I did a search for this and did not come across anything to answers my questions. I am looking at getting a 2.5 inch lift for my 2012 JKU, and I noticed that some come with new swaybar end links to put on the rear so you can move the rears to the front. After all that, here are my questions. Is it necessary to replace the swaybar end links with longer ones when doing a small lift like a 2.5 inch? What are the pros and cons to replacing and moving the rears to the front, or just leaving the stockones where they are?

 

You may as well get quick disconnects, you're going to have to disconnect the swaybar anyways to install the lift. Go with the teraflex quick disconnects for a 2.5" lift, they're about $120ish. Talk to Dave at Northridge4x4 and he'll make sure you've got everything you need.

 

X2...........

 

you'll typically get new links for the front and move the fronts to the rear. if the links are too short your sway bar can max out during articulation and flex in the wrong direction (forward). this is more an issue with the rubicon as the swaybar isnt disconected.

 

It's the other way around.

Just get longer rear end links as the sway bar supposed to be horizontal. Then get quicker disconnects for the front, or if you never will go off road, then you can reuse your rears for the front.

 

Installed an RK 2.5" lift with new sway bar disconnects. My e-disconnect, first time out, snapped the sway bar disconnects. I went out and bought some JKS Sway Bar Disconnects, amazing quality. Good purchase if you want to continue to use your e-disconnects. It seems it's not recommended and everyone out there is CYA and say to manually disconnnect.

 

Yes, even with a 2.5" lift your sway bar will no longer be in it's correct position (leveled) and will be pointing down because the stock sway bar links are too short for the lift. Thus the need for aftermarket/longer links. If the kit you get does come with longer links for the rear you can always:

1. Move the rear links to the front
2. Ditch the stock rears & get quick disconnects for the front

If you do a lot of offroading I would get Disco's for the front. It will make life a whole lot easier.....

....The CONS of not getting the correct size links is that it may affect handling, limit your Articulation/Flex and may damage your sway bar links because they are too short and the bars have been known to bend, twist, snap...This is something you do not to worry about especially out in the trail....

 

Just went wheeling this past weekend, a buddy's rig had 2.5" lift with stock sway bar links. A few hours into our trip his sway bar shift tow ward and was resting on his drag link causing him to loose steering, took us about 30 min to unbolt the entire thing to get him going again, just a pain in the ass that could of been avoided with $50 pair of extended links.