Swaybar Removal Challenge

The 2nd one is at 35mph.

This is my first time uploading a video to YouTube so I really have no idea what I'm doing

 

haha no worries, the 1st video was just titled February 25, 2017. I think I just so happened to check it out as you were posting both and caught the 1st one as soon as you put it here...

appreciate it!

 

What?

 

This is interesting. A good head on shot from the end of cones on the test run would be the best view for the camera work. As the truck approaches you can see how much lean it has.

Also on related note when setting up my car for autocrossing, there is a camp of thinking that when running a softer spring run a bigger sway bar and vice versa running a thin bar on stiff springs. The success that some have may be beyond just driver feel but whether or not they are running a stiff after market spring or have the spring preloaded with a higher perch setting on the shock -versus someone that has a softer set up.

 

Second vid seems like a fair amount of roll to me...right from 0 seconds as he enters the frame there's a bit of roll. The second cone (going left again) shows a fair amount of roll almost like the rear is trying to step out just a touch. I'm thinking 40 or 45mph would really be where it becomes apparent. That being said, the truck performs flawlessly during the 25mph test which is what the thread is about. Seeing the 25mph test in action makes me realize the test does NOT really demonstrate a real emergency maneuver lol.

 

Without seeing how a truck performs WITH a sway bar I don't think we have a way to compare it. My guess is at 35mph even a truck with a sway bar will see some body roll.

I really wanted to hit it at 45mph, but my back street was limited on space. 25mph seemed ridiculously slow. 35mph seemed spirited. 45mph would have been fun.

 

@steelhd, great idea. I've not messed with anything on my little 5 lug, and won't be. But I can give some general information on the topic gained from a few years of HPDE and autox use in a sports car. The laws of suspension design and motion don't vary much from cars to our IFS trucks.

A sway is nothing but a spring, and it's used for final tuning of a suspension when a vehicle is being set up for a particular driving condition.

The truck is engineered for 95% of the public's daily driving conditions, which has nothing to do with serious off road use. So springs/dampers that give a compliant ride (soft-ish) are augmented with a sway to assist with reduced body roll in sudden handling situations.

When a vehicle has upgraded springs in place, the engineering specifics for a sway changes. Get enough spring, and a baby sway will perform just fine.

Running off road in significantly adverse conditions is a different animal, as the sway will reduce articulation by keeping the two sides tied together. Wheel lift is actually more likely to happen with a sway than without. Compound that with suspension beef up, and the case for sway removal is even greater.

As a reference, I've slalomed the same brand of car, with the same type of tires, back to back, with various suspension changes. With stiff springs, good dampers and no sways, I was very close to being as fast as I was with slightly softer springs, good dampers and a decent sway. But I wasn't nearly as 'comfortable' physically w/o the sway, due to the body roll. No danger, just not what one gets used to, and certainly a lot more motion.

Keep in mind in this 'test', tires (grip) matter. Not too much, since you are speed limiting to 25. But sidewall flex and steering geometry from wheel choices etc. do matter in real life.

It would be fun for a rear camera to be in place too. The back corner of the vehicle should just clip the cone (w/o knocking it over) every time with skilled driving. And the drivers hands should be very 'quiet', with minimal inputs.

Good on you for tossing this challenge out!

 

Totally agree. And I saw the street was a bit short and figured that's why you didn't go faster. Excellent test though. Looked great!

For the other people trying the test, if you have a brave friend holding the camera. Have them stand over the last cone. This way we will get the full frontal (that sounds bad) view of the body roll. If you don't fail the test you shouldn't hit them. Add that to the list of criteria.

 

Only 25mph? Should try at a higher speed. Lol

 

Been riding no sway bar for like a year with bilstein 5100s and OME 881# springs and no issues. Honestly takes corners better with no bar but passengers get whipped a bit lmao

Also just makes pavement driving smoother as well

 

How much higher? I'll give it a go.

I'm confident that I can "pass" this test at 45mph fairly easily. I'll challenge anybody WITH a sway bar to perform the same test. I also have a dash cam that I can upload video from if needed.

Anything for the sake of science.

 

I removed my sway bar awhile ago. No issues with the Icon extended travel coilovers. I will upload a video if it ever stops raining
Plus the sway bar gets in the way of the coilovers when you're taking pictures!

 

I'm about 2-3 weeks beyond sway bar removal.

Drove a windy road last night into the mountains at 55mph. Slight body roll in a few corners. I actually got more body roll at 35mph in town on a curve in a road this afternoon.

Aside from the 'feel' of the body roll I definitely believe the truck feels better over all. Speed bumps are barely noticeable now where as with the sway bar they were jarring.

OME 886's & Dakars with steel bumpers, skids, sliders.

 

I'm in Fort Worth, bring your camera to the next meet, prepare for fuckery.

 

I'm in. When is the next meet?

 

Should be getting some cones to do this and the Moose Test videos, later this week.

 

Probably taking mine off today, just noticed the squeak I thought was my sway bar end links is actually the sway bar rubbing on the coil.

 

I'm loving the idea of this thread OP. Nut up or shut up! I'd love to participate......but I don't have a tacoma anymore.

 

One week without a sway bar
Totally stock suspension
'13 Sport
A little body sway
Minor drifting at higher speeds
But softer suspension
And way better off road handling