Sway bar delete, who’s done it?

I’m getting ready to install my Fox 2.5s which requires a sway bar relocation, so I’m thinking about just removing it since eventually want to install gusseted spindles, which can’t be used with a sway bar. How does it feel? Thoughts and opinions?

 

Just here to see answers

 

I tied it with Bilstein 8112's/8100 and was not a fan.

 

I've got the Accutune stage 4 Fox 2.5 DSC kit and tried pulling off the swaybar just to see how it felt. Didn't care for how squirrely and non planted it felt on hardtop and put it back on the next day. Wasn't worth any perceived benefit in articulation offroad IMO. YMMV

 

throw it in the garbage

 

I took mine off and went for a drive up the sea to sky highway, for those who aren't familiar it's a twisty/windy highway connecting Vancouver to Whistler in BC, Canada. I felt like the vehicle was going to lift on to 2 wheels at some point it was quite scary especially when going 120kph/75mph while turning the steering wheel. I reinstalled the sway bar immediately after that drive, it's just not worth the risk on the highway and my truck has a 3" lift which probably makes the sway worse. As a weekend off-road use vehicle, for me it was not worth it since I still do a lot of city/highway driving. If it was a dedicated bush rig I would for sure leave the sway bar off all the time.

 

I did. Feels great to me on and off. I have fun in corners and had to swerve hard a few times. Zero worries on my end.

 

I ditched mine after installing my Ironman FC Pro lift. Front end feels very firmly planted and no issues at all with handling. Off road handing is so much better.

 

Total Chaos has a sway bar friendly version of the spindle gussets which you should be using with or without the sway bar anyways as they provide a bit more support. Just an FYI, but yea delete it.

 

Billstine 6112/5160 I took mine off and love it rides smoother. I drive mountian roads and dont have any issues.

It's super easy to take off, Try it.. I'll never put mine back on

 

Took mine off my 2nd Gen with ome 884 coils and 5100’s. was great everywhere except longer highway drives at 70 mph.

 

I took mine off years ago. I'm in a 2nd Gen with a 3" lift and up-sized tires. I've probably put around 50k miles on the truck since removing it. No regrets. Aside from the off-road benefits, I think it rides better on-road too.

Since removing it, I've had to swerve pretty aggressively a handful of times to avoid animals on the backroads going 55-65MPH. I came very close to hitting a bus one time too that started to pull right out in front of me. I was doing about 30-35MPH in that instance and remember it very well; that is probably the most aggressive maneuver I've made since the sway bar delete. I avoided hitting that bus by what seemed like a few inches. I have a dashcam vid of it too; I'll see if I can find it this evening. Anyway, I've never felt like I was even close to rolling the truck. In everyday driving, the body roll is a little more pronounced without it, particularly on sweeping bends or sequenced curves (left-hand curve immediately going into a right-hand curve or visa versa), but I've never felt the amount of roll to be unsafe.

Another option is quick disconnect sway bar links. It's super easy to take it off though. I'd recommend just trying it out and see how it feels (giggity). If you don't like it or feel like it's unsafe, put 'er back on.

Edit: I didn't mention that I also have aftermarket rims with zero offset which obviously increases track width and aids in stability. A narrower track will pronounce roll a little more than wider track widths.

As long as you don't drive like a lunatic, you should be fine without a sway bar.

 

I was wondering if a sway bar relocation was needed for a 2.5” lift…

 

Took it off about 20k miles ago. You can feel it at first, but you get used to it.

 

I Daily my truck without the sway bar. been 4 months with no regret. i have eiback stage 1 set at 2" lift front and 1" aal rear. i have 285/75/16 ko2's on stock rims with 1.5" bora hubcentric spacers. wife love the ride on and off road now. truck feels slightly boatier (feels more like a 03 ford f150) but i have zero bad feels or issues with turns or high speed sudden moves

 

Mine was removed 5k miles ago.

It was noticeable, barely, right after I removed it, but I have become accustomed to driving without it now.

I am sitting at 2.5" of lift on 2.5" Radflo' s with 700# coils and clickers and custom Alcan leafs in the rear.

My truck is heavy, and I drive like a grandpa at all times, as the truck is just too slow to speed in.

I have no regrets, and I couldn't reinstall it even if I wanted to.

Offroad articulation is benefitted IMO, but only if your other upgrades assist in a helpful way.

 

120kph on the Sea to Sky in a lifted truck! Yup, user name checks out!