Is it worth it to take off the sway bars for more articulation?

I figure it's a truck anyway, so it won't be driven like a sports car around corners.

Just slow and steady on the street.

Can the IFS swaybars be removed on the Taco for more articulation? Any detriments otherwise?

 

Depends on your setup.....

I had some quick disconnects on my 96 tacoma and it seemed like I got more articulation. I had OME coils & struts (2" lift).

If you don't have some sort of quick disconnect or 'easy removal' method - I'm not sure its worth the headaches of unhooking them.

You're uptravel will be limited to your lower a-arms and your down travel will be limited to your shock length.... perhaps you should jack up the front end of the truck and take some measurements of down travel with the sway bar on AND off to see what the difference is.

Or - just unhook 'em, go wheeling, and see what you think....

 

I'd have to agree that it's not near worth the headaches if you don't have quick disconnects, etc. to make the job easier.

 

Agreed, much easier to mess with if you have quick discos, if not, it'll be a pain the the behind.

 

I'll be taking mine off this weekend when I install my UCAs, I hear it only takes about 20 minutes to take the swaybar off. There is some noticable body roll with it off but like said above it is not a sports car. Some guys have noticed some of there vibes caused by the 3" lift to lessen a little, If I dont like it off I'll put it back on.

 

The vibrations lessen with the swaybar removed?

 

yeah I bent a sway bar once so i removed it for good... it was fine on street 3" lift and 33's...noticed more twist from the stock IFS little more lean in corners but not bad... on highway emergency braking situations it can become noticable...very... i would say go with disconnects... cost a bit but I think they are worth it in the end...

 

Was there any change in your ride quality, how the truck sat left, right, front, back or wear?

 

The "street" I drive on most is a winding road through a state park and a bunch of farmland. Not to mention, I speed excessively.....this is my route to work and I am always running late. The less lean in corners the better for me. I have been impressed so far with the way this truck handles bends considering it's high center of gravity.

 

The swaybar won't affect how the truck sits..... the only ride quality that will change is while turning - body roll.

The best thing to do - is disconnect it and take it for a spin around the neighborhood. YOu'll either like it or you won't.

 

I recently took off my sway bar just so I could see for myself how driving characteristics changed for on & off road, in my opinion I didn't think it was a hassle at all, I had it unbolted , disconnected & put away w/hardware in about 10-15 mins. It was noticeable going down the freeway or at speeds in excess of 60 mph, you DO have to pay a little more attention to what the front end is doing, not dangerous but a little more "wandering" than usual, I would however be a little concerned in a sudden,panic "turn hard now or eat shit" kind of mode, but don't feel unsafe at all, ya just need to be a little more focused & on-the-ball when highway driving ( which being on the ball isn't a bad thing, something we all should be anyway ) Now offroad, I definintely noticed an improvement, I don't think its so much the gain in articulation, it seems like the front end susp. is more relaxed & less restricted (or limited ) & seemed to travel alot better over ruts, bumps, rocks, IMO, anyone considering removal of the swaybar should give it a shot & draw your own conclusion, its really not a pain or very hard to do, no worse than changing a tire & a hell of alot lighter too !! haha, as for mine, its still off & I'm not planning on putting it back on anytime soon, but you should try it if curious........

 

Damn man you just dug up this thread from 2007...!?

 

LOL, yep they don't delete anything here

 

It's worth digging up, I've thought about it off and on. I still haven't found anywhere that does quick discos for 2nd gen, and it looks like the people who did 1st gen all but disappeared.

 

MInes been off for a while now and I love it, more flexx off road/more body-roll on road. Soaks up pot holes and bumps at speed better.

 

I took mine off and I dont mind the body roll.