Disconnected Front Sway Bar

[Aggretsuko]

New Jeep owner here. I’ve had my 2018 Jeep Wrangler Sahara for about 3 years now. Purchased used with modifications done by the previous owner. It is lifted and has 37s. I went to have my oil changed at the Jeep dealership and I asked them to check my vehicle over for possible maintenance. I was told I would need to replace my brakes soon and I was also told that my front sway bar was disconnected. This is my first jeep so I had no idea that I was driving around with a disconnected sway bar. I have not noticed any sort of death wobble when I drive and I haven’t noticed any handling issues on dry roads. I have noticed it did not handle well on snow covered roads whatsoever and on wet roads I noticed some occasional sliding. My tires are off-road tires not all weather tires, so I’m not sure if it’s the sway bar coming to play or my tires with wet or snowy roads.

They suggested that I reconnect the sway bar for safety issues. I don’t use it for off roading at all. (sacrilegious, I know! But I live in the city and eventually will) I have been driving the vehicle on the street without issues on dry roads having the sway bar disconnected. Should I have it reconnected? What issues will it cause to leave it disconnected and what issues will it cause to have it reconnected? The dealership told me that it appears that everything is stock and I would just need to purchase the links and have it reconnected.

I am also considering looking into a shop that deals with off-road modifications to maintain my vehicle because the dealership has not been great at being forthright with the modifications that have been done and any safety issues I can be up against unless I straight up ask them and answers vary depending on who’s on shift that day. Is it better to stick with the dealership on issues like this? My vehicle is not under warranty anymore.

Thanks!

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[jeep1]

Wow.. that's wild. Somebody installed removable sway bar links and then make them hard to remove by using cotter pins instead of the normal snap rings.

It's a little hard to be sure from the rusted parts but it looks like the links were too short and not enough thread was left on the adjustable links and they simply pulled apart ...

You very definitely should get them reconnected. Without them you will have pretty significant side-to-side sway and any sudden high speed maneuver (ie.. avoiding a deer) gets damn scary. At slow speeds, off-road, having your sway bar disconnected gives you much more flex since the sway bar is no longer trying to keep the two ends of your axle level....

You definitely have some sort of a lift, somebody went through the hassle of installing the bump stop extensions (notice the big black round things on the inside bottom of your springs). So, its very likely can just buy as set of OEM "REAR" links and use them in the front. Many of the lift kits do that ... replace the back ones with longer links, use the rears to replace the short stubby fronts.....

 

[Jeremynolan94]

Should I have it reconnected? What issues will it cause to leave it disconnected and what issues will it cause to have it reconnected? The dealership told me that it appears that everything is stock and I would just need to purchase the links and have it reconnected.

If you don't take your Jeep off road at all then you should reconnect them. While you can drive around perfectly fine with them disconnected, you'll likely notice your Jeep will feel much more "planted" and less wallowy in the corners with them connected. I've heard that emergency braking with a disconnected sway bar can get sketchy too, so just something to be aware of.

Your current end links appear to be broken, or perhapd came unthreaded from the base. Either way you should get new ones as the bushing looks shot. If you're lifted on 37s you'll likely need taller than stock end links. What lift do you have?

 

[DarthAWM]

That is not what I expected when you said disconnected. That's easily fixable though, sway bar links are readily available and you can even make it where you can disconnect when you want

 

[Aggretsuko]

Wow.. that's wild. Somebody installed removable sway bar links and then make them hard to remove by using cotter pins instead of the normal snap rings.

It's a little hard to be sure from the rusted parts but it looks like the links were too short and not enough thread was left on the adjustable links and they simply pulled apart ...

You very definitely should get them reconnected. Without them you will have pretty significant side-to-side sway and any sudden high speed maneuver (ie.. avoiding a deer) gets damn scary. At slow speeds, off-road, having your sway bar disconnected gives you much more flex since the sway bar is no longer trying to keep the two ends of your axle level....

You definitely have some sort of a lift, somebody went through the hassle of installing the bump stop extensions (notice the big black round things on the inside bottom of your springs). So, its very likely can just buy as set of OEM "REAR" links and use them in the front. Many of the lift kits do that ... replace the back ones with longer links, use the rears to replace the short stubby fronts.....

Thank you for your reply! Truly appreciated. These are the things I have no knowledge of and it’s very concerning. This is just one issue that has come to light that the previous owner has left me with. It seems that the previous owner also removed hardware from the after market tire carrier on my tailgate so now my tailgate has been sagging and Smittybuilt told me they can’t supply a replacement bolt/screw. Lovely.

I guess my next question would be should I have the sway bar reconnected by the dealership or by a 4 x 4 or off-road shop? Thanks again!

 

[Flip]

@Aggretsuko

If you're not using your jeep off-road I would most definitely reconnect the sway bar links.

I would also recommend purchasing about 4 cans of fluid film and hose down your frame & undercarriage. You'll never regret it.

Enjoy your jeep buddy.

 

[SadRobot]

I guess my next question would be should I have the sway bar reconnected by the dealership or by a 4 x 4 or off-road shop? Thanks again!

It's something you can easily do yourself with a wrench. I'd remove that old one and put a new one on. It looks like the bearings on the old ones are kind of toast.

If you check out youtube there are tons of videos on how to replace swaybar links.

 

[Aggretsuko]

If you don't take your Jeep off road at all then you should reconnect them. While you can drive around perfectly fine with them disconnected, you'll likely notice your Jeep will feel much more "planted" and less wallowy in the corners with them connected. I've heard that emergency braking with a disconnected sway bar can get sketchy too, so just something to be aware of.

Your current end links appear to be broken, or perhapd came unthreaded from the base. Either way you should get new ones as the bushing looks shot. If you're lifted on 37s you'll likely need taller than stock end links. What lift do you have?

