who rolls w/o sway bars?

[Andrew Homan]

Of course there isn't a law that says you have to have a sway bar. However, if an accident happens, they may point out that you've done away with an 'important' suspension piece that came from the factory, and may have prevented the accident from happening if it was still in place.

Of course, the same could be said about any number of mods I've done to my D2, so that had absolutely nothing to do with my adding the SlickRock disconnects


John F

Then we can be sued for putting larger than factory tires on. If you run 245/75-16s (d-1) you are now out of spec and caused the crash. By the way there is no such thing as an accident they are technically called crashes or collisions. Typically a crash is caused by driver error. The liability is in the drivers actions. In some cases you can be cited for faulty equipment (bad tires etc) but the vast majority are cause by driver error and usually excessive speed.

 

[nathansharkey]

I have a roof rack on my DiscoII and am often a little top heavy. Especially with the extra4-5 inches that I am higher with my 3" lift and 33" tires. I wouldn't consider removing the front or rear sway bar. Good luck to anyone who rolls their Disco with them removed, especially if you have passengers with good lawyers. My insurance company was leary about insuring me with the lift, but went for it. If I had the sway bars removed, I doubt I would have been able to find coverage. These are my thoughts, not yours. Take it for what it's worth. I also pull a trailer on a regular basis. Or at least I was, until my Safari Gard bumper with built in hitch folded. I couldn't imagine pulling a trailer without them.

 

[DCDisco]

3" rovertyme on a '97 D1 OME shocks. No sways. Daily dirver in DC to VA everyday. First few times I drove it felt tippy but once you get used to it you don't even notice it anymore. I actually think it corners better now that it leans over and "sets" the line.

 

[LiveAtTheEdge]

yeh i removed both and it was deffinatly an improvement, but i quickly reconnected the front one. freeway and quick movements at lower speeds were extremely..... extreme.

 

[discoute]

Every Rover that comes to my workshop for suspension has the sway bars removed and good quality shocks fitted, ie Bilstein, MX6 or similar.
However all suspension jobs I do have bigger than standard rims fitted with 32p offset so the track is increased by around 200mm, this set up works very well on the highway.

My thoughs are Classic rover never had sway bars fitted up to about 1985. and then only an option, the disco chassis is the same. I have successfully argued this with Australian tranport departments. Unless your design rules state that this group of vehicles must have sway bars then you may be ok to remove them.

glen

 

[Schlitz]

Removed the rear. 2" OME and isolators. No problems.

Schlitz-

 

[Andrew Homan]

If I used my disco for mostly freeway daiuy driving I would have left them on. Mine is mostly a trail rig. I do drive it to the trail and sometimes it is some distance away. I just drive for the condition. Perhaps I don't feel a rig with 33"s and a significant lift should do 85-90 down the freeway. I use the slow lane. That being said I don't seem to mind it. It was never a Porsche and could never be one.

 

[discoute]

If I used my disco for mostly freeway daiuy driving I would have left them on. Mine is mostly a trail rig. I do drive it to the trail and sometimes it is some distance away. I just drive for the condition. Perhaps I don't feel a rig with 33"s and a significant lift should do 85-90 down the freeway. I use the slow lane. That being said I don't seem to mind it. It was never a Porsche and could never be one.

Thats the key; drive to the conditions.

glen

 

[alex]

I drove mine daily without sway bars for years, and it was OK. Having said that, let me give you a piece of advice. Get disconnects. It handles much more predictably with the sway bars connected. Just do it. They're cheap (almost free if you make them yourself), and it only takes a few minutes to undo them at the trail head.

 

[smithers]

No sway bars for me. I did not notice because of the firmer springs.

 

[traveltoad]

DII
3" lift
OME shocks
Rack
Spare on rack

No sways.

No problem.

It ain't a sports car so I don't drive it like one.

 

[79bigmack]

'04 DII
3inch RTE w/ HD springs
7100's
RTE watts rear
SlickRocks DC's on the front
No rear sway

- Not noticable around town at all
- Noticable on a twisty hwy at 65mph or when you come flying down the offramp and didn't catch the recommended speed

* I am leaving the rear off until i find a good reason to put it back on....maybe if i have to tow a big trailer or something...other than that -- it's staying off!

 

[rtiqulatendisco]

5+ inch lift with 35's and NO sway bars and no problems. This is my daily driver.

 

[The Limey]

No rear on my D1...OME 762 and 763 springs...on 34" swamper LTB's...didnt even notice it gone...

 

[tpk241]

96' D1
OME 764 Front, 763 Rear = 2.25" Lift
33x12.50 BFG MT's

No Rear sway bar, didnt even notice taking it off .. From what I have read here it seems I will be getting disconnects for the front after i fit the relocation cones i have sittong at home. Currently I still have the front fitted.

Rear articulation on the back was definately hindered by the sway bar, if you are using shock mount dropper plates or long travel shocks then you will be limiting the travel by a mile by using a rear sway bar.

 

[RichardS]

96 DI, RTE HD 3" springs, OME shocks, 255/85 tires

I have home made disconnects on both the front and rear bars. I can feel the difference with them disconnected on the road and while I'm sure it is just fine, I do not like the feeling and prefer to have them connected. It only takes a few mins to disconnect/reconnect them. I spend a lot more time on road then off and do not mind at all crawling under the truck before/after an off road trip.

Best bet is for you to unbolt you bars, one at a time, starting with the rear. Just unbolt the links and tie the bars up out of the way with some wire or a bungee. Then you can feel the difference on your truck and decide if you like it or not.

 

[Asolo3j]

2" OME Lift
245/75-16 MT's

Removed the rear sway last night. Noticed that it was hanging down a little lower than normal... got underneath and the passenger side ball joint that holds it on had broken off and was in the little rubber boot. Noticed some big scrapes in the steel and with corosion and wheeling it broke.

No rear sway for me now.

 

[bigred]

3-4" RTE lift. No sways for years. Handles fine.