What are the draw backs from removing the rear sway bars (besides the obvious you jokers...)?

Schlud - I remember watching your left rim disappear into the wheel-wells a few weekends ago (see pic below). Does removing the sways allow your back end to compress more (in addition to the increase articulation)? Or is that just because your right rear is extended?

The reason why I'm asking is, when I finally add Bilsteins I'm going to remove the rear sway bars - but I don't want to ruin my X's ability to tow heavy loads. I'm guessing the compression isn't a factor of the sway bars, but I just want to make sure.

Thanks
Stu

Removing your rear sway bar will give you greater articulation both up and down in the wheel well.

Having extra weight stored in the rear and having your sway bars disconnected might give you a bit more lean, but that's why people do it after they upgrade to stiffer shocks.

If you are towing something, your leaf springs are going to be the determining factor in how your truck responds.

Once you install your new shocks you may find that at articulation the sway bar will strike the shock as well. I dont know if that will be the case with the Bilsteins, but if their outside diameter is bigger than the OEM shocks I bet they will. As far as pulling a trailer or extra weight, you may want to ask Blenderhead how his X handles... He pulls a pop-up quite frequently.

One thing I can tell you for sure is, when I put my 9116's on I took my sway bar off. I couldn't tell any difference. As a matter of fact, it may even be a little stiffer. I usually have mine set to 3.

My biggest regret was not waiting for a couple of months longer until the Bilsteins came out. I hear they are valved better for the Xterra. The application for the Rancho 9116's was originally for the Montero.

They're actually "valved" for a whole host of applications, most of the shocks in the 9000 series are. The only one I remember off the top of my head is for the back of a Dodge Ram 1500 4WD, but they fit like 20 different vehicles.

So do you not like the 9000's? I've been very happy with mine, I wish their was a front Rancho 9000 that fit & worked well.

Oh no, I like 9600's fine. I'm not going to replace them unless I find out that there is a advantage to doing so.

What I meant was the 9600's were the shock that Rancho had recommended for the Montero. That eventually led to their recommendations to fit it to the Xterra. (all this information was givin to me by the guy at SLR by the way. Do you think he was pushing the Bilsteins maybe?) It was just the fact I didn't have much of a selection when I bought mine.

I like the fact I can adjust my shocks. I don't think you can do that on Bilsteins can you? Anyway there are a lot of Xterra owners who have them and I've heard zero complaints. So I'm keeping them on.

Do you adjust them down when you go off-road? I haven't had the need yet, just curious.

Just a FYI

My stock Nissan shocks had the same sway bar dent so it's a design problem, and doesn't have anything to do with aftermarket shocks.

They'll all get dented with the sway bar on. Although it hasn't seem to do anything to reduce shock performance.

You cannot adjust the Bilsteins like you can the Ranchos.

When going off-road, you should turn the dial on the Ranchos UP, not down - i.e. turn them to 4 or 5 off-road. I leave mine on 1 on-road for the smooth Cadillac ride. :D

I usually keep mine on 3 seems to work for me on and off-road. I think I will try it on 1 on the road though.

I have heard that SLR recommends different (bigger) shocks for the rear for use without the sway bar. Anyone know the part number for those?

SLR actually lists each PN for all the different applications and when to use them. Check out their site and you should be able to find the info there.

SHIT - no they don't...ignore the above, sorry

Stu

I just got my 2" shackles form SLR and Bilsteins for the rear WITHOUT the swaybar.

Part number, WITH shackles (2" longer) [duh] and thicker for application WITHOUT the sway bar, is:

F4-B46-2126-H0 <------ last character is a 'ZERO'

Hope this helps, G