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Yes or No, Keep the sway bar on?

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by broke_down, Sep 12, 2018.

?

Sway bar on or off for snow and ice?

  1. Yes, take it off

    59 vote(s)
    62.8%
  2. No, keep it on and find suitable parts

    35 vote(s)
    37.2%
  1. Sep 12, 2018 at 7:09 PM
    #1
    broke_down

    broke_down [OP] highly opinionated with little experience

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    I have a lift, my coils rub the sway bar. I added the sway bar relocation bracket, still rubs... but just a little. This is a quasi daily driver. I live in Denver, and will drive the truck ~200miles on the highway every weekend with all the other crazies going 15mph over the speed limit on i-70 followed by ~50miles of 4x4. And yes, I will "try dropping it to see how it feels". I want some personal testimony though to make me feel good about what I decide. **remember, I will be dealing with icy, shitty, mountain roads shared with stupid, dropped, riced-out Subarus driven by 18yros all winter long. I can drive this highway at 70mph with a sway bar, snow and ice and feel stable and in control. Will dropping the sway bar make it unsafe to drive at the same speed, in the same conditions, on the same road?

    Do I toss the sway bar? Or find a better relocation bracket?

    When you respond, please give a little info as to why. Specifically try to speak to how the truck will handle at speed on ice and in snow - traction issues? Prone to sliding?, etc. I am not interested in hurting myself or others if the truck is going to be out of control. I am well aware of what driving without a sway bar feels like on dirt (like taking the condom off).
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2018
    McDudesYota, Matmo215 and SC2SC like this.
  2. Sep 12, 2018 at 7:11 PM
    #2
    DukesTaco

    DukesTaco Well-Known Member

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    What I kind of lift?
     
  3. Sep 12, 2018 at 7:16 PM
    #3
    broke_down

    broke_down [OP] highly opinionated with little experience

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    Suspension lift. ~4" in the rear from dakars with the add-a-leaf, and ~2.5 in front with a coil over from freedom offroad. The rear sits a little lower when I have the cap on it and gear + dogs.
     
  4. Sep 12, 2018 at 7:16 PM
    #4
    stickyTaco

    stickyTaco Fuck Cancer

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    I removed mine after installing Fox 2.5 coilovers up front 2 years and 25k miles ago and have no problem cruising at 80mph.

    Remove it. Drive the truck and see if you like it. If not you can always put it back on.
     
    Last edited: Sep 12, 2018
  5. Sep 12, 2018 at 7:19 PM
    #5
    broke_down

    broke_down [OP] highly opinionated with little experience

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    You drive it in snow, or deal with ice? Thats my main hesitation. If driving at 70mph on a mountain highway that would feel stable with a sway bar, would the truck still be stable on the same highway at the same speed with snow and ice?
     
  6. Sep 12, 2018 at 7:25 PM
    #6
    DukesTaco

    DukesTaco Well-Known Member

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    Do you still have stock UCA's?

    I have my sway bar removed but I also have icons with 600lbs coils. It stiffened up the ride but it sways a little more in the turns . Maybe remove it and see if you like it.

    Also are you running the extended sway bar links that come with that kit?
     
  7. Sep 12, 2018 at 7:25 PM
    #7
    06RedComa

    06RedComa Well-Known Member

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    I never had any issues with mine in snow or ice without the sway bar but when i added a camper shell to my truck it made it more top heavy and i had my truck whip around on me when i hit an ice patch
     
    broke_down[OP] likes this.
  8. Sep 12, 2018 at 7:27 PM
    #8
    BMOC

    BMOC Well-Known Member

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    the only argument i've seen against removing it is how an insurance company will react to it if there is ever an accident
     
    broke_down[OP] likes this.
  9. Sep 12, 2018 at 7:28 PM
    #9
    stickyTaco

    stickyTaco Fuck Cancer

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    Yes but I generally drive that fast with ice and snow on the road because I prefer to keep my truck out of ditches.
     
