Removing Front Swaybar

[fishsticks]

Hmm. I'm getting mixed info here I think. Ok, so last weekend I did the front and rear struts and shocks, with Mark's 3" spacers. Today, I was able to get the Massive \upper and lower control arms in and the panhard bar. In doing the rears, the end links hit the upper control arms, so I removed the rear swaY bar. I am wondering. Hardtrails, you keep saying you "had" them both off... What does that mean? That you now have them back on? Is it safe to have them off? I drive it almost only on the road, but now that I'm playing with it, I might get it off road. Can I get a straight answer? Is it safe to have the front, rear, or both sway bars off. Its not a race car and I know that. I plan on learning the way it feels for a while, before getting on the highway. Also, is there any one else using the Massive products?

I ran with both removed for over a year. You will get body roll. If you are OK with that then fine. I eventually put my front swaybar back on and left the rear off. Truck feels close enough to stock.

Putting the rear bar back on with those fancy control arms you have seems like a waste.

[bartonmd]

Just did ~200 miles of winding and switchback mountain roads, including The Dragon (shown) and the Diamondback, with QD front end links and a completely removed rear swaybar. Rear was loaded enough that it took ~25psi in the Airlift 1000 bags to keep it level, plus the trailer with 2 bikes in it trying to push the rear around. Couldn't run them quite as fast as completely stock (sans lift and with rear swaybar), but it handled pretty flat with next to no body roll. I did ~30mph all the way through Deal's Gap, except for where I had to wait for some Harleys to pull over and let me past, then I got sped back up.

[v7guy]

So if you have a 3" lift and z71 springs (that aren't collapsed) with longer brake lines disconnecting the rear is safe?

I've wanted to rock no rear swaybar but the talk of the rear brake lines not being long enoungh has made me very hesitant.Seriously I'm nervous, has anybody documented the parts needed?

[HARDTRAILZ]

So if you have a 3" lift and z71 springs (that aren't collapsed) with longer brake lines disconnecting the rear is safe?

I've wanted to rock no rear swaybar but the talk of the rear brake lines not being long enoungh has made me very hesitant.Seriously I'm nervous, has anybody documented the parts needed?

With 2 inch lift springs and a spacer my brake lines are fine w no swaybar

[v7guy]

I vaguely remeber warnings that the 3" lift with z71s and no swaybar cause serious tension on the brake lines when flexed. It's why I ask while Mike was showing his rig... I'm envious, can't lie. lol

All razzing aside. I dare say almost nobody appreciates Mikes contributions more than I. But I am very sure there are multiple documentations of this combination on this board that is deemed to be hazardous to the brake lines. Give me a bit, I'll dig up the threads.

[v7guy]

So BDS/Fox racing shocks extend to 27" per my thread here... viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2431

According to your build thread anything over 26" will require extending brake lines, it's on page one about 2/3rds of the way down, the post is on Feb 23rd 2012, you can find it here... viewtopic.php?f=25&t=282

Gordinho80 mentions the same specs in his suspension limiting straps thread that over 26" will require longer brake lines, 1st post page 1, May 16 2012, you can find ir here... viewtopic.php?f=27&t=3203&hilit=Brake+lines

Here there are concerns about the brake lines being too short a year before the previous posts... viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1397&hilit=Brake+lines&start=20


Like I mentioned, I was only half serious with my post about Mike but it is a concern I have given the stuff I've read. I've been an obvious slacker by not doing my own measurements but I generally feel confident in the info on this board. If anything has changed I'm appreciative of the info. I know I have to refer to old threads I've posted for the correct measurements and I'm sure I've misposted info in the past. Just want to make sure we're all on the same page.

[bartonmd]

Completely safe for me. I have stock length Bilstein shocks in the rear. I do plan on looking into it when i get longer 5100s soon, though. The real conversation here is about handling dynamics. Making sure you don't pull your lines off should be in your setup, regardless of anti-roll bar. Even with the rear connected and front disconnected, I've totally flexed out the rear, so don't think that little bitty sway bar back there is protecting your brake lines from a setup that could potentially pull them apart. That's a good way to find out the hard way 20 miles from pavement.

Mike

[fishsticks]

So BDS/Fox racing shocks extend to 27" per my thread here... viewtopic.php?f=15&t=2431

According to your build thread anything over 26" will require extending brake lines, it's on page one about 2/3rds of the way down, the post is on Feb 23rd 2012, you can find it here... viewtopic.php?f=25&t=282

Gordinho80 mentions the same specs in his suspension limiting straps thread that over 26" will require longer brake lines, 1st post page 1, May 16 2012, you can find ir here... viewtopic.php?f=27&t=3203&hilit=Brake+lines

Here there are concerns about the brake lines being too short a year before the previous posts... viewtopic.php?f=11&t=1397&hilit=Brake+lines&start=20


Like I mentioned, I was only half serious with my post about Mike but it is a concern I have given the stuff I've read. I've been an obvious slacker by not doing my own measurements but I generally feel confident in the info on this board. If anything has changed I'm appreciative of the info. I know I have to refer to old threads I've posted for the correct measurements and I'm sure I've misposted info in the past. Just want to make sure we're all on the same page.

Unbolt the brackets where the hard line meets the flexible line as a safety measure. I ran brackets that made my shocks extended out another 2 inches over the normal BDS placement.

All of those flexy pics I've taken are with stock brake lines. I DO have EXT ebrake cables, but they were free so I put them on when I swapped rear axles.

[v7guy]

Cool deal, thanks for the info. :thumbleft: