Lifted 1st gen Tacoma Driving without a sway bar

Let's see what happens when you remove the sway bar from a 1st gen Tacoma and how it affects the ride on and off-road.
For more info check out my Instagram @overlandunderbudget

[@giaxxone]

Alright! I’m gonna try it. My singular goal is to have a better experience on very rough and unmaintained gravel roads. While most videos on this topic are all about flex, you articulated quite well and reinforced my own thoughts on how allowing the front tires to move fully independently should lead to better control and comfort in these specific conditions and how the sway bar may be making it far worse than it needs to be. Thanks!… 3yrs later.

[@TheMobiltoy]

I have a similar setup without the added weight on top and a bit smaller tires and have done well with it. I like the way you built it on on a budget. Great example. Thanks for all the great content.

[@OverlandUnderBudget]

Thank you, Bill, I really appreciate it.

[@bogotstogoskiing]

I love the way mine handles with an OME lift with the sway bar. My ideal situation would be a quick release when I was going offroad. You definitely feel the disadvantage with it while wheeling.

[@chrisking6695]

Took my sway bar off today. Horrible. I did a quick evasive maneuver and my wife said it looked like I was gonna roll over. It also felt like that. And the funny thing is I have a sway bar in the rear lol. I’m just used to sports cars

[@erice4611]

I’m all for disconnecting it off-road but do that at 65mph on freeway avoiding a collision and u might lose control. For springs buy the rear leafs from all pro off-road.

[@josegoodwin8812]

Thanks for your experiment wonder about car insurance company response. keep up the good work on videos

[@OverlandUnderBudget]

That's a great question! I suppose if you were involved in a rollover on the road they might investigate, but for the most part, i wouldn't think it would be any different then a truck that was lifted or otherwise modified.

[@RyanNash20]

Sway bars are important if you're doing 65+ on the highway and have to make a hard correction. If you ever have to avoid a deadly obstacle (someone pulling out in front of you, head on, cow in the road) at high speeds the sway bar might save your life. I'm making some quick disconnects for my 1st gen since I can't seem to find any anywhere for sale.

[@natehernandez1748]

I’ve been saving up for a used Tacoma for a few months and Two weeks ago I somehow found your rig walk around video and I fell in love with how your truck looked I decided to go with a 4 door as well and I bought this past Friday I was freaking happy on my home with it I went to put insurance on the truck and this Tuesday I officially got it registered to me at the dmv but yesterday I lost control and ended up hitting a tree I started crying so much not because of any pain( I came out fine ) but because I put so much money into the truck i knew I wouldn’t be able to get it fixed anytime soon and that killed me so bad I love your videos man hopefully one day if I get it fixed I’ll be able to go on a drive with you and your buds

[@Lexusgx550]

Nate Hernandez things happen man. Glad you are safe. Try fix it or get new one. You can test drive my Tacoma 3rd gen. 🚛

[@juantrickpony8680]

Nate Hernandez happens bro I would cry too

[@OverlandUnderBudget]

oh my gosh thats terrible to hear! im hoping you get your dreams back on the road soon!

[@milkcam]

Any updates on the taco?

[@99v8cobra]

Great input. Bye bye sway bar

[@bquade70]

Excellent info 👍👍

[@mahsheenman]

Short and sweet. 👍

[@iMernerner]

From what I learned, Rear Swaybar is more important one and there is no reason to remove it like- at all(it does not increase suspension travel). And removing rear swaybar is far more dangerous for trucks. So remember folks, never remove rear swaybar.

[@OverlandUnderBudget]

Probably true! But this truck didn’t come with one from the factor

[@Zipporaider]

Did you remove front and rear sway bars? I removed my rear sway bar 10 years ago on my 2000 4runner, and other than scaring all my passengers there has been no downsides. Still have the front but break sway bar links frequently :-).

[@bensambell5862]

My sway bar linkage broke and was like that for a few months before I realized it wasn’t my shocks. Definitely felt like more of a Baja truck but rolled like an airplane hitting bumps on highways, which was unsettling. Ended up getting it fixed

[@shootmalones]

I kinda wanna try this because my taco feels really stiff plus my sway bar links are warn

[@henryallen3559]

What’s the phone mount you’re using? Does it plug into the key slot for the airbag?

