| Author | Message | ||
     Ryan Johnson (Disco007) New Member Username: Disco007 Post Number: 19 Registered: 01-2004 |
Just give me a quick run down of what this accomplishes and what it takes away from daily driving? I am new to this please explain. | ||
| Kevin Hans (Kmhans) New Member Username: Kmhans Post Number: 8 Registered: 01-2004 |
Pros: More axle articulation for off road driving (keeps wheels on the ground a little longer) Cons: A LITTLE more body roll in corners on the road, particularly if you have a laden roof rack. I think it is worthwhile to get rid of them, especially if you want to do more "off road" type modifications and driving later on. Also, they aren't standard (or at least they never used to be) in other parts of the world....Americans don't like body roll.....but we do like bench seats....go figure! | ||
| Ryan Johnson (Disco007) New Member Username: Disco007 Post Number: 20 Registered: 01-2004 |
Thanks. Fairly easy DIY? | ||
| Bill Mallin (Billmallin) Member Username: Billmallin Post Number: 112 Registered: 09-2003 |
Kevin's Pros and Cons analysis is accurate, but I'm not sure I agree with: "Get rid of THEM." I removed my rear; it hasn't made much difference on the highway, but like Kevin eluded to, I do get more articulation off-road. I wouldn�t remove the front; that�s me though. I put quick disconnects on the front of my DII. I still have the stability on the road, but off�road I get the articulation I was looking for. You might be interested in this article: http://www.discoweb.org/quickdisconnect/index.htm | ||
| Scott Scott (Scottoz) Member Username: Scottoz Post Number: 150 Registered: 02-2003 |
Americans dont like body roll huh? I beg to differ. Americans are the kings of Boulevard suspension! Most US production cars are softly suspended - springs and shockies. In Australia I have driven new and near new Corvetts that have more body roll than a 4 door passenger sedan made here (ie for example a GMH Commodore - not dis-similar to a UK/German Opel). Come on - you guys love lounge chair seats, soft rides and big strips of fake wood panneling all over the shop. What most US drivers know about handling could probably be written on the ass end of a postage stamp. Leave lack of body roll to the Europeans. Cheers from down under. S PS. This should be good for a laugh - As an Australian I am probably outnumbered by you fellas at 1000: 1 on this site. | ||
| Kevin Hans (Kmhans) New Member Username: Kmhans Post Number: 11 Registered: 01-2004 |
Our Land Rovers certainly feel different to folks not used to driving something with long travel/low center of gravity/articulation. I think the sensation can be pretty unnerving for people who are already intimidated by the size and height of many SUV's. Just be happy you only have one bench seat in your ride...and that its not in the front! | ||
| John Brazelton (Florida_rover) New Member Username: Florida_rover Post Number: 16 Registered: 07-2003 |
I removed the sway bars after installing the new suspension. Feels fine. I don't know about removing it on a stock sprung Rover. I'll leave that up to the experts.>JB | ||
| Andrew Maier (Newman) Senior Member Username: Newman Post Number: 547 Registered: 04-2003 |
Front and rears off, and hardly notice a difference...except if I'm about 10mph too fast on a sweeping turn (and then I start to notice it)... Andy | ||
| Frank Rafka (Mongosd2) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Mongosd2 Post Number: 367 Registered: 02-2003 |
Stock truck, really no reason to take them off. the stock shocks don't have the travel of a after market suspension. I have a OME lift without sways and I run a 285/75 yoko mt. No rubs...you need to adjust your driving style to compensate for the truck and the lift. These things are not made to go fast, or handle like a anything but a flying brick...If you want to go fast in a all-wheel drve vehicle, buy a WRX...it kills me that guys complain about body roll and handling issues when goin' 70mph...once again, flyin' brick... | ||
| Andrew Maier (Newman) Senior Member Username: Newman Post Number: 548 Registered: 04-2003 |
To clarify (since Frank seems to think I'm driving 70+ on curves): This could be 35 or 40 on the wrong curve around here...I have had to adjust my driving style more and more with each mod, and do think back favorably on the days of driving a low-slung coupe. Then the weather turns, or I go wheeling...  I still say cut 'em off. Then put aftermarket shocks and springs on the truck. | ||
| not the same Mike (Mikem) Member Username: Mikem Post Number: 86 Registered: 02-2003 |
