Every so often the subject of running without any front swaybars comes up on the Jeep forums & there's always someone who insists that THEY will NEVER have ANY problem driving their XJ on the street without a front swaybar. A lot of this is brought on by other vehicles without front swaybars, usually leaf sprung or pre-80's or the Up-Country XJ's that came stock without a REAR swaybar. (And yes, you can remove your rear swaybar with minimal affect to handling.)
For some, not running a front swaybar is from wanting uber-flex but not wanting to spend $90 for some disconnects. (This after blowing $1,200 for wheels and another $2,000 for a freakin' stereo - go figure.) For others it just seems like they've fallen off the short bus one too many times and just 'know' that "nothing bad is gonna happen" to them. After all, they've "been running without front swaybars for years without any problem". (Killing yourself is bad enough... but being this stupid can get someone else killed too when your sh*twagon goes sailing into someone's minivan.)
Dude, there have been a ton of excuses for going without front swaybars on an XJ Cherokee but none of them means jack when you're rolling end over end down the median strip after someone even stupider than you backs out of their driveway or a deer decides to suicide on your hood.
Every time the subject comes up, it's like beating a dead horse
trying to get the point across about but sometimes a picture is
worth a thousand words. Enter Corey and his story. Corey posted a thread on
JeepsUnlimited some time back and put up some photos of just what can
happen, and DID happen to him and his XJ without front
swaybars. If you read the thread in the link below, you'll see that he too
thought that it was 'no problem' to drive on the street without front swaybars
and nothing was gonna happen. Well, something DID happen and Corey was
man enough to step up and make a point of telling his story to warn them not to
do the same thing he did. Corey's pics made his point better than
anything being said by either side. Corey spoke from EXPERIENCE from BOTH SIDES
of the argument.
LISTEN TO COREY & don't be a fool! :
Run Front Sway Bars On The Street! Disco's are cheap
compared to funeral expenses.
Most of these photos were originally included in Corey's thread
on JeepsUnlimited (link at bottom of pics) but the old photo host evidently
went belly-up or the account expired. Corey was kind enough to forward me these
pics & I urge you to read the thread on J.U. while keeping these photos in
mind should you EVER consider running an XJ / MJ without a front swaybar. (Or
any other vehicle, for that matter...)
From Corey's email:
"Here's a couple that should
get your point across. There was a person occupying each corner of the Jeep
(including me, driver). Front passenger was very lucky not to get his head
smashed in, glad the XJ was built strong. - Corey"
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The original thread can be
found at:
http://www.jeepsunlimited.com/forums/showthread.php?t=661152&highlight=swaybar.
Although the original batch of photos are gone from that thread it is well
worth the time to read. Many thanks to Corey, aka 'Cheiserm', for
sending in these pics and for stepping up to let all of us know not to
repeat this mistake!
Thanks Corey - Saving those pics might
just have saved someone's life.
If you have pics of your own repairs or can suggest other methods - please contribute your ideas (and pictures) to this article!
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Revised on:
November 25th, 2007 |
