Sway Bar Delete Review

Ok guys, so I recently removed my sway bar...







This is intended to be an informative thread, and I will keep everyone posted and updated on my findings and opinions. For those of you looking to remove your sway bar, stay tuned.

2004 Tacoma TRD SR5 5spd 4wd
OME 882s
OME Nitrochargers Front/Rear
OME Dakars
OME D43XL Add-A-Leaf
285/75/16 Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs
16x8 Pro Comp 87 Rock Crawlers w/3.75" B.S.
ARB Bumper & Warn Winch

Approx curb weight:

~4500lbs = ~1000lbs over stock.

Initial observations:

On Road.
The most obvious reason for this controversial modification is offroad performance. And I can understand why. It definitely punishes the on-road prowess (if this truck had any to begin with) of these Tacomas. It drives much less controlled on the road, with an estimated 20-30% more body roll (butt dyno) in corners doing the posted speed limit. Anything exceeding that would "likely" ( ) cause 40-50% more body roll than if the sway bar were attached.

Off-road.
Unbelievably smooth. Washboard is like butter. Potholes are an merely a mental occurrence, not a truck-rocking obstacle. Before, I noticed a lot of side-to-side motion whenever hitting potholes with one tire. Also improved is dips and ruts. They now launch the truck into a smooth dive, with a controlled return. All in all, very happy with trail performance. Do NOT take off-road corners at speed. Additional body roll/suspension flex coupled with lack of traction will most likely careen your 2 ton mini truck into a sideways trajectory. This is fine, if it were not an embankment riddled with daunting conifers and looming larches. (Tamaracks. Though I'm unsure what you Americans call theses trees )

I will keep this tread updated with my findings. Today is the first time I had a chance to drive it without the sway bar, so I will let you know what the coming weeks/months bring.


Edited 18/10/17 - Typos

 

Update: 10/02/18

Drives great in corners. With the regear I have slowed down as well. Which is an awesome thing. I routinely now drive at the speed limit


Looking into ADS or Icon coilovers. With the heavier spring included in those suspension setups I think the away bar delete will become transparent. Time will tell.

Definitely recommend for those running 882 coils and nitrochargers. Love it so far

 

Would extending the sway bar work for both on and off-road? I know you can't use it off-road because of articulation but what if you could extend it.

 

You mean the sway bar end links? Perhaps, but I think it would still limit wheel travel. And the links might be too long to provide and on road stabilization.....but I have zero experience.

 

Hm, probably disconnect them when I'm about to hit a trail. Yeah, that might work.

 

I looked for some. Removing it was cheaper

 

When I first installed coilovers, I removed my anti-sway bar and I really hated it on the highway. It felt like the slightest side wind would make the truck wander. Keep in mind this was before I installed the updated steering rack guide and did the steering shaft roll pin mod thing. Those 2 things would probably have helped a great deal. At that point I put the bar back on and left it alone.

Later on I installed some wheelers offroad front super bumps. They are designed for a 2nd gen, but they can still mount on a 1st gen. These almost touch at ride height, but they compress much more than the stock bumps. I then removed my anti-sway bar and didn't notice a difference on the highway anymore. The ride was much smoother since without the bar, bumps from one side of the truck are not transferred over. I have been driving with this setup for about a year and I love it.

Pictures under compression:

 

so extended bumpstops, I was looking at sumo springs and tembren's bumpstops. Wonder if any 1st gen owners used these.

 

I ordered energy suspension regular height. Plan on stacking a washer or two underneath. Still haven't figured out how to remove the old ones haha

 

Are the studs on the ES long enough for you to use washers?

 

I think so. But it won't be hard to buy longer ones. I haven't checked yet..

 

You will notice the biggest difference (on road) if you tow or carry heavy loads in your bed.
After I removed my sway bar, I hauled a 500lb motorcycle in the bed on the highway, and it was quite unstable.
However it increased off-road performance astronomically. I would recommend it as well

 

toss up indeed. thanks for the insight and review op and to rest of members too.

 

My personal recommendation is to leave the sway bar on, but remove the end links when hitting the trail.

 

I don't think you can just remove the links. It needs to be completely removed.

Yeah. I'm kinda curious what the ratio of Tacoma's rolled into the ditch had this mod done... I'm sure it was partially to blame for my first trucks demise...

I ran sans sway bar for 5 years. But recently re-attached it. It's going to stay on from now on. Too many close calls throughout the years. The trail has to be pretty dramatic for me to notice it on there. And if it's that hampering it takes 20 minutes to remove it.

 

So ya think maybe speed was a factor? I know for a fact I drive way slower with these big tires and a regear than I did stock. And offroad I take it easy as well. I know the sway bar is a safety, but it's also remarkable what a little less skinny peddle will do for you. YMMV

 

You can probably just disconnect one end link from the LCA and tie it off on the sway bar, save 15 minutes

 

You can absolutely just remove the end links. That's what i do when i hit the trail. The bushing tends to hold the sway bar in place or your lca will push it up if it drops too far.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/quick-disconnect-sway-bar-end-links.481353/

 

he never responded to the 01-04 crowd

there was someone else that made longer end-links for about the same price, I'll have to look through my history.