Sway Bars - What do I do, Leave them on or toss them?

Need some advice from experienced 4Runner folk. I searched but couldn’t find the answer here. Because I’m new in the T4R world, I don’t know the handling characteristics of the vehicle yet. I’ve always pulled the sway bar off of my Tacomas and never had issues. My question is, what are people doing with their sway bars on the 4Runners after suspension install?

 

I’m going to give it a shot and see how I feel about it. I have a set of 700# coils on the shelf so I may throw those in to counter the roll as well.

My Tacoma had 700# coils and no swaybar up front with Chevy 63’s in the rear. The body roll was there but not significant enough to cause worry.

 

I’ll post up how it goes once I do it.

 

What do you want to remove them for? If you want improved off road handling, why not get a KDSS someone pulled off their rig and put it on yours?

 

Does the KDSS improve travel? I’m looking for better articulation.

 

That’s what I thought. I’m looking into fabbing up my own disconnects so that when I’m playing on the rocks I can take advantage of the available articulation.

 

Wilco.

 

Definitely no expert on KDSS, but they're "unlocked" at low speeds and stiff at driving speeds.

I've read many complaints about KDSS on washboard roads, so it has flaws and many who don't like the system. Not sure if it's worth trying out, but maybe it would get you what you're after.

Also, I guess I wouldn't take a 4R on the highway without sway bars, but maybe you're not looking at this for its on-road character.

From the venerable wiki:

 

After researching, it sounds like more of a PITA than anything else. On my Tacoma, I had 700# coils and less body roll without the sway bar than I did on stock coils with the sway bar. I’m considering upgrading to the same ADS coilovers I had on the Tacoma.

 

Thanks. After researching it, I’m going to fab up a disconnect for the sway bars.

 

Well, heavy coils will definitely stiffen up the ride. I don't know that you'll find the same results as you did on the Taco, but there are more than a dozen people (at least) who've gone heavy coils so you can definitely get some feedback on these (although most of these I saw were built out with loads of crap, so some were still dragging nuts with the heavy coils).

 

Yeah, I'm definitely no expert on the KDSS. I got into some arguments with people on another forum, apparently my non-engineer mind wasn't suited to ask the right questions. It seems to be electrically actuated pumps/valves that keep the system "tight" at driving speeds (using hydraulic pressure) and "loose" at low speeds, so much more flex but not the same as no sway bar. In theory it's better than the stock sway bar off road*, and better than the stock sway bar on road as well**.

*Providing maybe that you aren't lifting too much or want long travel
**Providing that your on-road experience isn't bumpy at low speed, somewhere in a low range (maybe 12-20mph) it has issues

Anyway, my recommendation was based on this: (1) it's a pretty impressive system for what it does and (2) quite a few people took them off and have them laying around (or at least did), but maybe not what OP wants

 

Do you wonder why there is no aftermarket sway bar disconnects? It’s because if you disconnect the ends and leave the bar attached the ends will destroy your cv axles. People have done it and that’s how we know what it will do. Personally I drive on the streets with you and I’d prefer you leave it connected. Do what you want, but that one time you need to make an emergency maneuver you will be putting everyone around you in danger. Just leave it connected. I’ve gone on some gnarly trails and never had an issue with it hooked up. Most people need to learn how to pick a line offroad in my opinion.

 

Lol. Your idea of gnarly trails and mine must differ greatly. There is no way in hell I’m putting this rig in a severe off camber situation in wet clay and rocks with the sway bars connected. That’s a roll over hazard.

7 Toyota trucks now and this is the only one I haven’t removed the sway bars on yet. Those previous 7 vehicles managed to live their life without swaybars safely even after many emergency maneuvers.

And, yes, there are aftermarket disconnects available for these trucks. I’m just not going to spend $300 on them when I’m perfectly capable of making them myself.

 

Then why are you asking what you should do? You asked for opinions, I gave you mine.

 

¯\_(ツ)_/¯

This is your first T4R? There are plenty of people doing exquisitely badass stuff in stock or near-stock T4Rs.

 

Because “you’re gonna die and kill everyone around you” if you remove your swaybars mentality is ridiculous

 

Right on, Brett. Thanks.

 

Don’t put words in my mouth, Son. Do what you please. I gave you an opinion. Do whatever you want with it, but don’t confuse my response with me actually caring about what happens to you. I’m looking out for the other people on the road. You can do whatever you want, hopefully not at someone else’s expense.

 

No reason to get bent out of shape, it's a web forum. I wasn't putting words in your mouth either.

The point you made here:

came across like one of the many many people on here and the Tacoma forums that think removing a swaybar is unsafe.

Is it unsafe if not countered with appropriate suspension upgrades? Absolutely. Is it unsafe if I drive like a dick? Absolutely. For your comfort, I am not planning on pulling the swaybars until I have everything figured out and countered with the right suspension package. You're safe.

You don't know me, and I'm not your son.

 

Now we can be friends. Carry on.

 

Alrighty then...............so did you remove them or not? Any testing yet?

 

Yeah, disconnected them today and have been driving around for a few hours and I haven't died or killed everyone around me yet. It's actually nice on the highway, but sucks very much bad in town.

Body roll in this thing is real, however, I'm still on 5100's on stock coils. I'm going to make the drive home from work with just the front connected and see how it feels. Once I decide to upgrade the suspension to the ADS coilovers with 700# coils, I'll try it out again.

 

Front sway bar out and rear in is not bad at all. I like it.

 

I thought Smitty got a 4Runner for a minute...

 

oh Christ no