I have a 4-dr Sahara. I may add 3/4" spacers to the front, but I will not be lifting it. Also, I plan to stick with the stock size tires, although I did upgrade to the BFG MT's. I will use the JK for mild offroading, and have already used the 4X4 a few times, but I will not be doing any rock-crawling or super technical trails.

So, given that, do you guys think I should consider sway bar disco's or even a sway bar system? I'm thinking that it might be something I wouldn't use a lot, but somthing that might come in handy if I end up on a trail that's a little rougher than I anticipated. The TeraFlex sway bar disco's seem reasonably priced at $99, but the TeraFlex sway bar system also interests me despite the price tag of over $400. But the real question is, do I really need either one? What do you guys think.

 

I'd say don't even bother. If you're only ever going to run mild trails, the extra articulation from disconnecting will never make a difference. If you still decide to get disconnects, I'd just get the cheapies (or make them yourself), since you won't be disconnecting very often.

-E

 

I agree with Jake_blues. I 4wheel drive alot and that is mostly in moab and I rarely disconnect my sway bars. I have the teraflex quick disconnects and it only takes a couple of seconds to pull them off and relocate them

 

Agreed! Save your money.

 

So, in what situations do the disco's help?

Years ago I used to run my lifted YJ up and down a trail called the Turkey Track in Anza Borrego. The trail was rocky in places and had some deep holes. I had no lockers or limited slip, and I had the 2.5 engine. I sometimes had trouble keeping all four tires on the ground going up it. Is that the kind of trail where quick disco's would be an advantage?

 

Anytime you find yourself hanging one front tire or the other up in the air a lot. With open diffs this was a major problem, but with the JK's brake-lock diffs it's not as big a deal.

-E

 

Yes when your sway bar is disonnected you have more vertical travel in you front axle, therefore more articulation. So yes you have a better chance of keeping all your tires on the ground while traversing rocks, holes and ledges etc. but if you are not lifted and you install disconnects you will stuff the front tire too far up in to the fender well and it will rub. You need the suspension lift to give the tire somewhere to go when it is pushed up. The link keeps it connected to the sway bar in stock applications and prevents over articulation. But i might add. if you do have quick disconnets it a good idea to disconnect them when on a rugged trail.. Especially adjustable JKS discos. i have seen many folks break them by leaving them connected and driving too hard. Tera Flex discos on the other hand are a lot stonger and will take more abuse if you leave them connected. having sai all of that...In stock configuration you are going to do all the easier trails you wish. On trails rated 3 1/2 - 4 it great to have the sway bar disconnected for more travel,a smoother ride, and better traction.

 

If quick disconnects are only for lifted Jeeps, then why does the stock Rubicon come with them?

 

because they engineered in enough room to stuff the tires on the JK if you are running the 32" tires..... If you step up tire sizes you will rub when fully stuffed disconnected... but again you will not see much benefit on mild trails.

 

I thought that bump stops limited the up travel. I also thought that discos allowed for more down travel. I guess I don't see how disconnecting will allow you to stuff the tires further than the bumpstops allow.

Please correct me if I am wrong!

Bryan