Sway Bar and Open Diff Traction

I know there are several threads about should you or should you not remove your sway bar. I have done both, and opted for putting in back in since I do a LOT of city driving.

Here is the question though: w/out the sway bar, would you have less traction issues w/ the open front diff (and rear). Since the sway bar eliminates articulation does it also force enough of a weight shift sooner to cause the one spinning wheel issue? (this question is posed assuming those answering understand the open diff concept, which I didn't until recently!) All my components are stock which may make it a mute point anyway, but I thought I'd ask.

Also, just putting the word out I got a 60" hi lift off Amazon for like $83 and free shipping!!!

 

I can drive my DC with a 3" lift like a racecar on the the street without the sway bar. I drive with it on because it does not give articulation like a solid axle can give. my 885 springs are so stiff, I don't get enough articulation to leave it off. (I keep it on for insurance purposes)

Nice steal on the HI Lift

 

The front swaybar inhibits articulation on IFS vehicles.

Thus, when you're on an uneven surface with one wheel high, one wheel low, you're much more likely to have one wheel completely off the ground with swaybar on, than with it disconnected or off.

And, as you know, that's the classic open differential "no traction" scenario.

This isn't really subject to debate, so I'm not quite sure why you created a poll?

EDIT - OK, I guess you're asking if it matters on a stock vehicle. I suppose that's a fair question. I personally wouldn't bother going through any kind of hassle trying to create a swaybar disconnect on a non lifted vehicle. There are other mods I'd definitely do first to increase off road capability - lift, oversize tires, sliders, rear locking differential, skid armor. Sometime around then - yeah disconnecting sway bar links start being worth considering.

And I definitely wouldn't take the safety risk of a removed swaybar on a stock vehicle that did so little offroading that I hadn't done those other modifications first.

So I'm entering my poll answer as: "doesn't matter on a stock vehicle."

 

Agreed, no debate here.

 

PS: please correct me if I'm wrong - but your gallery photos don't appear to show any sliders or front-rear aftermarket bumpers.

Have you thought about what you're going to use as a jack point for your new high lift? You may want to get a High Lift "Lift Mate" that attaches to your wheel as a jack point.

 

it was more of a long term purchase than immediate need. the primary use for the time being would be winching if needed, and push come to shove I figure I could lift from the hitch in the back and remove the plastic on the front to access the aluminum bumper. while I would love aftermarket bumpers and sliders, the lift mate is probably the way ill have to do it.