Will removal of sway bar cause my truck to lean even when parked to one side? 1997 GMC Jimmy
Had to have sway bar removed due to breakage. Does it cause your vehicle to lean to one side as if your shocks on one side were out. My truck now leans at approximately 15 degree angle on the driver side. If sway bar not needed what would cause this leaning. When driving and I turn towards that side I feel like I'm going to fall towards that side, being the drivers side.
My car has 1101 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello – no, a broken sway bar won’t cause a tilt to either side just sitting there – only while turning. Your problem sounds like one of the driver-side springs, probably the front, has weakened. This causes the tilt you experience, and may require replacement to even out tire wear side-to-side. I would suggest a suspension inspection by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
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If you`re driving on uneven ground, it`s important to maintain traction. When you disconnect the sway bar, you`ll put less pressure on the wheel axles, and achieve softer suspension. With more axle control, you can tackle large obstacles, and boost your ramp travel index.
A car that is leaning to one side is almost always experiencing an issue with the shocks, springs, struts, chassis, or suspension. These are all critical parts of the vehicle, and should not be dismissed. Continuing to drive a vehicle that is leaning to one side or the other can do further damage to these components.
Driving without sway bar end links can be dangerous because as you`ve noticed, the vehicle will not steer correctly. Sway bar end links are meant to stabilize a vehicle when turning and at high speeds.
While sway bars are meant to reduce swaying while turning on a corner, it can help improve car handling and stability because it impacts steering and keeps the wheel firm on the ground. However, anti-roll bars are only part of the elements to make the driving experience safer and more enjoyable.
Basically, if the steering rack, tie rods, subframe, or control arm bolts have been altered or the car has been lowered, you need an alignment. Removing the sway bar, and replacing it would not require an alignment, unless something that I mentioned above had to be moved to access the sway bar.
The most obvious reason why sway bars are important is to ensure your vehicle doesn`t roll too much when handling turns. Aside from safety, sway bars help prevent lopsided wheel alignment and work to maintain an overall better grip on the road.
Lean conditions are a result of a lack of fuel getting to the engine. So, it`s reasonable to assume the trouble may lie with the fuel system. An obstruction in the fuel filter or a failed fuel pump can reduce fuel pressure and hinder fuel delivery.
A lean running condition may manifest in driveability symptoms that have not (or not yet) triggered a DTC. Customer complaints may include symptoms such as decreased fuel economy, lack of power, hesitation on acceleration, backfiring through the intake, overheating, weird smells or other problems.
Vehicles can be driven safely without a sway bar or with it disconnected. The vehicle does feel different while cornering but is not “uncontrollable”. Just take corners at legal posted speeds or lower and be careful changing lanes on the highway.
The general rule of thumb is that a rear wheel drive vehicle will benefit from a front sway bar, while a front-wheel drive will benefit from a rear sway bar. In a front wheel drive, rear sway bars keep the weight distribution across the tires as even as possible.
The drawbacks of a stiffer sway bar are that the force of the bump on one wheel will be transferred over to the other, causing very jarring movements. On rough roads, this can exacerbate matters by making the car shake and rattle to the detriment of everybody inside it.
The stiffer the sway bar, the more resistance is extended to counteract the body roll. Too much sway bar stiffness creates excess pressure on the outside loaded tire causing a loss of traction. Sway bar stiffness is calculated by the force required to twist one end versus the other and calculated in lb-in.
The drawbacks of a stiffer sway bar are that the force of the bump on one wheel will be transferred over to the other, causing very jarring movements. On rough roads, this can exacerbate matters by making the car shake and rattle to the detriment of everybody inside it.
Sway bars improve a car`s handling around turns and corners by controlling the vehicle`s weight transfer, including body roll. By working to keep the wheels on each side of the car as even as possible, they help keep the car more planted and maintain a strong contact patch between the tires and the ground.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Will removal of sway bar cause my truck to lean even when parked to one side? 1997 GMC Jimmy
ANSWER : Hello – no, a broken sway bar won’t cause a tilt to either side just sitting there – only while turning. Your problem sounds like one of the driver-side springs, probably the front, has weakened. This causes the tilt you experience, and may require replacement to even out tire wear side-to-side. I would suggest a suspension inspection by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
I know my truck is a Sierra 2500, my question is can you interchange a 1978 GMC trucks brake booster with my 1997 GMC truck?
ANSWER : Hi there. The best thing to do is remove both brake boosters from the 1997 and the 1978 truck and look at them. As the years went on, then design of the brake boosters changed a little bit. You will just need to make sure that the mounting surfaces are the same and the brake pedal connection is the same. My recommendations is to get a new brake booster so that the diaphragm is not in jeopardy of being ripped from old aged. If you need further assistance with the brake booster, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
Sway bar dosent fit correctly need a custom sway bar the oil pan touches sway bar
ANSWER : Hello and thanks for your question. If the oil pan is touching the sway bar on the vehicle, you can get an oil pan that is more for performance that has a wider bottom but not as deep. By doing this, you will need to replace the pick up tube with a shorter one to fit with this type of oil pan on. This type of oil pan will give you the clearance you need and not touch the sway bar. If you need assistance replacing the oil pan then seek out a professional, like one from YourMechanic, to make this adjustment for you.
Hatchback needs sway bar replaced
ANSWER : Hello. There is only one front sway bar on the vehicle. The sway bar is connected on both ends with link pins. There are two of those so that may be what he is talking about. They should always be replaced in pairs so you may be hearing the old one making noise. I would have it replaced also if that is what is recommended.
can i put a 1997 gmc jimmy starter in a 1996 gmc jimmy and it work?
ANSWER : Hello there, thank you for asking about your 1996 GMC Jimmy. If the engine is the same size and both vehicles have an automatic transmission then they should be the same. If you see anything looks different when you go to install it, then you should not install it.
How do i remove a frozen sway bar link bolt?
ANSWER : The options depend on what you have for tools, your skills, and how much bolt you have left exposed to grab onto. Choices include: penetrating oil, heating it with a torch, rattling it with an air hammer, drilling it with left-handed drill bit & use extractor, or just getting it hot and blow it out with a cutting torch. You’ll have to purchase a new link. One more option, and probably the the easiest: have a mechanic from YourMechanic come out to your location and replace your struts for you.
How do I know I have two resonators? Can I have two mufflers in each side with one resonator? Which side is most important? Thank You.
ANSWER : You may have a single small resonator in the middle of the car that splits to the two mufflers. One on each side with single or dual tip outlets. The two mufflers are equal to each other to exit the exhaust flow. For more concrete advice, I’d recommend having an expert technician check out your specific muffler situation in person. A technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office inspect your exhaust system and assist with any repairs that are needed.
Could a bad sway bar bracket and a dry rotted bushing be causing the pop sound I hear? 2002 Saturn SC2
ANSWER : Hello – the popping noise could be the sway bar mount bushings, and you would certainly want to replace them if there are rotted or not holding the sway bar firmly. The popping sound could also be the strut bearings. Disconnecting the sway bar links, then turning the steering wheel while the car is sitting, and listening for the popping noise should help confirm the source of the noise. (If the noise goes away after this test, you have confirmed that it is the sway bar bushings.) I recommend a steering and suspension inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, diagnose this problem, give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.
