Thread: my take on swaybars - flex vs handling

I contacted the RTA regarding getting it certified with the swaybars removed,and as result contacted a suspension engineer I know. He informed me that as the rules read you can upgrade the swaybars but not downgrade them, unless the vehicle was sometimes supplied without swaybars. He thought that may have been the case with the D2 as he had a contract with the Navy in the past to fit swaybars to non-swaybar equipped D2's. He also said he would raise it as a hypothetical with the RTA at his next meeting with them.
I'll keep you all informed on the outcome.
Alex

Thanks Alex, I'm looking forward to your report. Swaybars seem to be designed to maintain steering geometry, particularly camber (and therefore contact patch area) in independent suspension systems whilst undergoing hard cornering. With live axles this is not an issue, as the camber will never change. I have had a RRC with no swaybars for the last 29 years and back when I used to drive it hard on the road there were never any handling problems. My previous car was an Alfa Romeo, so I had a fair concept of what good handling was.
Body roll under hard cornering was, however, another thing altogether. It was considerable, and would cause some alarm in new passengers. I suggest that Discoverys were fitted with those damn thick front swaybars to placate nervous passengers (and drivers) who didn't realise that body roll didn't equal imminent disaster. Never mind that ride comfort and off-road capability suffered.
My recently acquired Discovery 2a is disappointing in the ride and articulation departments, but a lot of that can be fixed. What a shame that Land Rover marketed a new luxury vehicle that had a ride like an old truck. Why the Navy would retro-fit swaybars beats me.
Packard had the slogan "Ask the man who owns one", and as a man who owns one of each, I can tell you that in terms of ride comfort and off-road ability the '81 Range Rover beats the standard 2003 Discovery hands down. To address this deficiency, turfing the swaybars would be a good start.

Originally Posted by Phil HH

Packard had the slogan "Ask the man who owns one", and as a man who owns one of each, I can tell you that in terms of ride comfort and off-road ability the '81 Range Rover beats the standard 2003 Discovery hands down. To address this deficiency, turfing the swaybars would be a good start.

Hope the RTA agree
As far as the navy adding swaybars my understanding was that they had D2's supplied WITHOUT swaybars and wanted the better road handling...
AFAIK D2's always had either swaybars or ACE, but if any were supplied without either then removal would not be a legal issue. What my suspension guru told me