[@cjcaliendo158]

Hey! Love your videos. I have an 02 double cab Tacoma similar to yours. I have the bilstein 5100s in the front with stock coils but they seem pretty stiff (top setting). What setting do you have yours at?

[@OverlandUnderBudget]

Thank you! Glad you are enjoying them, its been fun to share my projects. I have the exact same setup. Maybe my coils are more worn out? my truck feels very supple in the front.

[@Z-Ack]

I got a 6" lift on my taco and kinda afraid to drive without it.. is a lot of travel to be swaying.. lol

[@JesseRizo]

Nice!!!! 🔥🔥🤙

[@OverlandUnderBudget]

Thanks 🔥

[@paulthompson661]

Took mine off and feels way better! But I’m on eibach coil overs

[@SOLDADITO76]

Might not feel to bad in a IFS truck with only a two inch lift. Change your center of gravity a bit more and take a highway corner a little to fast and see how hard your pucker factor goes up. I run a sway bar while street driving, but when it’s time to hit heavy trails I disconnect the sway bar and air down.

[@OverlandUnderBudget]

Heck ya, definitely a whole different game if this was a straight axel truck... I looked into making a quick disconnect sway bar but the design of the links and the sway bar on these 1st gen tacomas makes it not possible.

[@Z-Ack]

Its possible, you need a u joint style disconnect with a pin you pull to didconnect: reconnecting is the difficult part..

[@Shultzchet]

I've seen a couple of these for tacomas but I haven't found anything on removing a ranger swaybar, I'd assume they would be fairly similar. I removed mine earlier today and I'm gonna go test it out tomorrow. I've got a 2 inch lift, blocks in the rear and torsion keys in the front, so the front between the lift method and the swaybars feels super stiff, the only time I can tell the front suspension is actually doing anything is hitting a speedbump fast and straight on, but a bump that hits one wheel it feels terrible. And also on-road I am usually hitting corners faster than most people in regular cars so I figure so what if I have to slow down a little bit, the guy infront of me is slowing me down anyways.

[@Z-Ack]

Those torsion suspensions on rangers are what kills the ride.. cant get around it, at least you got the keys to do the front lift and didnt torque the shit out of the bars.. i ended up getting adjustable shocks on the front that would adjust dampening and spring rate which helped but still rides rough over bumps..

[@Shultzchet]

@@Z-Ack I don't really see a difference between replacing the keys vs just tightening the stock ones, both methods just apply more initial torque to the bars. I did tale the swaybar off though and it made a big difference in actually allowing the front suspension to work properly over independent bumps. I do need new shocks though, I can actually bounce the front end off the ground just by pushing up and down on the bumper a few times.

[@ZER0o10]

R you still running without sway bar? Thx

[@Lexusgx550]

Nice truck.

[@OverlandUnderBudget]

Thanks 👍

[@Bob_Diesel]

Is removing the sway bar hard on other components of the suspension? Does it wear other components more quickly?

[@OverlandUnderBudget]

I dont believe so, at least not harder on the truck then doing trails haha

[@Absolute_Unit135]

I know there are other off-road channels that point out that by removing the front sway bar, it can make the front wheels flex hard enough to rear brake/abs or other lines. Just depends on the wheeling and how your truck is set up. They also say that it can make your tires rub much more (due to the added flex advantage), so that might be a deal breaker for you depending on how much clearance you have to begin with.

[@Colin-he7ve]

Ok definitely SLO

[@OverlandUnderBudget]

haha yep!

[@camyota]

I wouldn't say it's dangerous under normal circumstances but if you have any worn out front suspension components then removing it will amplify the movement.

[@OverlandUnderBudget]

That's something to consider, and I would recommend taking care of any worn-out components before you move on to modifying the truck.

[@luispina4012]

👍👍

[@santosj2274]

Sway bar delete without upgrading the suspension (especially shock absorber) isn't a good idea. Sway bar delete + tuned shocks = Gold

[@Rorona550]

Out of curiosity what is your mpg?

[@OverlandUnderBudget]

Right now its 15.4 avg

[@Rorona550]

Overland Under Budget so,etching must be wrong with my truck I only get 14 and I don’t have any gear in it that would be adding weight.