Do swaybar disconnects (anti-roll bars) always help?

What's the effect of a swaybar disconnect, also known as an anti-roll bar? Watch and find out.
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[@nealesmith1873]

Good video! Had not considered the ground clearance advantage before.

[@L2SFBC]

Glad it was helpful!

[@off-roadingexplained8417]

I'm glad you are covering this topic I've mentioned this to a few people and get funny looks.

[@L2SFBC]

They say "but the clearance under the diff doesn't change" and you say "but it does" and they say "no it can't you're thinking of independent" and you say...?

[@off-roadingexplained8417]

@@L2SFBC yep. Trigonometry.

[@L2SFBC]

You mean magic...

[@TinkerersAdventure]

Very informative! I never thought about the diff clearance part but it totally makes sense

[@L2SFBC]

I didn't either until it happened...whenever a vehicle gets stuck, I always have a good think about why. This is a good idea for the most effective and safest recovery, but also you learn interesting things as well. Such was the case here. Also lowers chassis down. Is flex ALWAYS good? No. Can people get their heads around changing their ideas about something which has been a central tenet of offroading since forever? Some struggle...

[@operation4wheelz]

I’ve found that this is one of those facts people get their back up about. People claiming they it’s the “quality of the sway bar etc etc. somehow people have these magical sway bars that are both stiff and soft at the same time.

[@L2SFBC]

Keen to see your video take on this!

[@operation4wheelz]

@@L2SFBC exactly the same really. I’m part the way through commentary video of driving Mt Walker why I left it connected for parts of it. I thinks it partially handy to leave it connected if you got break over angle issues.

[@husq2100]

This was a good visual comparison and some fair points. The Jeep was probably the best vehicle to demonstrate this (visually) but also probably some skewed results. That is, the majority of solid front axle vehicles sold in Australia are equipped with radius arms as the suspension link type. These are basically a form or ARB, and have much higher roll stiffness than most rear link set up. Patrols having the highest front roll stiffness, Land Cruisers next, then Land Rovers the best (D2s the best amongst those) NOTE I haven’t seen a Ineos in person. Yet. Then you have the rear links, Patrol and LCs with parallel 4 link + Panhard and LR with single triangulated 4 link (wishbone upper) It would be interesting to see a comparison of one of these vehicles with no ARB in the front, a selectable rear ARB and to see the differences driving similar terrain as in this video. You may find with the rear engaged, it forces the front to “work” more giving a more stable vehicle. Will that change capability is the question… It’s a shame Australia Kinetic Suspension got bought out and somewhat disappeared.

[@fabulousoffroaddesigns5080]

This is an important skill to learn. I have been talking about this for years. It is most noticeable when cresting a hill or a dune on a 45° angle so as to not belly out on the break over. Many SFA drivers catch their front diff when using their disconnect.

[@L2SFBC]

Yep there too. What's SFA ?

[@paultucker4923]

I would guess San Francisco Area It would be an educated guess, but possibly wrong. I'm just a Tasmanian ;

[@L2SFBC]

To me it's Sweet FA, but possibly wrong, I'm just ignorant...

[@paultucker4923]

Science Fiction Aircrew?@@L2SFBC

[@angelotsi849]

@@L2SFBC SFA --> Solid Front Axle. Or any of the other options mentioned.

[@scotthallenberg3575]

Does this mean you’re dedicating 2024 to Jeeps…can’t wait! 😂 This is a good look at the sway bar disconnect and knowing when to and when not to use it. Well done!

[@L2SFBC]

No 2024 is not Year of Jeep but if I can get a Wrangler up against something else I will...

[@scotthallenberg3575]

Would love to see the Jeep with the Grenadier just to see how they tackle similar challenging terrain. I do get they’re not quite in the same class with payload and towing but still would be interesting.

[@joezephyr]

@@L2SFBC I have a two door JL and you have a jimny. My friends have a Gladiator.

