Rubicon Sway Bar

[Floriduramax3.0]

I’m sure this has been covered but my search terms don’t give me what I’m looking for. It was mentioned here a little while back about the amount of travel a locked Rubicon sway bar has. When driving highway speeds in the wind with 40’s and 5.5” Metalcloak springs, is this amount of slop in the disconnect housing adding to body roll? Would it be better to swap to a Helwig HD sway bar and manual disconnects for better highway manners? After doing the obstacles at Jeep Beach I’m very satisfied with suspension set up with sway bar disconnected but in the wind it’s a white knuckle experience ??

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[beast40]

You have a really tall box, nothing will fix that. Especially with a soft top on.

The upgrade from the Rubicon swaybar is an Antirock but that won't help your issue at all.

 

[LazyJL]

Getting rid of the slop in the swaybar disconnect cannot be a bad thing. My Rubicon has the same issue with the swaybar having an inch of play when one link is removed.
The dealer says that is normal. I see a solid swaybar in my future.

 

[Iggy]

Your center of gravity used to be around 24” from the ground. It’s now probably 30” or more. That’s a huge amount of side leverage you’ve added which is why you’re leaning over with side winds.

You’ll also have a lot of body roll when cornering.

The track bars will be beyond their reasonable range and you probably needs a Watts linkage instead to keep your axles centered.

I’m sure it is tough to drive. Good luck!

 

[JT1]

I’m sure this has been covered but my search terms don’t give me what I’m looking for. It was mentioned here a little while back about the amount of travel a locked Rubicon sway bar has. When driving highway speeds in the wind with 40’s and 5.5” Metalcloak springs, is this amount of slop in the disconnect housing adding to body roll? Would it be better to swap to a Helwig HD sway bar and manual disconnects for better highway manners? After doing the obstacles at Jeep Beach I’m very satisfied with suspension set up with sway bar disconnected but in the wind it’s a white knuckle experience ??

Do you have a rear track bar relocation bracket installed? It made a positive impact on roll resistance, and it drives better, but with 40s I'm sure the wind plays hell with it. I'm on 37s and it's an issue.

 

[GATORB8]

What shocks are you running?

I'm not as tall as you, but I definitely saw differences in body roll between shocks on our MC 3.5s.

 

[Floriduramax3.0]

Do you have a rear track bar relocation bracket installed? It made a positive impact on roll resistance, and it drives better, but with 40s I'm sure the wind plays hell with it. I'm on 37s and it's an issue.

Funny you mention that. Tracking number shows track bar relocation bracket will be here Thursday. I actually spoke in detail about with the guy from Tera Flex at Jeep Beach since I have their RT4 long arm kit.

 

[JT1]

Funny you mention that. Tracking number shows track bar relocation bracket will be here Thursday. I actually spoke in detail about with the guy from Tera Flex at Jeep Beach since I have their RT4 long arm kit.

Report back after install, it made a pretty substantial change in the handling, and bumps in the rear don't unsettle it as bad.

 

[Floriduramax3.0]

What shocks are you running?

I'm not as tall as you, but I definitely saw differences in body roll between shocks on our MC 3.5s.

I don’t know the model but they are large King remote res. shocks. It ride’s awesome and handles great. The wind does play hell with it. It also corners good for 40’s on 17” wheels.

 

[dcm80401]

What shocks are you running?

I'm not as tall as you, but I definitely saw differences in body roll between shocks on our MC 3.5s.

In wind I stiffen up the slow speed setting on my Fox DSC's and it makes quite a difference.

 

[AnnDee4444]

Try the track bar relocation first. Maybe the track bar braces could help also. Energy suspension makes polyurethane sway bar bushings: https://www.4wd.com/p/energy-suspension-front-sway-bar-bushing-set-red-2-5115r/_/R-BDVQ-2.5115R

I've seen someone else comment on smart-bar disconnect slop. Not sure if they're all like this or if it's a sign of wear.

 

[Roky]

Keep your expectations low with the relocation bracket, it helps 3.5” lift and 37s, but it’s not gonna be as effective on your rig…….

 

[Floriduramax3.0]

I installed the track bar relocation bracket as well as the Synergy rear track bar brace. I have to say it's a night and day difference. The rear no longer bounces side to side. It handles much better. I have been in some wind and it's much better. I haven't had the hard blow that initiated my post but freeway driving with cruise set at 80 is now a one hand relaxed feel. I can't believe it made that much difference. I'm waiting on a set of replacement springs and new isolator to get the front level and will align the suspension at that time as my caster is about 6-6.5 and the axles are about a 1/4" out of square. I still think the slop in that front sway bar can't be helping the situation. That more than an inch of movement from one side to the other can't be good. The tighter and stiffer that sway bar is the better! Thanks for the advice on the brackets!

 

[JT1]

I installed the track bar relocation bracket as well as the Synergy rear track bar brace. I have to say it's a night and day difference. The rear lo longer bounces side to side. It handles much better. I have been in some wind and it's much better. I haven't had the hard blow that initiated my post but freeway driving with cruise set at 80 is now a one hand relaxed feel. I can't believe it made that much difference. I'm waiting on a set of replacement springs and new isolator to get the front level and will align the suspension at that time as my caster is about 6-6.5 and the axles are about a 1/4" out of square. I still think the slop in that front sway bar can't be helping the situation. That more than an inch of movement from one side to the other can't be good. The tighter and stiffer that sway bar is the better! Thanks for the advice on the brackets!

Same experience I had! Glad it made a difference for you.

 

[CaJLMetalHead]

I installed the track bar relocation bracket as well as the Synergy rear track bar brace. I have to say it's a night and day difference. The rear no longer bounces side to side. It handles much better. I have been in some wind and it's much better. I haven't had the hard blow that initiated my post but freeway driving with cruise set at 80 is now a one hand relaxed feel. I can't believe it made that much difference. I'm waiting on a set of replacement springs and new isolator to get the front level and will align the suspension at that time as my caster is about 6-6.5 and the axles are about a 1/4" out of square. I still think the slop in that front sway bar can't be helping the situation. That more than an inch of movement from one side to the other can't be good. The tighter and stiffer that sway bar is the better! Thanks for the advice on the brackets!

Why replacement springs?.. something wrong with the ones you have installed now? ?

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