Towing with the swaybar removed

Unless that spring is so hard that it can't compress at all, then no, it does nothing to compensate for it *at all*.

 

I've had swaybars break unexpectedly.
Pretty scary shit when you're right in the middle of a turn and the swaybar link decides it's had enough. Quite the ass puckering moment.
I've also been in tacomas that don't have a swaybar, but have a much higher rate spring, and they corner as good or better than a stock Tacoma with swaybar. REAL WORLD experience...

 

Your all or nothing approach is seriously flawed

 

Your failure to recognize what a swaybar DOES, is seriously flawed.

 

Ok.

 

It's funny to see Chicken Little's posts in everyone's quotes. I put that asshole on my ignore list a little while ago.

 

Yeah...haven't added anyone to the ignore list until this thread but that guy is a hot mess. I've seen him go to great lengths to defend ridiculous ideas in the past and usually found humor in it but at this point he is really just clogging up this thread with garbage.

To think that a suspension so stiff that the springs don't compress is the only way to compensate for removing your swaybar is the dumbest thing I've seen posted here in awhile (other than posts in the 3rd gen forum).

 

lol

 

Long answer; At some point, "physics" is no longer the issue. Design and mechanical function take control. In either of those two, the ONLY absolute is, there are no absolutes....

ie.....Never say never. Never and always should not appear in any sentence regarding a mechanical device.

Short answer; It depends......

 

^^^Damn rocket scientist.

 

Having a suspension component fail under load results in a completely different set of forces and reactions from the vehicle (and directional input from the driver) than if that component were already missing and being compensated for. Your comparison is not relevant to this conversation.

I challenge someone to find an example of someone who wrecked their truck because they had no sway bar.

 

Google "anecdotal observations". Without engineering data and a very controlled laboratory testing, it is 100% pure conjecture as to what the results would be.

Strictly based on "numbers", I know of (personally) several dozen trucks without sway bars that are driven at (or beyond) reasonable speeds in everyday traffic. One that I know of INTIMATELY has been used on numerous occasions to tow a camper that far exceeds the suggested towing capacity of a Tacoma. It has not come close to causing an issue at this point.

"Real world" trumps "theory" until proven otherwise. No such proof seems to exist.

 

I won't try to

Washington State has established a fairly simple standard for establishing if your suspension functions safely in an emergency. Other than requiring a rear swaybar for rear coil spring suspenions they call for this test:

"Traverse a slalom-type path passing alternately to the left and right of at least four cones or markers arranged in a straight line and spaced sixty feet apart at a minimum speed of 25 mph.".

So after removing your swaybar find an empty school parking lot, set up cones or similar, and give it a try. It won't take much time and you will know for sure how your truck handles in an emergency. The chorus of howling TW monkeys is no substitute.

 

Update. Sway bar has been off for several weeks. I've towed my boat and travel trailer a few times each and haven't flipped over yet. Handling is very good with the travel trailer in tow but there's some body roll when towing the lighter boat or when unloaded.

Truck rides much better offroad and on crappy paved roads without the swaybar in my opinion.