Trying no sways
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2010
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Trying no sways
97 f250 460 4" lift twin beam. Took both sways off, so far only tested it around the hood but towing through the hills tomorrow. Just the short spin I've done so far seems pretty firm. I'm working on TWO things. Trying to smooth out the ride and getting the sways installed proper. I just put the skyjacker lift on and my front sway bar just isn't rite, as it goes under the spring it only clears it by 1/4" or less - the links for the kit are waaay longer so that ain't rite. The only thing I could see would be to drop the sway where it mounts in the front center. If anyone could shed lite on how to install or imput on just not running them - that would be great. NOTE: I do have bags in the rear I use only for heavy loads
Fleet Owner
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Kentucky
Sway bars are there for a reason. Hard core off-roaders disconnect or completely remove them so they do not restrict suspension travel. On a street driven vehicle the sway bars are just that....they keep the vehicle from leaning too far when cornering. If the link bars in the kit are too long then I suspect they sent you the wrong ones.
I would not want to be in your vehicle when you are towing through the hills with a lifted suspension and no sway bars.
I would not want to be in your vehicle when you are towing through the hills with a lifted suspension and no sway bars.
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Just got back. Towing 18' river jet with 393 in it. 70 on the freeway 50ish thru hills. Ride is much nicer. Truck always drove really straight I think the new springs are way stiffer the stock ones and that combined with improperly setup sways, just made it way to stiff. I'll keep working on getting my sways set up proper. But for now its way better with out. I don't see any safty issues, drove all roads at posted speeds (40 corners at 50) with some ruts, bumps standing water and I couldn't notice ANY body roll or looseness. Unless I'm missing something? It seems way safe. If you think I'm overlooking something please let me know. Like I said I'll keep working on the sways but for now I sure like it better without
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Ford included swaybars with their towing and camper packages for a reason- the heaveir weights need more help keeping it under control. Swaybars should not cause a stiff ride cruising down the road where both wheels are going through the same oscillations, they are there to transfer the up travel of the outside wheel/tire to the inside wheel/tire when going around a corner resulting in less boddy lean.
One thing to keep in mind- if you are involved in an accident with your swaybars unhooked you could be at fault because you have disabled some of the factory equipped safety equipment.
One thing to keep in mind- if you are involved in an accident with your swaybars unhooked you could be at fault because you have disabled some of the factory equipped safety equipment.
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Ok thank you. I'll get them figured out. I think the front sway needs mount drops not different end links like skyjacker sold me. The way I've been running them (installed the same as before the 4" lift) if definitely effects the ride. You could see, it's like leavening the sway connected and putting a 4" lift just isn't rite, stretching the system so the bar comes off the end link at a 45 instead of a 90 deg angle.
Also was told and are you saying some trucks just like mine did not come with sways
Also was told and are you saying some trucks just like mine did not come with sways
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The Bronco forum is full of well respected individuals in our online community that say ditch them. I took them off my 1991 Bronco and noticed no difference. My lifted 89 Bronco has them but IDK, too lazy to take em off or care.
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Ditching them is great on a vehicle that is used OFF ROAD- the Wrangler Rubicon and Dodge Power Wagons even come with electric disconnects from the factory. BUT on the road towing or carrying a heavy load they should be functional- the ones on the Wranglers even reconnect automatically when you get above 18 MPH.
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From: Braham MN
Apparently none of you have looked under a diesel ford truck.....no sway bars to been see. In fact i will bet that 75% of these trucks DON'T have sway bars and so far i dont think anyone has gotten sued because they didnt have them.
If you like the truck without them leave them off and go on with your life.
Diesel Rod
If you like the truck without them leave them off and go on with your life.
Diesel Rod
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Apparently none of you have looked under a diesel ford truck.....no sway bars to been see. In fact i will bet that 75% of these trucks DON'T have sway bars and so far i dont think anyone has gotten sued because they didnt have them.
If you like the truck without them leave them off and go on with your life.
Diesel Rod
If you like the truck without them leave them off and go on with your life.
Diesel Rod
Last edited by Bansheesandrider; Dec 16, 2012 at 07:56 PM. Reason: because
Senior User
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Ditching them is great on a vehicle that is used OFF ROAD- the Wrangler Rubicon and Dodge Power Wagons even come with electric disconnects from the factory. BUT on the road towing or carrying a heavy load they should be functional- the ones on the Wranglers even reconnect automatically when you get above 18 MPH.
Posting Guru
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From: Braham MN
My point is ALOT of trucks are running around without swaybars from the factory and they handle just fine.
Diesel Rod
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From: Central Wisconsin
My F250 had front and rear sway bars when I bought it. I removed the front sway bar when I did the SAS. I removed the rear sway bar shortly after because the bushings were going out of it.