I know you guys recommend the Sway Bar be removed from 1st gen but what about the 2nd gen?? Is the body roll of the X that bad?? If it's removed do you think it would affect my warranty?

Just trying to hear what people have done and what difference it makes in your ride.

Thanks!


Edit: Had my Sway Bar off in Feb, and will never look back... :) Thanks guys for the advice :)

I listened to you about the effects of removing the mud flaps. I've already removed the sway bar. Here are my observations.....

No difference in daily driving.
Better traction when the suspension gets crossed up.
Simple to take off, just as simple to put back on if needed.

In short, it serves no real purpose in being there. Take it off and don't look back. As far as warranty coverage, there will be no effect to your warrany coverage.

I've had mine off for almost a month now, but it's hard to judge the difference because I also lifted 2 inches at the same time. But even being two inches taller, the body roll doesn't feel like it's any different than before. Judging on knowledge gained from my last car at the autocross track, I would say that the absolutely tiny diameter of the rear sway bar (the rear bar on my Focus was 27mm, considerably stiffer than the Xterra's) on a vehicle as heavy as the Xterra, and with a solid rear axle, wasn't having a noticeable effect on cornering attitude and body roll.

I have had my rear sway removed for sometime now and I think that it handles just as good or better than before, but my truck is lifted with deaver aal's which stiffen up the rear.

You can remove the rear swaybar. I removed mine a few years ago, and I did notice a difference in handling on the streets, but it wasn't that big of a difference. That being said, it is definitely better to run without it for offroading.

The front swaybar should NOT be removed unless you have aftermarket coilovers.

Removing the swaybars has not affected my warranty.

You can remove the rear swaybar. I removed mine a few years ago, and I did notice a difference in handling on the streets, but it wasn't that big of a difference. That being said, it is definitely better to run without it for offroading.

The front swaybar should NOT be removed unless you have aftermarket coilovers.

Removing the swaybars has not affected my warranty.

Thanks for clarifying on the front vs the rear, Ted. I was just wondering this very thing yesterday as I was hacking my exhaust tip off, so thanks Amber for posting the very thing I was wondering about.

I guess the last question on this thread should be how much has the rear swaybar removal helped you off roading?

You should be okay removing the rear sway bar, especially if you have put in the AAL. With the extra rear springs it should be firm enough, unless maybe you put a whole lot of extra weight up on the roof or otherwise raise the center of gravity a lot. I have the Deaver AAL from PRG, and we took off the rear sway bar when we put them on. I think it handles as good or better without it - but again, this is with the AAL in place. Mine has been that way for a few years now, no issues.

As for the front sway bar - DO NOT remove it. I've heard from a few friends who tried that, they all agreed it was not a good idea, and they all put the front bar back on shortly thereafter.

Good question nate... do u get a lot more articulation? Is it worth it

Good question nate... do u get a lot more articulation? Is it worth it

Yea, nobody has answered that one yet. Does it?

Someone else can probably explain it better than I can - but the way I understand it is that the rear sway bar can come into contact with (and break) one of the rear shocks, when under too much articulation in a certain direction. So, yes, taking if off does help the articulation, in that you don't risk having the bar slam into and break the shock absorber.

You might be able to find more information on this on thenewx. I think that at least one of the SCCX guys lost a rear shock this way too, if I remember correctly.

On the other hand, I have another friend in SCCX who is an engineer - his feeling is that if some other engineer designed it in there it must have a reason, so he has not taken his off. So far, having it there has not hindered him at all.

You could try it off for a while, and easily put it back if you want. Just remember, with or without the sway bar, these things still have the handling characteristics of a large cinderblock.

Someone else can probably explain it better than I can - but the way I understand it is that the rear sway bar can come into contact with (and break) one of the rear shocks, when under too much articulation in a certain direction. So, yes, taking if off does help the articulation, in that you don't risk having the bar slam into and break the shock absorber.

You might be able to find more information on this on thenewx. I think that at least one of the SCCX guys lost a rear shock this way too, if I remember correctly.

On the other hand, I have another friend in SCCX who is an engineer - his feeling is that if some other engineer designed it in there it must have a reason, so he has not taken his off. So far, having it there has not hindered him at all.

