Sway Bar end link lengths

[richk225]

My question is regarding the length of the sway bar links when adding a lift especially if you are doing a custom lift that doesn’t include the links. Is there a general rule of thumb for each amount of lift you are adding, while using the stock sway bars. Do you measure the angle of the sway bar at factory lift height and try to keep it the same no matter how much lift you are adding? Say if you are adding 3” up front and 2” in the rear on a 393 Rubicon to lift and level it out what determines the length that you should use in front and rear? If you are just adding just a 1” spacer up front to level it out, how do you figure out the length that the link should be? I have received different answers from different suspension manufacturers

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[Roky]

My question is regarding the length of the sway bar links when adding a lift especially if you are doing a custom lift that doesn’t include the links. Is there a general rule of thumb for each amount of lift you are adding, while using the stock sway bars. Do you measure the angle of the sway bar at factory lift height and try to keep it the same no matter how much lift you are adding? Say if you are adding 3” up front and 2” in the rear on a 393 Rubicon to lift and level it out what determines the length that you should use in front and rear? If you are just adding just a 1” spacer up front to level it out, how do you figure out the length that the link should be? I have received different answers from different suspension manufacturers

There’s not a set length, you just want to keep the sway bar level to angled up 7-10 degrees if you’re not using the Rubi disco….. then you want to angle them up enough so they don’t straighten out or invert when using electric. disco.
After you lift it, unhook the sway bar set it where you want it then measure center to center of connecting holes….. then get a set of adjustable links or adjustable quick disconnects……

 

[richk225]

There’s not a set length, you just want to keep the sway bar level to angled up 7-10 degrees if you’re not using the Rubi disco….. then you want to angle them up enough so they don’t straighten out or invert when using electric. disco.
After you lift it, unhook the sway bar set it where you want it then measure center to center of connecting holes….. then get a set of adjustable links or adjustable quick disconnects……

Thank you, I thought about measuring the angle of the way bar and keeping it at the same angle after the lift and just measuring frome hole to hole. Sound about right?

 

[Roky]

Thank you, I thought about measuring the angle of the way bar and keeping it at the same angle after the lift and just measuring frome hole to hole. Sound about right?

Yep that works….

 

[bjeepz]

You will want to consider the shock length up front, some lifts come with shocks that are very long, some not so much.

I recently added a 1-inch spacer to the front of my Rubicon XR and Falcon 2.1 2-3.5 inch shocks that are 27.5 inches long extended. Basically 3 inches longer than the factory XR shocks or 5 inches longer than standard Rubicon shocks. At ride height and street driving all is good, at full extension it is not so good! I realize the photo doesn't show the links but gives an idea of droop. I wasn't willing to push it any further to see if there was more flex left to be had.

I called @TeraFlex and asked if they had a recommended link length and the guy I spoke with might as have been my neighbours dog, had no useful info at all!

I am considering just adding the Mopar lifts links that are an inch longer than the XR links.

Another link that interests me is the ICON link, but I am not able to find any length information.

 

[Mx5red]

You will want to consider the shock length up front, some lifts come with shocks that are very long, some not so much.

I recently added a 1-inch spacer to the front of my Rubicon XR and Falcon 2.1 2-3.5 inch shocks that are 27.5 inches long extended. Basically 3 inches longer than the factory XR shocks or 5 inches longer than standard Rubicon shocks. At ride height and street driving all is good, at full extension it is not so good! I realize the photo doesn't show the links but gives an idea of droop. I wasn't willing to push it any further to see if there was more flex left to be had.

I called @TeraFlex and asked if they had a recommended link length and the guy I spoke with might as have been my neighbours dog, had no useful info at all!

I am considering just adding the Mopar lifts links that are an inch longer than the XR links.

Another link that interests me is the ICON link, but I am not able to find any length information.

I got those figuring they were like half price versions of Rock Krawler no limits links.
Icon part#22061 says for ~2.5” lift
“END LINK MAX ALLOWABLE ADJUSTMENT FORM CENTER OF ROD END TO CENTER OF ROD END IS 9.75”
https://images.iconfigurators.app/pdf/I22061_REVB_9246.pdf

 

[richk225]

I got those figuring they were like half price versions of Rock Krawler no limits links.
Icon part#22061 says for ~2.5” lift
“END LINK MAX ALLOWABLE ADJUSTMENT FORM CENTER OF ROD END TO CENTER OF ROD END IS 9.75”
https://images.iconfigurators.app/pdf/I22061_REVB_9246.pdf

Thank you for the heads up!
Where did you end up getting them from?

 

[richk225]

You will want to consider the shock length up front, some lifts come with shocks that are very long, some not so much.

I recently added a 1-inch spacer to the front of my Rubicon XR and Falcon 2.1 2-3.5 inch shocks that are 27.5 inches long extended. Basically 3 inches longer than the factory XR shocks or 5 inches longer than standard Rubicon shocks. At ride height and street driving all is good, at full extension it is not so good! I realize the photo doesn't show the links but gives an idea of droop. I wasn't willing to push it any further to see if there was more flex left to be had.

