7" of lift and rear sway bar isn't going to work - any ideas?

Area.3.Fiftyone · 06-24-2012, 02:35 PM

I'm just about done with the Long arm lift and ran into yet another problem today when I went to install the extended sway bar links.

Because of the amount of lift and moving my rear axle back, the geometry for the rear sway bar is just way off and I don't see any way to make it work other than heating it up and bending it.

My only other choice is to remove it altogether until I can get one from a TJ. They bolt to the axle so I've been told, and I would have to make some custom mounts on the sub frame side (which is no big deal).

Does anyone have any other ideas? I'm leaning towards just removing it for now but was wondering how that would make it handle in the rear? I know the factory one is pencil thin and probably doesn't do too much, but I was just wanting to hear from anyone that has removed it altogether and their impression on ride quality.

If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

**riot1987** · 06-24-2012, 02:42 PM

I took mine out at 4" of lift and it doesn't ride too bad at all. i would suggest getting an addco front sway if you havent already.

Kur · 06-24-2012, 02:55 PM

I've got the exact same issue on my ZJ at 7 inches. I even tried flipping the sway bar over, which helped the angle, but there is still no way to get the eye over my extended links. I am going to just remove it for now and see how it rides. If I decide I really need one, I'll probably go the TJ route. Besides, going with a TJ bar will also free up some space for the upper control arms on suspension compression.

Area.3.Fiftyone · 06-24-2012, 03:21 PM

After doing some more research on the interweb, it seems like my best be to be able to re-use the factory bar is to heat it as close to the end as possible.

That way it doesn't effect the strength or properties of the bar too much. There is also less chance of failure when keeping it close to the eyes.

I'm going to have at it with the torch tomorrow. The plan is to only bend the last 2 inches so that the eyes are perpendicular to the links.

I'll post some pics when I'm done.

FearTheEight24 · 06-24-2012, 04:39 PM

No rear sway here I'm at 5.5" anything over 3.5" you shouldn't be throwing it into corners to cause body roll anyway

**Technohead** · 06-24-2012, 06:36 PM

The primary purpose of the rear sway bar is to fine tune oversteer of the stock suspension. If you consider that lift, long arms, larger tires, etc have completely changed the stock handling characteristics then its basically a waste of time to mess around with the rear sway bar.

**biggoofy** · 06-24-2012, 06:57 PM

6.5 and no sway bars here lol but mine doesn't see much highway. I plan to put in an anti rock after I can get up the funds.

mr4x4 · 06-24-2012, 10:06 PM

No rear sway bar for me either 5.5" lift
But I have the claytons high clearance brackets and with the long arms there's no place for it anyways

**ratmonkey** · 06-24-2012, 11:52 PM

Antirock and tj bar here. Definitely helps on road manners and is a vast improvement Offroad over disco'ing.

mr4x4 · 06-25-2012, 12:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratmonkey

Antirock and tj bar here. Definitely helps on road manners and is a vast improvement Offroad over disco'ing.

I want the antirock

**BigClay** · 06-25-2012, 02:10 PM

No sway bars here either, very little highway driving, and I would not want to make an emergency turn of the steering wheel on the road.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratmonkey

Antirock and tj bar here. Definitely helps on road manners and is a vast improvement Offroad over disco'ing.

Not very fmailiar with the Antirock setup, how does it help offroad? Off camber situations?

Area.3.Fiftyone · 06-25-2012, 02:37 PM

Well, I decided to keep my rear sway bar because this Jeep will see lots of daily driving on the roads.

I took a torch to the very ends of the bar, and bent it up slightly so that it was nearly parallel with the bracket on the axle.

It looks like it's going to work out well, and the heat was kept to as close to the end as possible so that the temper of the bar was not affected.

gabrod72 · 06-25-2012, 02:44 PM

Nice. I was going to use mine but it gave me more trouble than it's worth. I was able to get it installed but since I'm on an 8.8 with no spacers I was afraid of it moving and gashing a hole in one of my sidewalls. I'm at around 6.5" with no rear and I take it on the highway all the time. With my setup on 35"s, I couldn't tell any difference with or without it on. As for the front though, I can feel when that one's gone the first time I turn.

EDIT: Looking good there... You're going to appreciate the way it drives when it's all done. Oh, and the increased capabilities off road are sure to please as well.

**Texas ZJ1** · 06-26-2012, 05:22 AM

I wish I could go outside and measure my rear swaybar links....but, I sold it. But, I did have longer links than it looks like you're running.

Hunter

Area.3.Fiftyone · 06-26-2012, 07:05 AM

Those were bought from IRO. I told them I was running 7 inches of lift and that is what they sent me.

They are quite a bit longer than the stock links.

In any case, I think it's going to be ok like that for now. I'll look into swapping in a TJ bar once I can source one.