Sway Bar?

[1 Bad CJ5]

Quick question... I am going to put on a Pro Comp 4" lift on my CJ. Would anyone recommend an after market sway bar? I do a lot of trails with the jeep, and I do not trailer it. It has to be able to get through some canyon driving to get up to the trails. Just wondering if anyone has had success with a sway bar, or if it does not do enough to be worth it. Thanx!

 

[gert]

For trail use they make quick disconnect sway bar links which are good for trail riding, then you can reconnect the sway bar for the ride home

 

[BusaDave9]

Anti-sway bars don't help off road but they do help on the street
http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f49/common-4x4-myths-11138/#post89800
Do you still have the oem anti-sway bar?

 

[gert]

 

[tarry99]

Quick question... I am going to put on a Pro Comp 4" lift on my CJ. Would anyone recommend an after market sway bar? I do a lot of trails with the jeep, and I do not trailer it. It has to be able to get through some canyon driving to get up to the trails. Just wondering if anyone has had success with a sway bar, or if it does not do enough to be worth it. Thanx!

A agree with the above..........a good sway bar is great for the ride to or from the trails......... especially when you have long leaves or a system that articulates off road real well............
Without it back on the pavement it can become an "E" ticket ride.........
The best disconnects I've seen are the "JKS Manf." ones that have a tapered stainless pin and ball system for easy on and easy off even when the Jeep is not on level ground.
Also if you looking for a sway bar check e-bay or your Jeep wrecking yard. All the narrow track factory CJ bars will work on your Jeep ...most times you can buy them used with all the brackets and bar for $50-$75 bucks.
I just stuck one on my 1965 CJ.

 

[Torxhead]

Gert, those Pro Comp springs are on the stiff side anyway, and can help with sway. I would suggest that you try with and without the bar and decide.

 

[tarry99]

Gert, those Pro Comp springs are on the stiff side anyway, and can help with sway. I would suggest that you try with and without the bar and decide.

Why would anyone put a stiff spring on a Jeep or for that matter assume it will do the job of a sway bar? Takes away from the whole point of the suspension system.

 

[1 Bad CJ5]

Anti-sway bars don't help off road but they do help on the street
http://www.jeep-cj.com/forums/f49/common-4x4-myths-11138/#post89800
Do you still have the oem anti-sway bar?

No sway bar. Just the original tie rods and linkage. The steering is a hairy ride sometimes with the rig wanting to shoot off to the right a lot, plus the body roll. I am putting in a new steering shaft next week to take out the free play, and I was just curious if the sway bar would be worth the investment. Especially with the increased body roll coming with the 4" lift.

 

[mtnwhlr]

Especially with the increased body roll coming with the 4" lift.

This is what a sway bar is for to reduce body roll.

 

[BusaDave9]

The steering is a hairy ride sometimes with the rig wanting to shoot off to the right a lot, plus the body roll.

...

I was just curious if the sway bar would be worth the investment. Especially with the increased body roll coming with the 4" lift.

Yes for street use you should install some type of sway bar.

I also have a lifted '79 CJ5 without a sway bar. I like it off-road. But on-road, if I come into a curve a little too fast it is downright scary trying to keep it upright.

I drive my CJ slow.

 

[Old Dog]

those Pro Comp springs are on the stiff side anyway, and can help with sway. I would suggest that you try with and without the bar and decide.

I have to agree, with the pro comp springs you might not need the sway bar. With soft springs you for sure would, but I'd try it before I spent the money on the sway bar.

 

[1 Bad CJ5]

Yes for street use you should install some type of sway bar.

I also have a lifted '79 CJ5 without a sway bar. I like it off-road. But on-road, if I come into a curve a little too fast it is downright scary trying to keep it upright.

I drive my CJ slow.

I feel ya on the slow part. I drive a buddy crazy with the way I take some of the canyons. He has a 78 Bronco with power steering and between the length and the steering he has it all over my rig in the corners. With the exception of an RV, semi, or a dummy from California, I am probably the slowest vehicle coming up through the canyons.

 

[tarry99]

No sway bar. Just the original tie rods and linkage. The steering is a hairy ride sometimes with the rig wanting to shoot off to the right a lot, plus the body roll. I am putting in a new steering shaft next week to take out the free play, and I was just curious if the sway bar would be worth the investment. Especially with the increased body roll coming with the 4" lift.

1 Bad............I believe there is a consensus on when a Sway Bar does a good job!
Trying to answer your question whether it is better for you or not can only be answered by you simply because no one knows the condition of your vehicle better than you...............all parts and systems related to the steering and suspension will effect the driving and handling characteristics of your Jeep. Point is you could have other things non related to the sway bar and a 4 in lift question that could make your Jeep an I'll handler..............

 

[1 Bad CJ5]

This is what a sway bar is for to reduce body roll.

I know that, but I wanted input from anyone that has felt a difference between not having one and having one. With a 4" lift I am going to have to be slower in corners anyway, so if I have to slow down enough because of the lift that a sway bar will not do a whole lot, then I dont need to put one on.

 

[1 Bad CJ5]

1 Bad............I believe there is a consensus on when a Sway Bar does a good job!
Trying to answer your question whether it is better for you or not can only be answered by you simply because no one knows the condition of your vehicle better than you...............all parts and systems related to the steering and suspension will effect the driving and handling characteristics of your Jeep. Point is you could have other things non related to the sway bar and a 4 in lift question that could make your Jeep an I'll handler..............

Yeah, I believe I am going to put one on with the quick disconnects. I was just lookin for a first hand experience of someone that could say if the sway bar made a world of difference or if it didnt make a lot of difference. As always, I appreciate everyone's input.

 

[BusaDave9]

I am probably the slowest vehicle coming up through the canyons.

I hear you there. When I am in the CJ I think I am the slowest vehicle coming through the canyons. I often pull over to let others pass (and I have a V8 too!)

Now when I am on my Busa it's a different story because EVERYONE is in my way!


Oh yes, as others have stated: quick disconnects are the way to go. The best of both worlds: on road and off!

 

[1 Bad CJ5]

I often pull over to let others pass (and I have a V8 too!) QUOTE]

Just 2 weeks ago coming back from Caribou down Hwy 72 I cant tell ya how many times I pulled over. I have never looked for pulloffs so much in my life. And yeah if it was up to that V8 I would be leaps and bounds ahead of everyone. However, corners laugh at my horsepower and torque.

 

[tarry99]

Yeah, I believe I am going to put one on with the quick disconnects. I was just lookin for a first hand experience of someone that could say if the sway bar made a world of difference or if it didnt make a lot of difference. As always, I appreciate everyone's input.

1 Bad............the easy answer is "Yes" it will help any vehicle simply because of of its resistance to torsional twisting created by a properly installed bar attached to the correct pickup points............how much in your case????????????

 

[mtnwhlr]

I often pull over to let others pass (and I have a V8 too!) QUOTE]

Just 2 weeks ago coming back from Caribou down Hwy 72 I cant tell ya how many times I pulled over. I have never looked for pulloffs so much in my life. And yeah if it was up to that V8 I would be leaps and bounds ahead of everyone. However, corners laugh at my horsepower and torque.

I think a lot of this is just a short wheelbase with Narrowtrac axles. They where built for runniung trails not going fast around corners

 

[Tin Medic]

I have quick dis-connects on mine and I love them. I took the bar off once on a trail and forgot to put it back on for the ride home, thought I was dead when I hit the first big turn. I pulled over right away and put the bar back on, it makes a big difference on my rig.


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