I called @TeraFlex and asked if they had a recommended link length and the guy I spoke with might as have been my neighbours dog, had no useful info at all!

I am considering just adding the Mopar lifts links that are an inch longer than the XR links.

Another link that interests me is the ICON link, but I am not able to find any length information.

That is kinda the same response I had received after making several calls, I`m just wondering if the dog had tilted his head sideways like mine does when he is confused lol

Thank you for all of the information and I too have a 392 XR. I think I will just check the current angle and duplicate it after the lift and measure from center of each hole. I did not know the differences between the shock lengths.
"I recently added a 1-inch spacer to the front of my Rubicon XR and Falcon 2.1 2-3.5 inch shocks that are 27.5 inches long extended. Basically 3 inches longer than the factory XR shocks or 5 inches longer than standard Rubicon shocks" Good to know!

 

[bjeepz]

I got those figuring they were like half price versions of Rock Krawler no limits links.
Icon part#22061 says for ~2.5” lift
“END LINK MAX ALLOWABLE ADJUSTMENT FORM CENTER OF ROD END TO CENTER OF ROD END IS 9.75”
https://images.iconfigurators.app/pdf/I22061_REVB_9246.pdf

Thanks for that link. I am not keen on having to drill the sway bar so these are probably not what I am looking for. Trying to keep things simple and under warranty!

 

[Bill_BCNtoNY]

I bought cut-to-length links from Nolathane in a very similar situation to yours. It was easy enough to measure (twice!) and then make the cut.

https://www.nolathane.com/products/rev010-0010-sway-bar-link

 

[bjeepz]

That is kinda the same response I had received after making several calls, I`m just wondering if the dog had tilted his head sideways like mine does when he is confused lol

Thank you for all of the information and I too have a 392 XR. I think I will just check the current angle and duplicate it after the lift and measure from center of each hole. I did not know the differences between the shock lengths.
"I recently added a 1-inch spacer to the front of my Rubicon XR and Falcon 2.1 2-3.5 inch shocks that are 27.5 inches long extended. Basically 3 inches longer than the factory XR shocks or 5 inches longer than standard Rubicon shocks" Good to know!

hahahaha

Mine isn't a 392 XR sadly but a 3.6 E-torque :-(

When asking Teraflex my question was specific to the shock length on droop, I was not impressed with the person I spoke with at all.

Another option for fixed length no drilling is the Rancho link, they are 8.75 inches long and comparable in cost to the Mopar links.

 

[Mx5red]

@richk225
forget if I got them from northridge??
@bjeepz
I did the same thing, got excited about finding the icons then backpedaled about the drilling. I think every single other link I looked at does the same thing, because all American manufacturers use a 1/2” bolt instead of just using metric.
So no matter what you’re going to have to drill it out, unless you just use the longer links from the mopar lift kit, which I believe you can find online separately (they just aren’t as good/flexy).
Also, the bar was super easy to drill out. Soft metal. Took 20 seconds.
If you were afraid of going back to stock, you could always put a thin metal sleeve over the stock bolt to add up to 1/2”.
I did that for the Mojave shocks I put on my rubicon, instead of drilling out the shock towers.

 

[richk225]

hahahaha

Mine isn't a 392 XR sadly but a 3.6 E-torque :-(

When asking Teraflex my question was specific to the shock length on droop, I was not impressed with the person I spoke with at all.

Another option for fixed length no drilling is the Rancho link, they are 8.75 inches long and comparable in cost to the Mopar links.

I sadly miss my V-6 non E-torque JLUR Ribicon, Why , because I was able to put a RIPP supercharger on it and get really excellent performance with them tuning it, over 375 hp at the wheels on 91 octane fuel and still managed to get twice the milage I get with my 392. Still can't beat the sound of a V-8 but I do miss that Jeep

 

[bjeepz]

I'm def happy with the performance of the E-torque XR package. Last Jeep was a 2022 Mojave on 35's and was happy with that one also. But if the $$ were on my side I'd be extra happy with the V8! The last time I had a V8 was a 2014 Regular cab F150, the sound was always satisfying.

 

[richk225]

@richk225
forget if I got them from northridge??
@bjeepz
I did the same thing, got excited about finding the icons then backpedaled about the drilling. I think every single other link I looked at does the same thing, because all American manufacturers use a 1/2” bolt instead of just using metric.
So no matter what you’re going to have to drill it out, unless you just use the longer links from the mopar lift kit, which I believe you can find online separately (they just aren’t as good/flexy).
Also, the bar was super easy to drill out. Soft metal. Took 20 seconds.
If you were afraid of going back to stock, you could always put a thin metal sleeve over the stock bolt to add up to 1/2”.
I did that for the Mojave shocks I put on my rubicon, instead of drilling out the shock towers.

Thank you! Not afraid to drill out the sway bar. Last Jeep I had to drill out the knuckle for the high steer kit and that was a bear to do, it was before companies offered no drill kits. It was , slow, oil dam that hurt over and over and each time the drill bit grabbed I knew I was shorting the lifespan of my wrists lol

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