Swaybar disconnects

[mattyg]

I was PM'd by another member about the installation and performance of my slickrock fabrication swaybar disconnects.
I thought I'd post the info on here for everyone.

Part One - Installation

They came without instructions but It was fairly straight forward. See pic 1 and 2. There were no washers supplied for under the mounting nuts and bolts so I put a couple on.

I mounted to the left / passenger side only as there was a general consensus on the forum that only one was required. ( which made sense at the time as it allows one side to move with the axle and the other to move free) I chose the left side as the right side has the panhard rod bracket sticking out and I thought that may limit clearance. See pic 3
It was supplied with stubs to secure them in a stowed position when they disconnected. This would only work if both were disconnected so I chose not to mount them and to cable tie the link to the swaybar to keep it out of the way when disconnected.

Part Two to come.....

[mattyg]

Part Two - performance

I went out and had a play flexing a while ago and took some pics. So I revisited the same spot today with the disconnects in and got some comparison pics.

I haven't had a chance to go for a decent off road since I put them in so I cannot give a proper review - just some observations from fairly static travel ramp stuff.

First three pics are with the sway bar connected.
There rear wheels had just started to slip a tiny bit when I was nearing the top.

Second three are with it disconnected.
There was no slip whatsoever. Notice how much flatter the car is sitting.

I was quite impressed with the difference. The flex was much more evenly distributed between front and rear axels. Notice in the last pic the space between the disconnect and the axle mount. This is how much more flex I got! (Minus a little bit of spring in the swaybar itself)

[goingbush]

good-o

Whenever I buy a 4WD if its got sway bars it the first thing to come off & go on the nature strip for hard rubbish collection.

Never been a problem for me on road without them (in a Defender and 80 & 100 series beforehand) . But I don't drive like that bloke that wears the Helmet on the Jeremy Clarkson show.

I'd be interested to hear if the on road handling has suffered with the sway bar disconnected.

(looks like the Warbys)

..Don

[mattyg]

It is indeed the Warby's - well observed Don!

There will be a Part Three where i found a bigger 'ramp' and found some limitations. I'll include a on road test diaconnected as well.

Stay tuned

[walker]

I have the disconnects on my D2, but I have to admit, I usually never have the connected. It drives fine with front and rear swaybars disconnected. There is a bit more body roll but still a lot less than a RRC.

[mattyg]

Part Three


So I found a bigger rock.

Front axle was at 23deg rear still on the ground, no slipping or traction control.

As you can see in the 4th pic the slickrock disconnect stowed on the side of the swaybar has come into contact with the axle. After seeing this it made me realise that using both disconnects (1 each side) would stop this as you could rotate the whole swaybar assembly up out of the way.

I am not sure I would get much more flex out of mine anyway as the tyres are pretty well tucked into the guards. If it flexed too much more I reckon it would risk dislocating a spring. If i were building a play truck with slinky springs then I'd put both in but as a all rounder with HD OME's I don't think I will.

Interestingly I tried this big rock with with my SLS at offroad height (+40mm) and I got wheel slip on the front right wheel. Pumping up the airbag has obviously reduced the flexibility in the back and the front can't make up for it.

I'd appreciate others thoughts on my findings. Especially the one disconnect or both.

Cheers
Matt

[twr7cx]

I have the disconnects on my D2, but I have to admit, I usually never have the connected. It drives fine with front and rear swaybars disconnected. There is a bit more body roll but still a lot less than a RRC.

Yuck! The ACE on my D2 played up the other day on the way to the beach (red light on the dash and the ACE stopped functioning). The handling of the vehicle at 60km/h was disgusting - heaps of body roll and wobble, wouldn't want to try that on the highway! I would imagine this would be the equivalent of driving with the swaybar removed or disconnected!

[mattyg]

By the way specs on mine for reference are:

40mm lift - ome HD coils front, SLS spacers rear.

Bilstien shocks + 40mm - parts 994 and 995.

+2" brake lines and pulled through extra abs wire

Cross member spaced out

265/75 MT MTZ on Range Rover 16x8 inch alloys road pressure.

