sway bar orientation

96discoI

Well-known member
Feb 16, 2008
216
1
NorCal
I removed my front sway bar and forgot to mark the orientation. I noticed a blue paint mark on it after cleaning and I assume this is to mark the orientation at the factory. Does anyone know what the blue paint mark means? I also have the same blue splash on the rear diff. It is very obviously a factory mark with a 1in. brush. I know I can do trial and error but I prefer to have the knowledge...thanks
 

96discoI

Well-known member
Feb 16, 2008
216
1
NorCal
I like having the factory safety equipment. I also like the tighter handling. I would also appreciate any useful information about my question. This vehicle is my daily driver and it hauls my children and pregnant wife, so I will not be throwing it in the trash. Anyone else have any good info? If I were trying to break my rig on rocks and ravines I might never put the sway bar back on but I have driven with and without both bars and I prefer the tighter handling. Not to mention the fact that taking it off must be putting undue strain on all of the other components...tires are not cheap and neither are the other parts that will fail as a result of throwing it in the trash...
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,745
1,026
Northern Illinois
I think the painted mark has something to do with the stiffness and not so much the orientation . the same type of mark is put on the coil springs to ID them as heavy duty or standard . If your not going to offroad it put it back in . But if articulation ever becomes an issue get rid of it .
 

KyleT

Well-known member
Mar 28, 2007
6,059
8
39
Fort Worth, TEXAS
I think the painted mark has something to do with the stiffness and not so much the orientation . the same type of mark is put on the coil springs to ID them as heavy duty or standard . If your not going to offroad it put it back in . But if articulation ever becomes an issue get rid of it .

This. Se and se7, diesel gas have different rates iirc.
 

discostew

Well-known member
Sep 14, 2010
7,745
1,026
Northern Illinois
FWIW, the old Classics came without any sway bars. The one I had didn't seem to handle very differently from a lifted Disco.
The Hunter model came without swaybars . But I'm pretty sure the rest of them had them . But I agree that I can't tell when there gone either .
 

Keanan

Well-known member
Apr 15, 2010
219
1
Redlands, CA
I don't think the sway bar will care which way it is installed. It has the same twisting forces applied to it when you turn in either direction.


When you are ready to put it back on your truck put it in this instead.
299_dumpster.jpg
 
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TOM R

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2013
237
0
va/n.j.
Mine actually seems better without them, IMO they are too small in dia. To make a difference, mine are just laying in the scrap pile
 

96discoI

Well-known member
Feb 16, 2008
216
1
NorCal
It worked itself out. It only fits one way. The blue paint probably was a load indicator. I love the new ride. It feels like new shocks. corners better. the power gets to the tires much better/quicker. stops without rocking. It looks like the bad sway bars caused some abnormal wear on the bottom rear shock bushings. Those are now new and I have identified some loose 30 mm bolts on the end of the control arms. Those are cleaned/coated/tightened now and the rig feels like new for under 120 USD. Not into offroading with my DD but when we get a new car I may be inclined to go with the quick disconnect sway bars. for now i am happy. thanks
 

TOM R

Well-known member
Jul 19, 2013
237
0
va/n.j.
Glad it worked out, if you off road you will want to get rid of them the front drive shaft will hit the bar, disconnects do not solve this, if you do a lift front bar off is pretty much required for same reason, it is an axle articulation thing, and that front is just in a bad spot