In the case of sway bar removal, if you have to ask what it accomplishes, you don't really need to remove them. Run you truck stock. When you find yourself saying "I really need better articulation to run these trails", then you should start thinking about removing the sway bars. | ||
| Frank Rafka (Mongosd2) Dweb Lounge Member Username: Mongosd2 Post Number: 372 Registered: 02-2003 |
good point Mike... | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 1303 Registered: 09-2002 |
Ryan, yesterday, on my way to work, a moron slammed on his brakes when merging with slow traffic from the ramp in front of me; all I could do is to yank the wheel to the left and jump straight to the second lane. That was on a Rangie with OME HD springs, and no sway bars - it swayed back and forth so violently that I nearly crashed into a car in the right lane after moving into the second! That would have never happened in the Disco (with the same setup, but both sway bars), despite a lot higher center of gravity. I've driven the Disco with sway bars removed on mountain roads, and (while it wasn't as much fun) it wasn't much of an issue. But, accident avoidance can be handful. | ||
| Eric N (Eric_n) New Member Username: Eric_n Post Number: 33 Registered: 01-2004 |
If you pull your swaybars off then the thing that you are going to notice the most is sudden stops and sudden direction changes. When you need to slam on your brakes at any kind of speed it gets a little scary. The truck is going to want to go one way or the other and you will also feel the rear end wanting to come loose as well. At least that's what my truck does. Frank is right about the flying brick. That's what a Disco is. It's not ment to go fast or handle tight turns like a sports car. Even more so when you take off the swaybars. If you do take them off I would find a road with no one on it late at night and practice some braking at speed. That way you at least have an idea of what you are going to be in for when that dumbass on the highway cuts in front of you and then slams on his brakes. Every day isn't too bad but, emergencies are a different matter. | ||
| Jim Lupinetti (Jims95) New Member Username: Jims95 Post Number: 12 Registered: 08-2003 |
Back in the 60's & 70's, most vehicles were not equipped with sway bars. Sway was controlled by installing firmer shocks. On my first car I used Koni adjustable shocks to get better handling. Back then there were only a few companies (Addco Industries) that offered aftermarket sway bars for a few vehicles. I recommend to remove the sway bars for off-roading, and compensating with adjustable shocks like Rancho 9000's. It is possible to compensate for the ride and handling, and be able to remove the sway bars. I have a 1995 Range Rover SWB Classic that has been converted to springs, with Rancho 9000 shocks, and I have removed the sway bars. With this set-up, I set the firmness of the front and rear shocks depending on how I am using the vehicle. One setting for normal driving. Another setting with the back of the vehicle loaded. Another setting for towing a trailer. For off-road (slow speed), the shocks are full soft to allow ease of articulation. I also have a 1998 Discover LE 7 passenger with the original sway bars and Old Man Emu shocks. This vehicle has the same wheel base as the Range Rover SWB Classic. By adjusting the Rancho shocks, I can get the Range Rover to ride and handle comparably to the Discovery. When the Range Rover had the original air suspension, the sway bars limited articulation as well as keeping the air bag from coming off the mount and leaking air. With the spring conversion and no sway bars, this vehicle is so much better off-road. Jim Lupinetti | ||
| Peter Matusov (Pmatusov) Senior Member Username: Pmatusov Post Number: 1304 Registered: 09-2002 |
Jim, in my short experience with Rancho 9000 - the firmest setting was soft, the softest setting turned the shock into a limiting strap. | ||
| Jim Lupinetti (Jims95) New Member Username: Jims95 Post Number: 13 Registered: 08-2003 |
Peter, The conversion was done in December 2002 by West Coast Rovers (formerly Land Rover Unlimited). They offered me a choice, as well as customer feedback on their installations with Old Man Emu, Bilstien, and Rancho shocks. I have been on eight different off-road trips since the conversion in the California desserts and mountains, and I have no complaints with the Rancho's. This set-up works for me whethter on-road or off-road, unloaded or towing. I know that in the past, that Rancho was not known for durability. Maybe Rancho has finally improved their product, or I just got lucky with the Rancho's. Go figure! Jim |
