Help with Wildtrak sway bar options

[B22-2023]

Appreciate all the suggestions so far!
Boss links look like a simple solution to consider and just removing the front altogether while keeping the rear sounds like it works out well for the right price...just hesitating with the idea of it. On the other hand, it's easy to put back on as well so may give that a try to see how it feels before trying something else.

You can start by just disconnecting (and tying off) the links and not removing the bar; drive around a few days at all speeds with turns, see how you like it. Me in 4 doors, too loose for me, a little uncertain footing in dynamic situations. Was fine Offroad though of course. Reason why I went from manual disconnects to Boss was convenience, and I wouldn’t everyday drive (or highway travel, loaded) without the front sway bar in place.

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[Whiteout]

Any of you have experience with higher speed off roading in the Bronco (baja, dunes etc.). Does this type of driving feel sketchy without a front sway bar (or being disconnected) or is it helpful in this scenario as well to allow for more independent wheel travel?

 

[SierraBronco]

Been Diving around with my front disconnected for aver a year now, really dont notice it. The only place I think you might notice is in an emergency maneuver on the highway or something. More flex off road as well.

IMHO, front sway bars are like seatbelts. You don't need them. Hell, you may NEVER need them. Until you do. And if/when you do, they can save your life.

At least understand the risk (for you and your passengers) before deciding to delete. After that, it's your choice.

Have you driven yours without the front swaybar and with the rear? We need to do the pepsi challenge.

 

[Figmo]

Have you driven yours without the front swaybar and with the rear? We need to do the pepsi challenge.

I retrofit a Badlands disconnect in mine and have many times forget to flip the switch when getting back on the highway. Sometimes for DAYS. Because I don't notice any difference.

But then, I haven't done the "deer avoidance maneuver" with it yet. Which is when I suspect, one would notice a difference.

 

[Whiteout]

Ended up disconnecting the endlinks this evening and zip tying them in place. Was surprised that it didn't feel much different on the road even on the highway. I'll give it a few days like this and see!
Took more than a few minutes to do however and that confirms that I wouldn't want to regularly mess with disconnecting and reconnecting them.

 

[brkdncr]

Bought a stock e-disconnect, but haven’t put it on yet. Seems like the best of both worlds if you’re ok with throwing money at the problem. (No more Starbucks)

 

[Oldhippie]

I put the stock badlands disconnect on…I can sure tell the difference off road and on road when I forget to flip the switch…anyone that can’t tell isn‘t going around corners or is a “granny”…the rockjock and Carli are just weaker bars (worse on road a little better off road) and those “shock links“ are a worse idea…but different strokes…party on!

 

[gjptennis]

I am looking at a torsion bar setup as well (also Sasquatch) which has me looking at Rock Jock and Carli. I talked to reps at both, and Rock Jock says they only noticed slight rubbing on the driver's side aluminum washer on the arm attachment. Carli states no fitment issues.

I can confirm no rubbing issues with Carli.

 

[Jwis]

Lots of choices available and I suspect all work better off road than no disconnects.
First mod on our Wildtrak was Private Label Manufacturing manual disconnects. After about 300 miles, they were noisy and difficult to disconnect.
In my opinion, I then installed the best of both worlds: stock sway bar with Ford disconnect MB3Z-5482-X from OEM Ford Parts Direct--about $600 less than local dealers. Wired to auxiliary switch and it is working great offroad--engaged only when needed at a flick of the switch. On road, the Hoss 3 suspension works just as designed. Not the cheapest solution, but works very well for dual purpose rigs.
As the disconnect hangs a bit lower, I was worried about damage. So I added a Stinky Fab Racing transmission skid plate designed for the disconnect/Badlands. The skid plate fits great with the factory bash plates but is more robust.
Regarding the manual disconnects: I will provide free to good home if you pay shipping--if upgraded with proper greaseable heim joints, the noise goes away.

 

[RideClimbNJ]

I added factory disconnect to my WT. was easy to install and wire - did it in my driveway.

Same as the sway on the road and definitely keeps the wheels planted when disconnected.

 

[Bronco Naughty Pines]

If your Bronco has the Ford factory electric sway bar disconnect switch. In one of the statement's above was "I have forgotten to turn the sway bar switch back ON" Well your Bronco anticipates that in all the offroad excitement that you will forget, so for safety, it well reconnect for you above 20MPH. Now if the switch is still in the disconnect mode. When go slower than 20mph it will automatically disconnect. That's why you haven't noticed a change at higher speeds.

 

[RideClimbNJ]

If your Bronco has the Ford factory electric sway bar disconnect switch. In one of the statement's above was "I have forgotten to turn the sway bar switch back ON" Well your Bronco anticipates that in all the offroad excitement that you will forget, so for safety, it well reconnect for you above 20MPH. Now if the switch is still in the disconnect mode. When go slower than 20mph it will automatically disconnect. That's why you haven't noticed a change at higher speeds.

I think he added the factory disconnect to a Bronco that didn’t come with it. When you do this you wire it to one of the aux switches and it’s manual on or off. When you add it to a vehicle that didn’t have it I don’t believe anyone has figured out how to have the computer control it.

 

[Figmo]

If your Bronco has the Ford factory electric sway bar disconnect switch. In one of the statement's above was "I have forgotten to turn the sway bar switch back ON" Well your Bronco anticipates that in all the offroad excitement that you will forget, so for safety, it well reconnect for you above 20MPH. Now if the switch is still in the disconnect mode. When go slower than 20mph it will automatically disconnect. That's why you haven't noticed a change at higher speeds.

That's only on FE's and Badlands (installed by factory). Folks who retrofit this into other trims only install the disconnect (not all the supporting electronics). So we have a hardwired switch to turn it on and off.

I'd imagine it's possible for somebody to retrofit the whole system. But I can't for the life of me imagine WHY.

 

[Canyon Coolers]

Any of you have experience with higher speed off roading in the Bronco (baja, dunes etc.). Does this type of driving feel sketchy without a front sway bar (or being disconnected) or is it helpful in this scenario as well to allow for more independent wheel travel?

I cant speak for myself but the EXO staff member we chase around Baja deleted his sway bar, now he does have the electric Icon shocks which are super smart and can compensate for most potential handling issues on the fly. Also in Baja your going to run any adjustable shock at a stiff setting to handle whoops and that will help some with sway.

I went super simple for awhile and added ADS articulating sway bar end links. They didn't add more articulation but they were much smoother at their job, without being sloppy.

They weren't able carry over to the FMI long travel system, so I will be selling them, and possibly just removing the sway bar altogether. I would still have a wider stance then normal and can adjust the shock stiffness to compensate somewhat.

 

[RobWTX]

I had those for a minute and they did help gain articulation and also improved the ride, but ultimately deleted the front swaybar entirely. Running a rockjock on the rear and you notice it a bit with 40” tires, coilovers, and portals. Pulled front swaybar on second wildtrak with 17 miles on the odometer. With the factory rear swaybar still on I barely notice a difference on a stock wildtrak.

Hmm, interesting. I've thought about removing the front sway bar on our WT a few times, but always hesitate since the wife drives it like a bat outa hell at times. Something to think about...

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