[@overlandready]

I've ran with a full ARB (Anti-Roll Bar) setup for years, it has some limitations but the LR set is fairly good, it doesn't really stop full rear articulation but does reduce front, which actually works even with no lockers and no TC, it does teach you wheel placement, which in all fairness is a must for improved off road driving. On the Defender build, I have front and rear ARB's fitted specifically to reduce articulation and have the wheel off the floor, This allows the TC (BTC) to work more efficiently and keep forward momentum. Having 3 wheels on the floor can actually improve traction as 2 wheels will share most of the weight of the vehicle and the 3rd will still be in contact with some weight, that wheel is the key to forward movement, if it has traction you move, if it doesn't you don't. Same as if the opposing wheel has full droop, the problem here is if the axle has full droop, it levels the body and you have less weight on the low traction driving wheel so less traction, it would be split between the 2 lighter wheels and thus potentially less traction all over. Obviously this is dependant on a lot of other variables so is not absolute.

[@overlandready]

I'm wondering if something like the JLR ACE system can be engineered to actually pull and push the ARB to benefit where need be with wheel high or low, it should be possible, so essentially an active ARB.

[@L2SFBC]

Which Defender, L663, Puma, TD5 or earlier?

[@jm6056]

Excellent video. Never realised about having more ground clearance with sway bar in. Thanks.

[@L2SFBC]

thanks, please share!

[@KevinSmith-wr1sy]

Brilliant demonstration of the importance of lockers! Thanks and happy new year!

[@L2SFBC]

Happy new year!

[@MrEdsfedup]

Very interesting discussion! Front roll resistance has dramatic effects on rear traction (esp going up hill). I believe that a disconnected front bar has more to do with assisting the rear axle to gain more traction at both wheels and less about front traction. How does disconnecting the rear change things? How do things change while going up- and downhill?

[@L2SFBC]

Disconnecting the front has two positive effects; freer travel up/down, and more travel. Stability is enhanced too as the front more closely matches the rear.

[@amitkaushal1]

I am using Yokohama 215/75R 15 AT with airpressure of 28 in all tyres in Jimny 5 door. Today I took the vehicle in the hills for the first time & to my surprise...I found the car was a bit jerky on Road whereas it was settling properly while passing through path holes or rough terrain. As a driver I felt a lot of body roll on corners in hills & was afraid as if the vehicle may get unstable on corners. I was driving solo & without any luggage. There are no other alterations done in the vehicle..I mean no weight additions apart from tyres upgradation. Can you pl suggest solution to this ... should I reduce the tyre pressure further from 28 while driving in hills.

[@L2SFBC]

28psi cold is about right for Jimny, increasing tyre pressure will make it bouncier. The Jimny is a pretty bad onroad handler so it won't even feel great...

[@ShlomoWalfish]

good video, as a newbe off reader using a 2018 Jimny, I didn't go up a steep rocky hill on the edge of a mountain cliff, since the path was tilted left quite a bit and was concerned about rolling to the side then over. Would installing sway bars keep the wheel more stable and to the ground EVEN on the left leaning angle to it wouldn't tip over as easily? Then I guess on a bumpier path it would be better off. I am assuming for road driving it would be better on, so I guess a quick disconnect would be good to chose for the different applications.

[@L2SFBC]

Yes it would. Ideally you want disconnects so you can tailor the car as required.

[@andrewberg2361]

Unfortunately I have to crawl underneath the car with a 14 and 17 to do my sway bar disconnect, but I have found it beneficial

[@FSLucc]

great video, thanks! Would be fair to say that diff locks + connected sway bars is be the best combination, considering the better traction combined with better clearance?

[@L2SFBC]

Depends on the situation. I would run with the swaybars disconnected UNLESS there was a clearance issue, and in that case consider connecting. 95% of the time disconnection is better; better traction and stability.

[@FSLucc]

got it! Thanks for the reply @@L2SFBC Just got my first 4x4 and learning a lot with your videos!

[@L2SFBC]

More to come...

[@jacksmack2382]

I am confused about the likelihood of rolling the vehicle on its side. If I understand you correctly rolling the vehicle is less likely if the sway bar is disconnected. Correct?

[@L2SFBC]

Depends on the situation but generally swaybars disconnected will mean more stability.

[@NarsilsBane]

I have a question for veteran off roaders: does adding lockers to a stock vehicle mess with the traction control systems?

[@L2SFBC]

See caption

[@NarsilsBane]

@@L2SFBC I rewatched the video with captions on, I did not hear you address my question. Do you have a timestamp?

[@L2SFBC]

Sorry I replied to the wrong comment. The answer to your question is that BTC does not engage when a locker is engaged as there is no difference in speed between two wheels on an axle.

[@NarsilsBane]

@@L2SFBC Thanks dude!