You could try it off for a while, and easily put it back if you want. Just remember, with or without the sway bar, these things still have the handling characteristics of a large cinderblock.

<in bold> Only applies to first gen Xterras.

Off road articulation is better without the sway bar. I haven't done any hard core stuff, but I have done some off camber switchbacks in the mountains. First time was with the sway bar. I had some wheel spin indicating that I was lifting the right rear tire up. The second time, was without the sway bar, no issues at all. I took the same line and it gripped great.

I recall Four Wheeler doing a test on the first gen Xterras in the first few years of their life where they ramped it with and without the rear sway bar. The difference was incredible...like 100 points better than with it. That was what prompted me to pull it off of my 2000.

Good question nate... do u get a lot more articulation? Is it worth it

Yes, a whole bunch more. It is definitely worth it if you offroad, as it helps keep your wheels on the ground when you are doing some off camber stuff. Keeping your wheels on the ground helps with traction and stability.

I broke mine on the last Coal Creek run. The end link came straight off of the bushing. One of the guys there and I took it off and my day went up from there. I didn't get the easy button (locker) so it helped out a lot in my case. I also drove back on the interstate at 80 mph and I didn't even notice that it wasn't on there. Needless to say it isn't going back on.

I dont' want to act like "Mr. Safety Cop" (cause i have removed both of my sway bars) but in normal driving you won't notice a difference with the rear bar removed and a slight difference with the front bar removed even with lane changes and curves. Its when you need to make emergency maneuver you gonna notice the difference. The sway bar is there for a reason or else the manufacture wouldn't have installed it. i'm not saying not to remove them but if ever you need to make a drastic lane change or take a curve too fast you will then realize that the sway bar was there for a good reason. I would say be very careful on road with sway bars removed.

what about removing the sway bar with no lift?

what about removing the sway bar with no lift?

I've done it on both generations without ill effects.

ok. thank you for you wisdom and experience. but what about with a 2wd any benefits?

front and rear sway bars removed. handles so much better on and off road.

but does that increase of roll over?

I havent come close to rolling and i have 5" of lift

The Xterra is on a truck frame with leaf springs capable of withstanding over 5000lbs. Trucks for generations have gone with out the sway. I do believe it helps with rigidity of the rear but if your not a curve hugger, at which I am, then take it off. As for me since I dont go serious on the off roading thing right now, Im leaving it on.

The Xterra is on a truck frame with leaf springs capable of withstanding over 5000lbs. Trucks for generations have gone with out the sway. I do believe it helps with rigidity of the rear but if your not a curve hugger, at which I am, then take it off. As for me since I dont go serious on the off roading thing right now, Im leaving it on.

I left mine on until it broke because of how often I pull heavy trailers. I still haven't put mine back on just because I haven't noticed a huge difference. I will evaluate how it pulls a heavy trailer the next time that I do that and decide then if I want to put it back on or not. I have noticed that in the wake of a semi on the interstate it does have a little more sway to it.

So no one makes sway bar quick disconnects for Xterras? I'm used to Jeeps and everyone has them. Is that just a SFA thing?

It was sweet having the push button sway bar disconnect on my Rubicon.

No quick disconnects for xterras. Im sure you could fab some up, but then you would have to crawl under there to disconnect them. Its not worth it in my opinion. Stiffer springs and the rear sway bar doesn't need to be run.

I was more referring to the front. That is where the flex is more limited. Although, with the IFS, I'm not sure how much of a difference it would make.

I don't think it would make a Lot of difference at all. If you are concerned about flex in the front end then titan swap that mug

front and rear sway bars off guys. I havent noticed any problems with them off and I take turns at more than the recommended speed. I think it drives better but I'm used to driving military vehicles 9 months out of the year ;)

Again, I wouldn't recommend taking the Front swaybar off unless you have aftermarket adjustable coilovers.

The rear swaybar can be removed from a stock vehicle without too many worries. There is a difference in how the truck handles without the rear swaybar, but if you drive it like a truck and not like a sportscar, there shouldn't be any problems.

Yeah, the rear isn't as big of a deal because it has leaf springs. The Jeeps that I had with rear coils drove a lot different sans rear sway bar.