Electric Sway Bar Mod Work Around
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JK Enthusiast
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 195
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From: Tijeras, NM
Electric Sway Bar Mod Work Around
Electric Sway Bar Mod Work Around 
This Mod is really a Work Around. It will allow one to drive the Jeep faster before the sway bar reengages at the 18 MPH mark. I have a 2008 JKUX with an after market Mopar sway bar add on.
Legal stuff: Now I know Chrysler built in this 18 MPH reengage with a 14 MPH re-disconnect speed and that’s nice, but if one uses a mechanical disconnect it really does not matter anyway. So use this “work around” at your own risk.
Research:
I took apart the Sway Bar motor and discovered that it has a large chip board in it about the size of 2 cell phones. The wrangler is using data to control the motor not voltage. So a simple “Hot wire” wont work without some reengineering. I also tried to disconnect power after disengaging the sway bar, but that just made it reengage again. Meaning that it uses constant voltage to stay open. If one decides to attempt to “reengineer” the motor DO NOT TAKE THE MOTOR OUT IT IS SPRING LOADED AND THE PARTS WILL FLY OUT. ONE CAN TAKE THE CHIP BOARD OUT WITHOUT THIS HAPPENING.
I also found out that the sway bar will disconnect in 4H mode not just 4L. I have seen blogs say that it will only work in 4L but can’t remember where.
The Work around: Trick the Jeep computer into thinking the Jeep is going slower than it really is.
One will need: 1) An alternate source as a speedometer. Like: a GPS or Radar Gun. 2) A chip programmer that will change the tire size.
Now here what one does: Make a note of your computers tire size so you can program it back later. Now change the tire size to 22.75 Inches (MY JEEPS COMPUTOR WILL NOT EXCEPT ANY SIZE LOWER YOURS MAY). Ones computer will think one has installed smaller tires than are actually on the Jeep thus making the speedometer read slower. I run 33” off road tires normally but conducted this experiment with my 32” stock tires so at a real speed of 25 MPH the computer thinks the Jeep is going 17 thus allowing me to travel faster then normal. I tried to change the axel ratios but that did not seem to affect the speedometer. With larger tires I expect to get even higher speeds.
NOTE: THESE #’S ARE APROXIMATE YOUR RESULATES MAY VERY. IF THERE ARE LARGER TIRES ON THE JEEP THEN THE SPEED DIFFERENCE WILL INCREASE.
NOTE: Changing the speedometer to be in error will be greater at greater speeds. For example: a 5 mile difference at 20 MPH could become a 15 mile difference at 60 MPH so be sure to program your tires back to normal after 4 wheeling.
If anyone knows of a real mod to allow the E sway bar to stay open with some sort of on/off switch please post it here. Thanks
This Mod is really a Work Around. It will allow one to drive the Jeep faster before the sway bar reengages at the 18 MPH mark. I have a 2008 JKUX with an after market Mopar sway bar add on.
Legal stuff: Now I know Chrysler built in this 18 MPH reengage with a 14 MPH re-disconnect speed and that’s nice, but if one uses a mechanical disconnect it really does not matter anyway. So use this “work around” at your own risk.
Research:
I took apart the Sway Bar motor and discovered that it has a large chip board in it about the size of 2 cell phones. The wrangler is using data to control the motor not voltage. So a simple “Hot wire” wont work without some reengineering. I also tried to disconnect power after disengaging the sway bar, but that just made it reengage again. Meaning that it uses constant voltage to stay open. If one decides to attempt to “reengineer” the motor DO NOT TAKE THE MOTOR OUT IT IS SPRING LOADED AND THE PARTS WILL FLY OUT. ONE CAN TAKE THE CHIP BOARD OUT WITHOUT THIS HAPPENING.I also found out that the sway bar will disconnect in 4H mode not just 4L. I have seen blogs say that it will only work in 4L but can’t remember where.
The Work around: Trick the Jeep computer into thinking the Jeep is going slower than it really is.
One will need: 1) An alternate source as a speedometer. Like: a GPS or Radar Gun. 2) A chip programmer that will change the tire size.
Now here what one does: Make a note of your computers tire size so you can program it back later. Now change the tire size to 22.75 Inches (MY JEEPS COMPUTOR WILL NOT EXCEPT ANY SIZE LOWER YOURS MAY). Ones computer will think one has installed smaller tires than are actually on the Jeep thus making the speedometer read slower. I run 33” off road tires normally but conducted this experiment with my 32” stock tires so at a real speed of 25 MPH the computer thinks the Jeep is going 17 thus allowing me to travel faster then normal. I tried to change the axel ratios but that did not seem to affect the speedometer. With larger tires I expect to get even higher speeds.
NOTE: THESE #’S ARE APROXIMATE YOUR RESULATES MAY VERY. IF THERE ARE LARGER TIRES ON THE JEEP THEN THE SPEED DIFFERENCE WILL INCREASE.
NOTE: Changing the speedometer to be in error will be greater at greater speeds. For example: a 5 mile difference at 20 MPH could become a 15 mile difference at 60 MPH so be sure to program your tires back to normal after 4 wheeling.
If anyone knows of a real mod to allow the E sway bar to stay open with some sort of on/off switch please post it here.
Thanks
