Rear Crosstrek Sway Bar - Do You Really Need It?

[@rwilcox_71]

Loving the shnazzy new channel intro! Again....awesome info. My wannabe pampered 2021 Subi Sport will never see any of this activity but it's great learning about it's potential! Keep up the great work!

[@TomtheDilettante]

Right on! thanks for noticing :) I figured it was about time to come up with some kind of "branding". As for your "pampered" Sport...a less modded car is not a lesser car...if it brings you joy then that's all that matters so keep on keeping on! Thanks for your continued support and have a good one!

[@TheExtra40414]

Just found your channel, may have watched most of your videos already... I own a 17' outback, so not exactly the same, but I definitely like this type of content. Keep up the good work!

[@TomtheDilettante]

Welcome aboard and thanks for watching! I really like the Outbacks. Much roomier than my little Crosstrek and just as capable if not more so with the extra power. KZbin is new to me...only been doing this for 6 months or so, but it's a lot of fun so far. Glad you're enjoying the content. I'll do my best to keep it up.

[@MatthewHeiskell]

Excellent video Tom! You did a great job presenting the information and performing the tests! Your production quality never ceases to amaze me. I agree with everything that you said in the video. It is very easy to live without the rear sway bar, but disconnecting the front one is going to make a significant difference in steering responsiveness. A quick jerk of the wheel will result in tucking a wheel instead of changing direction. This is where the sway bar disconnects will be key. Mine have been gone for so long, that I forgot where they attach, but you might have very easy access to the front ones if you fully turn the steering wheel. Also, you forgot to mention that off road comfort AND traction is improved with true fully independent suspension (sway bars disconnected). My Subaru is nose heavy too, under steer city, but if you wanted a sporty Subaru, the you would have gotten a WRX, right? Thanks for the shout out haha, I’m looking forward to the next video. You will be able to crawl up the ramps with full control, but the already minimal steering response will be replaced with extra body roll. You have stiffer springs in the front, right? To accommodate the Warn bumper and winch? That should help a little.

[@TomtheDilettante]

Hey Matthew, was hoping you'd see this video sooner rather than later! Thanks again for the idea and inspiration. Totally forgot to mention the improved off road comfort and traction. My bad. "A quick jerk of the wheel will result in tucking a wheel instead of changing direction"

[@applesnotoranges]

@Tom the Dilettante have you tried ironman 2" kit? I installed it few days ago, and it's the most amazing thing that happened to my crosstrek. I did the extra weight for the front and back

[@CustomAddics]

Hi, you must think of the vehicle as a unit, everything is working together, so by pulling off the rear sway this will increase the strain on the front sway possible leading to premature wear

[@SynicalBeats]

I removed them on my 2004 Legacy and holy crap I got so much flex. Wish I could post a photo to show.

[@TheAdventureZombie]

Fantastic! I've been wanting to see this in video form. Well done, Tom :)

[@TheAdventureZombie]

And I loved the intro :)

[@TomtheDilettante]

Thanks man! It satisfied a curiosity to be sure. Looking forward to testing out the front but I already know disconnecting completely will probably render the thing un-drivable on the road. So, I'm mentally thinking thru ways to make quick disconnect sway bar links before starting a video. Have ideas but none too practical so I'm still on the drawing board.

[@TheAdventureZombie]

@@TomtheDilettante I'm defiantly curious to see what you come up with, and how the car handles with the fronts disconnected as well. Just remember you have a cool gadget you can use to prototype parts now :p All depends how crazy you want to get with it I suppose, that's a lot of work, lol!

[@jacobellis3531]

Put a 2” lift on my 2016 Outback and ended up doing a rear sway bar delete because I couldn’t reconnect the end links to the control arms and have had no issues at all. Good to see i can take a corner at 30 mph now😂

[@TomtheDilettante]

LOL! Yeah, it's doable on the Crosstrek. I wouldn't recommend trying to drift in it, but if you're driving it "normally" for what it is (not a WRX) then it works fine for me. BTW, very cool on the lifted Outback! Great vehicle!

[@soundsolutions]

@@TomtheDilettante how's your vehicle been going since the rear swaybar delete. Have you managed to test it offroading?

[@johnyang6969]

Can you do a video on how to pull out the sway bar completely?

[@xtrekadventure8225]

Guess I'm pulling out the ole tool box soon. I believe my rear sway bar has been getting noisier when heading off the beaten path. It doesn't seem to enjoy the twisting and binding of the great outdoors as much as I do.

