Sway bar end links at different lengths?

[starkey480]

So even on level ground it seems like my sway bar links need to be at different lengths. I don’t know if my sway bar is bent or what? As of now I have them at the same length and just have to lift up on the Jeep to get the other one on. Is it ok to run the links at different lengths so that they are easier to to connect and disconnect? Should I just set them to where they both go on easy on level ground?

 

[jjvw]

How different are they? Ideally, the sway bar should not be loaded when the Jeep is sitting flat side to side.

 

[starkey480]

How different are they? Ideally, the sway bar should not be loaded when the Jeep is sitting flat side to side.

I’ll have to go check but like I said it’s enough that I have to lift the Jeep up on one side so maybe almost an inch

 

[jjvw]

Is the Jeep leaning to one side? Measure the frame relative to the body.

 

[starkey480]

Ok I’ll report back.

 

[starkey480]

Is the Jeep leaning to one side? Measure the frame relative to the body.

Sure enough with the sway bar connected one side is half an inch higher than the other. Probably meaning my sway bar is bent?

Edit: the Jeep also isn’t sitting level with the sway bar disconnected and is even worse with it disconnected... hmmm

 

[jjvw]

Does it lean to the passenger side?

 

[starkey480]

Does it lean to the passenger side?

Yes

 

[jjvw]

Yes

That seems to be what they do over time. I suspect that the sway bar is fine. If the lean bothers you or is somehow a problem, maybe new coils or thin spacers are in your future.

 

[starkey480]

That seems to be what they do over time. I suspect that the sway bar is fine. If the lean bothers you or is somehow a problem, maybe new coils or thin spacers are in your future.

Can I make my sway bar links different lengths so it’s not such a pain in the ass to reconnect them? Or should I leave them same length and deal with it

 

[jjvw]

Not the stock links. Adjustables are out there. Some have more adjustability than others. Though my instinct is to keep the sway bar in it's neutral position when the Jeep is truly flat.

 

[starkey480]

Not the stock links. Adjustables are out there. Some have more adjustability than others. Though my instinct is to keep the sway bar in it's neutral position when the Jeep is truly flat.

I have jks adjustable links. So I can make one shorter than the other. What do you mean by neutral? Both links same length or adjust the links so they both slide in easy at resting height

 

[jjvw]

Neutral is where the sway bar wants to be with no load on it. Ideally the sway bar would be in a neutral unloaded state when the Jeep is sitting flat side to side.

 

[bobthetj03]

Neutral is where the sway bar wants to be with no load on it. Ideally the sway bar would be in a neutral unloaded state when the Jeep is sitting flat side to side.

Yes, but if the jeep has a lean that is putting a load to one side, would that no longer be in a neutral state? If he were to adjust one link longer or shorter until the sway bar again becomes neutral, wouldn't that be ok? Or, would the proper fix be new springs or spring spacers to eliminate the lean?

 

[EzPeezy]

A jeep mechanic that I talked to said that the sway bar mounts on the axle are actually at different heights. I haven't checked, but my jeep definitely leans one way and new coils didn't help at all. I just parked it somewhere level and made the adjustable links fit the jeep how it was sitting.

 

[jjvw]

Yes, but if the jeep has a lean that is putting a load to one side, would that no longer be in a neutral state? If he were to adjust one link longer or shorter until the sway bar again becomes neutral, wouldn't that be ok? Or, would the proper fix be new springs or spring spacers to eliminate the lean?

With the sway bar set to be in a neutral state when the Jeep is flat (meaning the body/frame is parallel to the axles), a Jeep with a lean will be pulled back towards flat by the sway bar working to return to it's neutral position.

 

[Goatman]

With Jeep on level ground the antisway bar should be able to be connected without pre loading the bar. If the links need to be slightly different lengths to do this then so be it. Far better than pre loading the suspension. I would pull the bar completely and lay it on a flat surface. That will tell you if the bar is bent. If so, replace bar.

 

[jjvw]

With Jeep on level ground the antisway bar should be able to be connected without pre loading the bar. If the links need to be slightly different lengths to do this then so be it. Far better than pre loading the suspension. I would pull the bar completely and lay it on a flat surface. That will tell you if the bar is bent. If so, replace bar.

What if the Jeep leans to one side?

 

[mrblaine]

Yes, but if the jeep has a lean that is putting a load to one side, would that no longer be in a neutral state? If he were to adjust one link longer or shorter until the sway bar again becomes neutral, wouldn't that be ok? Or, would the proper fix be new springs or spring spacers to eliminate the lean?

The link length is of no consequence. Just adjust them to the length that does not preload the swaybar at ride height sitting level.

 

[mrblaine]

A jeep mechanic that I talked to said that the sway bar mounts on the axle are actually at different heights. I haven't checked, but my jeep definitely leans one way and new coils didn't help at all. I just parked it somewhere level and made the adjustable links fit the jeep how it was sitting.

Find another Jeep mechanic.