sway bar

[TPyles]

How does the sway bar on a 1998 wrangler mount to the supports from the front axle. I looked at them and it appears that the rounded socket from ther rods connected to the axle just sits in a cup on the sway bar. I just got this thing and am doing some repairs to bring it up to snuff. Thanks for any help. Tom

[Blair25]

I took my sway bar off from the advise off some hard-core off-roaders, apperently it gives more flex and driving on the highway has not been a problem with rattles.

[Blair25]

I took my sway bar off, more flex

[klebart]

Originally Posted by Blair25

I took my sway bar off, more flex

The sway bar is a feature used mainly (but not exclusively) in SAFE turning. It should not be removed for a car being used regularly! I can not imagine a Jeep being passed for inspection without this being properly installed. The sway bar wracks your car while turning in order for your Jeep to SAFELY handle. It is there for a reason, and while the Jeep does handle similarly without it (my sway bar was broken without my knowledge for several months) - I have noticed that it does handle better with it. The sway bar has a serious purpose for everyday vehicles!!

[fredjacksonsan]

If the design is the same as the '97, the sway bar link is a two piece assembly. When new, it has a knuckle joint in the middle. After however many thousand miles, you'll get a clunking noise at the joint; then later it will come apart. Sounds like yours has come apart; you'll need a big (forget the size) torx head driver and a new part. Easy fix, recommend doing both sides at once, I did one, then the other one went a month later.

(again, if same as '97)


--edit: replaced "sway bar mount" with "sway bar link"

[fredjacksonsan]

You can also get some pretty good aftermarket sway bar links, that have a quick release on them. When you're headed off road, just pull the cotter pin and move one end out of the way - instant articulation.

[Stoeger]

Agreed. Get sway bar quick disconnects "discos" and disconnect them once on the trail.

I would not recommend removing your sway bar. It might handle okay during normal driving, but you'll be very sorry if you have to make an emergency maneuver and someone (yourself or others) could end up getting hurt.

The aftermarket parts are quite reasonable, actually, I think they are cheaper than getting the OEM links from the dealer.