[@TomtheDilettante]

LOL! Well, if something is broke or aint working right, that's my cue to either upgrade it or ditch it (if non-essential). All I had for my road test was my calibrated a$$ but it felt good enough to run without to me so I pulled it for that little bit of extra performance on the trails. The front sway bar, however, I feel like that will not work if missing. So I'm trying to think of how to do quick disconnect sway bar links on the front before attempting that video. We'll see. Anyway, thanks for watching and good luck! Lemme know if your experience varies :)

[@soundsolutions]

@@TomtheDilettante A fellow enthusiast in Victoria owns a SG Forester, deleted his front and rear swaybars after fitting 4" lift kit. The links would need to be changed to suit such a big lift to reconnect anyway, and custom links cost $$$. His video on trails showed excellent articulation but it did come at loss of road performance (bodyroll). He also mentioned to check with state legislation if its legal, so you don't get in trouble with authorities and have problems with insurance claims... in case of an accident. 😎

[@troywargo9882]

I have a 2013 XV and I use the roof rack and pull a ALINER camper. Don't drive on trail you do but do spend a lot of time on trials in southwest Texas with a total 3 inch lift.

[@TomtheDilettante]

Super cool! I've seen those ALINERS at RV shows and I like em a lot. You don't find it too heavy to tow with an XV? I'm paranoid about burning up the CVT by trying to pull something too heavy, but that could just be unfounded paranoia.

[@troywargo9882]

@@TomtheDilettante The crosstrek can tow 1000 lbs and that's the weight of ALINER

[@Eric-es4zs]

Great video! Thanks again Tom for doing the testing for us. Do you think you might someday go with longer struts? Does the lift play a role in the travel length you are getting?

[@TomtheDilettante]

Thanks Eric! I'd like to replace the struts someday. I've actually been eyeballing the Ironman kit for the Crosstrek which looks to be more robust than the spacers and RalliTek spring setup I have now. But...hard to justify the extra expense when I've only got 1 year on my current lift ;) As for travel, I think the overall travel is probably in line with OEM travel. I say that because the strut length and other key suspension components that relate to overall suspension geometry are all stock (spindles, control arms, etc...). Disconnecting the sway bar just lets each wheel articulate independently without feedback from another wheel which is why you get a little additional travel. To get more suspension droop, I'd probably have to get longer struts. I'm no engineer, but that's my theory anyway...pardon the ramble LOL. Anyway, thanks for watching and have a good one!

[@alien7161]

The way you are speaking in this video reminds me of Neil Peart. Life took him too early.

[@jmullner76]

294 is the Autobahn. What does that make the Dan Ryan?

[@TomtheDilettante]

Seems whenever I'm on it, it's a parking lot :P

[@mattk.5258]

I would not recommend doing this in the front. The stock subaru lower control arm bushings are pretty much garbage, the more angle you put on them the faster they get chewed up. My forester is 3 years old with a 2 inch lift, and i just had to replace my bushings. I'm actually upgrading my sway bars, front and back with the whiteline sway bar and end link kit. New bushings are also whiteline. Even with just a lift expect those LCA bushings to get torn up sooner or later.

[@TomtheDilettante]

Thanks Matt! No doubt. I already know with relative certainty the outcome of trying to do this up front. As you said...aint gunna work. at least not such that it maintains any semblance of decent on-road performance. So, before I try shooting that video I'm trying to come up with some kind of quick disconnect sway bar link. The dang OEM links are like pencils! So not a whole lot to work with there. We shall see. Good to know about the LCA bushings too. I'll keep an eye on those. BTW, a 2" lifted Forester!? Awesome!! I wasn't originally a fan of Foresters, but they've totally grown on me. Might consider one in the future for myself. Stay safe, happy tinkering and thanks for watching!

[@arulost]

Nice vid. Took mine off a few months ago. Removal was easy

[@TomtheDilettante]

nice! Yeah, taking em off was a snap. I'm cure drivers with a more calibrated a$$ would say the on-road performance loss is unacceptable but it was acceptable for me. The front though? That'll probably be a totally different story haha. Stay tuned though, I'll be experimenting with that sometime soon :) Thanks for watching!

[@arulost]

@@TomtheDilettante I did break the driver front end link connected to the sway bar (long story) and did not notice a difference with normal driving

[@mugsy5672]

Any idea of how to turn off the drl ? '18 and after they moved the easy to get to relay behind the tire panel .

[@TomtheDilettante]

Haven't figured this one out yet myself. I'd love to put the DRLs on a separate switch. It drives me nuts that they're tied into the high beams. I have cheaper LED high beam replacement bulbs that don't handle the lower DRL voltage well and the result is they just flicker. Drives me bananas. Hopefully I'll crack that one sooner or later and when I do I'll certainly share it here. If you have any suggestions, I'm all ears :)

[@soundsolutions]

@@TomtheDilettante I installed "in line capacitors" to my LED's to stop the flickering. Works well, get them on eBay etc.