Hi! Thank you for responding. I’m not sure what lift I have. I probably should have bought a stock used Jeep however, I am an absolute novice as this is my first Jeep and didn’t even think about issues like this. Based on the responses thus far, I will definitely need to get them reconnected. I definitely don’t want to be driving my family around like that. I’m mortified that I was! This forum is awesome. Thanks for sharing the knowledge to help me become an informed owner.

 

[Aggretsuko]

@Aggretsuko

If you're not using your jeep off-road I would most definitely reconnect the sway bar links.

I would also recommend purchasing about 4 cans of fluid film and hose down your frame & undercarriage. You'll never regret it.

Enjoy your jeep buddy.

Hi! Thank you so much! It definitely needs it. I will definitely do that. You guys are the best!

That is not what I expected when you said disconnected. That's easily fixable though, sway bar links are readily available and you can even make it where you can disconnect when you want

Thank you!

 

[jeepoch]

@Aggretsuko

Tina, the sway bar mechanically connects both sides of your suspension to minimize vehicle 'roll' when cornering. The higher your speed, or the tighter the turn, the more centripetal roll you'll experience. As the name implies, too great a turn for a given velocity and you will indeed flip your Jeep. Physics always has it's limits.

A connected sway bar greatly (significantly) reduces the potential for roll at even nominal speeds (>25mph).

A disconnected sway bar is very advantageous for off-road adventures since it allows both sides of your suspension to work independently, thus providing maximum articulation.

When flexing the suspension over difficult uneven terrain with a connected sway bar, as one side's wheel rises, it will prevent the other side's wheel from falling. With a disconnected sway bar, as one side rises, the other can independently fall as far as the suspension will allow. Keeping as much rubber on the ground as possible, which always promotes better traction.

However, a disconnected sway bar really promotes unsafe steering conditions at highway speeds. Any unanticipated swerve could potentially render a loss of control, thus greatly increasing the probability [likely leading to a crash]. Emphasis intended.

When driving on-road, one should always have both sway bar links connected. This should not be understated. Sure, some will give you advice across the spectrum about how they can overcome this risk but the sway bar was designed for a specific purpose. Ignoring it (by leaving them disconnected), renders the defeat of that purpose. I'm pretty certain that your insurance company will cringe and take that into account upon any crash claim. Especially, if a roll event was involved.

Any competent mechanic, whether at a dealership, 4x4 shop, or even a friend with a toolbox, will certainly advise you to fix them and have them reconnected.

Kind regards, stay safe.
Jay

 

[Aggretsuko]

@Aggretsuko

Tina, the sway bar mechanically connects both sides of your suspension to minimize vehicle 'roll' when cornering. The higher your speed, or the tighter the turn, the more centripetal roll you'll experience. As the name implies, too great a turn for a given velocity and you will indeed flip your Jeep. Physics always has it's limits.

A connected sway bar greatly (significantly) reduces the potential for roll at even nominal speeds (>25mph).

A disconnected sway bar is very advantageous for off-road adventures since it allows both sides of your suspension to work independently, thus providing maximum articulation.

When flexing the suspension over difficult uneven terrain with a connected sway bar, as one side's wheel rises, it will prevent the other side's wheel from falling. With a disconnected sway bar, as one side rises, the other can independently fall as far as the suspension will allow. Keeping as much rubber on the ground as possible, which always promotes better traction.

However, a disconnected sway bar really promotes unsafe steering conditions at highway speeds. Any unanticipated swerve could potentially render a loss of control, thus greatly increasing the probability [likely leading to a crash]. Emphasis intended.

When driving on-road, one should always have both sway bar links connected. This should not be understated. Sure, some will give you advice across the spectrum about how they can overcome this risk but the sway bar was designed for a specific purpose. Ignoring it (by leaving them disconnected), renders the defeat of that purpose. I'm pretty certain that your insurance company will cringe and take that into account upon any crash claim. Especially, if a roll event was involved.

Any competent mechanic, whether at a dealership, 4x4 shop, or even a friend with a toolbox, will certainly advise you to fix them and have them reconnected.

Kind regards, stay safe.
Jay

Thanks Jay! This was truly a case of me purchasing “as is” and having no prior Jeep knowledge, being completely ignorant and vulnerable about the condition of the sway bar. I really wish the salesperson that sold me the Jeep would have let me know. Thankfully, nothing has happened but I am now able to make it right.

The dealer swapped the tires for new off road tires before selling so I’m sure they were aware the sway bar links were not connected but failed to inform me. I did take it it to another dealer to have it looked over but they failed to mention the sway bar links as well.

I appreciate all the advice I’ve received from this forum.

Thanks! -Tina

 

[maestro5531]

Looks like you have JKS sway bar links, they do not disconnect by unthreading. I wonder if they are stripped out and became 2 piece sway bar link.

 

[Aggretsuko]

@maestro5531 I haven’t a clue. Judging by the things the previous owner did, my best bet is and will be me taking my Jeep to have the links replaced and re-connected to the sway bar.

 

[bd100]

Once they are reconnected you will feel more bumps from the road. But that's a good thing. That means more control and stability. If the bumpiness bothers you then you may wish to look at new shocks, whose job it is to absorb these bumps while maintaining control.

 

[rohdawg]

Looks like you have JKS sway bar links, they do not disconnect by unthreading. I wonder if they are stripped out and became 2 piece sway bar link.

I think you nailed it. I’m amazed that someone sold the Jeep like that. Well, not amazed… more disappointed to see someone take advantage of someone this way.

@Aggretsuko sorry you’re stuck cleaning up someone else’s mess. A reputable shop/good mechanic can have you all fixed up in no time.

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