  10. Sep 12, 2018 at 7:33 PM
    #10
    CBenfell

    CBenfell I don’t know sh*t about f*ck

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    You may not consider his helpful but if you’re driving in dangerous conditions and have to make a sudden maneuver, I highly doubt not having a sway bar will be what causes an accident.
     
  11. Sep 12, 2018 at 7:38 PM
    #11
    stickyTaco

    stickyTaco Fuck Cancer

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    I agree with @CBenfell. Your tires are going to play a much bigger part in handling when there is snow/ice than a swaybar will.
     
  12. Sep 12, 2018 at 7:43 PM
    #12
    broke_down

    broke_down [OP] highly opinionated with little experience

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    @DukesTaco I have the freedom offroad UCAs and the extended links that come with the kit. Still rubs a little on both sides. I backed out of my driveway and when I pulled back in I felt the shocks hit the sway bar.
     
  13. Sep 12, 2018 at 7:50 PM
    #13
    broke_down

    broke_down [OP] highly opinionated with little experience

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    @CBenfell @stickyTaco You don't think the sway bar will transfer some force to the other wheel and improve traction? I'm obviously playing Devil's Advocate here.
     
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  14. Sep 12, 2018 at 7:58 PM
    #14
    JL8Jeff

    JL8Jeff Well-Known Member

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    If the springs you have are stiff enough, they will absorb most of the lean. I bought my truck without a swaybar and it has OME 885 springs with SPC UCA's and I made some adjustments to make it drive better. It handled poorly when I got it. I ended up buying a used swaybar and put the drop brackets on and it made a big difference in the way the truck drives. It handles a lot better with the swaybar, but I have a regular cab so it may respond more to the road compared to an AC or DC truck. I also have 2 boats that I tow and the better handling is much appreciated while towing.
     
  15. Sep 12, 2018 at 8:08 PM
    #15
    stickyTaco

    stickyTaco Fuck Cancer

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    Snow hasn't been an issue for me.

    21EF4DB2-EE68-4E5C-8CB2-ECD4DEC033B0.jpg

    If you're that concerned I suggest running some real snow tires and not all seasons.

    I also tow a boat (2,000lbs) and a travel trailer (4,500lbs dry) and haven't missed the swaybar at all.
     
  16. Sep 12, 2018 at 8:10 PM
    #16
    raco.the.taco

    raco.the.taco Well-Known Member

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    Get rid of it if you take it on trails at all. It will keep you considerably more level and less tossed around. You will want to increase your spring rate but not mandatory. I have a pelfrybilt bumper, skids and winch and I am running Toytec coilovers with 650# springs and it is still too soft. Need 700# springs to be stiff enough to deal with the body roll.
     
  17. Sep 12, 2018 at 8:11 PM
    #17
    CBenfell

    CBenfell I don’t know sh*t about f*ck

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    There’s definitely someone more knowledgeable than me when it comes to suspension.

    My line of thought is that if the sway bar is coming into play enough to make any difference, you have transferred a lot of weight pretty quickly. If that is the case, you have other problems. Considering you are doing 70 on a snowy mountain road.

    Of course the sway bar has its purpose, and there’s not much of reason to remove it unless you plan on wheeling.

    My point is, you shouldn’t be so concerned that you don’t even try it out. It’s not like it’ll handle like a canoe.
     
    stickyTaco likes this.
  18. Sep 12, 2018 at 8:17 PM
    #18
    broke_down

    broke_down [OP] highly opinionated with little experience

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    Ah yes, the canoe. I see your point. I'll likely give it a shot and see how it feels.
     
  19. Sep 12, 2018 at 8:18 PM
    #19
    cantjump

    cantjump Well-Known Member

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    Take it off and give it a try for couple of days. I tried on mine and it was awesome offroad, it was floating over everything, but then was annoying as DD because I had to go slow and carefully through mountain passes(im from denver as well)
     
  20. Sep 12, 2018 at 8:20 PM
    #20
    CBenfell

    CBenfell I don’t know sh*t about f*ck

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    I drive like a grandpa anyways so maybe I’m biased. :rofl:
     

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