the body will sway from left to right more due to the fact that the stabilizer bar links and bushings are wearing out.