SWAY BAR PROS AND CONS?

What are the pros and cons when removing the sway bar? I kept hearing a popping noise on my front passenger side... finally pin pointed it, and its the sway bar link end that's worn and torn.... I have read on here that people remove the sway bar with no issues... I have a 2000 Tacoma prerunner V6 2wd with 881 coils paired with 5100 BILLYS set at 0". I rarely go offroad unless we go fishing or camping. Also, the ride is horrible with this set up, maybe its because I don't have any weight up front, but let me tell you whenever I run over dips or pot holes, the whole truck gets jarred...

 

I removed my sway bars and never looked back. I wouldn't recommend it w/anything less than coilovers though.

 

yeah, a lot of people said the only down side to do this is the body roll when making turns. I may need to find extended link ends for the sway bar then because of the nasty angle the sway bar is with the lift from my 881 coils.

 

Try just removing the sway bar links, and secure (zip-tie) one end of the bar to the frame and see what effect it has. This is what I do when I know I'm going to do some serious rock crawling. Its pretty easy to re-attach the links.

 

Ive been trying to find quick disconnects like I have for my Jeep. Does anyone make them for Tacomas?

 

I had my sway bar removed for a few months but didn't notice any major improvements with it off, I also have the 5100s. I recently put it back on just due to body roll, it made it much more enjoyable to drive with it on.

 

Don't try any quick turns or lane changes over 50 mph. Unless you like to tumble over and over.

 

I just took mine off and have driven it very little since. But so far, there's not a huge difference. But mostly due to my stiff as hell eibachs. I can tell there's more body roll. And even some at speed with turning. Not sure I like it. Its probably better for offroading. But for daily driving/occasional offroad, I'd say leave it on. If you wheel all the time then it's probably worth it. But I think I'm putting mine back on asap. Haven't gone off road yet with my new lift. Probly wait till after I take her out once to see. But I like going at speed with some trails. So I think it's best for me to have it on. If i was 4x4 and crawling, then itd Probly benefit me. But alas, another 2wd disadvantage for us with that sway bar.

 

You only have to remove one link.

 

I've got the same setup (5100s and 881s) but I'm not taking the sway bar off until I get better suspension up front, some performance coilovers like @quetzal mentioned. Otherwise I feel like the body roll will be too dangerous, especially with the daily driving I do in LA traffic every day. Evasive maneuvers are a way of life.

Also with the 881s, you don't want to have any added weight up front...the springs will sag as they aren't made to handle much more than stock weight. That's strange that you're ride is jarring, are you sure it's the front and not the rear that's causing it to be so rough? Do you have 5100s in the rear, if so how much lift do you have in the back? Rear 5100s are only designed for 1 - 1.5" of rear lift, I think 5125's are the extended versions. I have 2.5" in the rear with 5100s and the back is super stiff, I didn't realize at the time that I should've gone with 5125s.

 

I tried that for a while, but that end (disconnected end) would come in contact with the LCA due to moving up and down in concert with the opposite LCA (connected end), while flexing.

 

Both my end links on my 1998 TRD broke at different times, and while I was off-road 300 to 400 miles from home. Didn't notice it until I got back on the interstates. The ride was unnerving when I drove over 50 mph around curves, and/or when the road had dips in it. The sway bar is there for safety--I would (and did) replace the end links and call it a day.

 

thanks guys for all the input!

My rear is stock... I replaced the rear shocks a few years ago but I don't think its the rear that's causing the jarring. Whenever I hit uneven gravel is when the jarring begins... and whenever i make sharp turns in the parking lot and the body of my truck rolls, thats when i hear the popping noise...

After installing the 881 coils a few months back, I noticed they began to sag just a bit! I have seen in an earlier thread that a guy replaced his stock end links with extended ones FROM NAPA..... P/N:ATM 1032468, I was thinking about maybe doing this.

 

What type of tires are you running? bias or radial ply? LT or P-rated? What pressure?
Any of these would affect 'the jarring' that you mentioned.

'Popping' from the front end could indicate bad CV axles, especially when turning.

 

My front end was making a popping noise. I had a small rip on one CV axle boot and a larger one on the other side. I replaced both plus the rack. No more popping noise. But I only felt & heard that popping noise when turning so there ya go, CV Axles. I've asked too many people about the pros & cons of removing the Sway bar and more often than not people like my auto shop teacher, mechanics, fab shop owners & even 4x4 shop owners. Although the 4x4 shop owners all have SAS'd rigs said I should leave it on because it wouldn't be on there if the truck didn't need it. When you take it off it does add more articulation. Also body roll. Maybe I just asked the wrong people.

 

I have 881s and nitrosport shocks and am currently driving around with one end link busted off.

Do not like the feel of it at all.

Will be acquiring and reapplying said end link.

 

Popping while turning could be any number of things, CV's, axles, tie rods, sway bar/end links, ball joints (upper or lower), wheel bearings, steering rack, springs...sucks trying to pinpoint popping/clunking sounds.

 

Drove mine without a swaybar for 5yrs on ome 882s after i broke the link offroading. Daily drove it on a 90mile round trip commute, no real issues. It body rolled somemore, however i never felt scared on any evasive moves, or "lane changes over 50"... didnt really notice any difference offroad, still had crappy IFS flex. I would have left it hooked up if the link didnt break.

 

3 years without mine.

You NEED stiffer/upgraded suspension when doing this.

No swaybar and eibach coils is pretty much the same as stock worn coils and sway bar.

 

From my experience, the rear suspension plays a big role in the body roll experienced.

I run 881s up front and dakars in the rear. No sway bar. The roll increased over stock, but not bad at all.

In the couple days after installing the 881s but before installing the dakars, the body roll was wicked.

The stiffer leaf springs in the back tamed the body roll nicely. Anyway, from what I've experienced, I wouldn't remove it if your rear is stock.