[@chainsawcharl1e677]

Disconnecting the rear sway bar will induce more understeer.

[@rickoshea8138]

It is not just about body roll; no rear swaybar makes the steering "slow" and produces understeer if you push the vehicle. Snowy roads are not likely to show you this because you are conditioned not to move the steering fast, or far off center. You can get the same effect as removing sway bars for offroad driving by lowering the tire pressure so that the "footprint" is 1.5" closer to the rim. It is easier to undo for onroad driving.

[@freedom_foz_6337]

Did you remove the front sway bar yet?

[@TomtheDilettante]

Negative. not yet. I have too much weight on the car to keep it off permanently. I do want to try it, but would like to try to fab up some kind of quick disconnect system. Easier said than done with these pencil thin links :P

[@freedom_foz_6337]

@@TomtheDilettante yes!!! I have a 2” lift and one of the end link extension brackets broke on the trail and in the process... Tore the ABS, bent the end link, tore the boot on my tie rod and knocked all the wheel weights on the wheel... needless to say I fixed it all but am preying someone will come out with a better bracket or a quick disconnect kit... it’s a common failure point... I contacted a few manufacturers but not bites yet...

[@soundsolutions]

@@freedom_foz_6337 would you recommend disconnecting the links before trailblazing?

[@freedom_foz_6337]

@@soundsolutions yes, it will improve traction based on better articulation and if you have a spacer lift on newer models you’re more likely to break the extension brackets.

[@freedom_foz_6337]

@@soundsolutions kzbin.info/www/bejne/qoLIloV9hrOmea8

[@PennsylvaniaDualSport]

People will buy anything for these cars just to say they have it and you don’t. Come up with a quick disconnect system and treckies will say shut up and take my money! Did you rub fender at all on your autobahn slalom course?

[@Nardypants]

I think it already exists.

[@TomtheDilettante]

LOL! no doubt. i'm actually trying to figure out how to make some QD sway bar links for the front just to see if I can. As for fender rub, not really. The rears didn't end up tucking so much that they rubbed. My fronts rub a bit as is (when slightly turned and suspension is under load) so I suspect disconnecting front sway bar will exacerbate that. TBD.

[@TomtheDilettante]

Interesting! I hadn't found QD front links for the Crosstrek but I admit I didn't look too hard yet. You happen to have a link or reference? I'd love to see how others did it to see if I can mimic the design.

[@Nardypants]

@@TomtheDilettante Oh, front. Haven't heard of those.

[@DarkneszFalls]

What mount is that for your radio?

[@grumpybugger110]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/fn2moomkeM-Aars It's a RAM mount.

[@DarkneszFalls]

@@grumpybugger110 Oh I see now! I love that set up!

[@grumpybugger110]

@@DarkneszFalls I ordered it because of the video, just waiting for it to arrive. It looks pretty flash imo, I'm a it worried about drilling into my car though :/

[@TomtheDilettante]

Thanks @Jim Smith! You rock! @DarkneszFalls, Jim is correct. It's a Ram mount setup with 1" balls and the plate behind the Yaesu 400 XDR is from LidoMounts. I believe I left part number references in my 1 year mod overview (kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5Cwl32HZa9-rMk). Hope that helps a bit. If you have any other questions lemme know and I'll do my best to answer. Thanks for watching and have a good one!

[@DarkneszFalls]

@@TomtheDilettante Thank you so much! This is the first video of yours I found and subscribed. Love your stuff. The ram mount seems awesome, but I fell vicitm to my small phone screen! Im looking for a solution for just my radio mic. At first I didn't realize that was your whole radio. Alas I'm excited to see the result of removing the front sway bar.

[@DD-Aerial-Photography]

3rd

[@TomtheDilettante]

LOL! You guys crack me up

[@DD-Aerial-Photography]

@@TomtheDilettante i wouldn't say you were on 294, say you were on a "test track"

[@TomtheDilettante]

LOL...yup, sounds like you're familiar with the road :)

[@DD-Aerial-Photography]

@@TomtheDilettante yep, live in Shorewood. I put my spare tire on top btw

[@nicholastorres2442]

Second.

[@bryguy9159]

First!

[@TomtheDilettante]

winner!

[@stevenswinehart634]

'Why did I remove my Sway bars?' - Tiger Woods

[@abecoulter8550]

its SUE-BAR-ROO not SUE-BOO-ROO