[Alex 110]

I'm thinking about disconnects (or removing swaybars entirely) but I reckon its my shocks that are the limiting factor for me - I got Suspension Stuff "Silver" shocks that were listed for a +2" lift, but they are the same length as the original (LR branded) shocks I took off. All SS told me when I queried them was that my original shocks must be long-travel ones.
BTW 2 inches extra travel needed on the shocks before the springs can be levered out - forget dislocating.
The reason for posting here, is would the flex be better with disconnects even when I reckon the swaybars are not limiting travel??
Alex
PS sorry mods if I'm not supposed to badmouth suppliers - feel free to delete or modify as necessary:wasntme:

[walker]

Yuck! The ACE on my D2 played up the other day on the way to the beach (red light on the dash and the ACE stopped functioning). The handling of the vehicle at 60km/h was disgusting - heaps of body roll and wobble, wouldn't want to try that on the highway! I would imagine this would be the equivalent of driving with the swaybar removed or disconnected!

If you had that bad a handling with ACE disconnected then I would be looking at bushes etc for problems.
With my old D2 which had ACE I had a mod fitted which allowed me to switch off ACE when in high range. I tried this a few times on the highway and except for increased body roll the handling was good.
BTW this mod was fitted as it was a much nicer ride on bad dirt roads with ACE turned off. It was also handy for sand driving like Simpson which was mostly done in high range.

[twr7cx]

If you had that bad a handling with ACE disconnected then I would be looking at bushes etc for problems.

Might be the 32" tyres and 4" suspension lift and weight of the roof rack.

[twr7cx]

I got Suspension Stuff "Silver" shocks that were listed for a +2" lift, but they are the same length as the original (LR branded) shocks I took off. All SS told me when I queried them was that my original shocks must be long-travel ones.

Funny, I had a similar incident with them, except I purchased the Bilstein +2" shock absorbers from them. The units they first supplied were the standard Bilsteins (even though I had order the +2" and paid the high price for them), it took a lot of discussions before they took them back and supplied the correct units.

[disco2_dan]

Wow I'm impressed with the results, it's got me interested I might have to look into disconnects

[CJT]

Interesting results, the swaybars must have limited the travel a lot.

This is mine with ACE, 2" Dobinson Coils and Bilstein 994's & 995's.

It appears to be my brake lines limiting the flex at the moment.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/94.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/95.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/96.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/97.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/98.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/99.jpg

[mattyg]

Thanks for your comparison pics chris. Shows how good the ACE is- i wish i had it!

I wasnt sure as to whether or not the disconnects would help before they went in as i thought it may have been the HD coils preventing articulation in the front.

I am now super happy with the performance and the balance of the suspension. It will be enough for my needs, cant wait to test it out on a proper track !

[CJT]

Thanks for your comparison pics chris. Shows how good the ACE is- i wish i had it!

I wasnt sure as to whether or not the disconnects would help before they went in as i thought it may have been the HD coils preventing articulation in the front.

I am now super happy with the performance and the balance of the suspension. It will be enough for my needs, cant wait to test it out on a proper track !

No worries.

I also have HD coils in the front and Extra HD coils in the rear, seems to flex pretty well on the ramp, softer coils would be good on some tracks though.

[mattyg]

EDIT INSTALLATION

I forgot to mention greasing the disconnect links when installing.
They are supplied dry and MUST be greased before use.

(For some reason i cannot go back and edit the first post)

[CountP]

Matt,
If you don't mind me asking, what did you pay including shipping. I assume you bought them direct fron the USA?

Thanks
Ryan

[mattyg]

About A$200 including postage from Expedition Exchange.
That was for the set of two. I have my second one in the markets section for $90 if anyone's keen. :[bigwhistle]

[PhilipA]

It's good to see your swaybar contacts the inner guard on the LHS.LOL.

My new old D2 is the same and I was a bit worried.

I like those disconnects, so may get some when I get the old girl going properly. So much money spent so little time.

Regards Philip A

[mattyg]

It's good to see your swaybar contacts the inner guard on the LHS.LOL.

My new old D2 is the same and I was a bit worried.

I like those disconnects, so may get some when I get the old girl going properly. So much money spent so little time.

Regards Philip A

Yeah I know! It's only the plastic and doesn't seem to worry it. It did so before I put the disconnect in.

It's because of the lift - when the suspension is lifted the panhard rod swings the whole axle to the right. I've got a spare panhard rod I'm going to have a mate make adjustable to fix it.

[PhilipA]

It's because of the lift
Hmm, mine is stock everything.
Regards Philip A

[mattyg]

Hmm, mine is stock everything.
Regards Philip A

???