The rear sway bar is a metal rod designed to flex and torsion against unequal angles. The flex helps keep the base of the tire against the road surface for better traction during cornering. JK owners find removing the rear sway bar increases the rear suspensions travel by removing the straightening force against the rear axle. Increased body roll is a side effect when removing the sway bars. For safety reasons, such as emergency braking and sharp turns, it's recommended you always re-connect the sway bars after off-road use.
Materials Needed
Place wheel chocks on both sides of one front tire. If you don't have an impact wrench capable of removing the lug nuts, loosen the nuts a few turns with the tires on the ground. Use a 3/4" or 19mm socket. Place a floor jack underneath the factory jacking point. Once the wheel is high enough, place a jack stand next to the floor jack on the jacking point. Lower the vehicle's weight onto the jack stand and repeat the procedure on the other side.
Figure 1. The jacking points.
Step 2 – Disconnect rear sway bar end links from sway bar
Locate the sway bar end link. The upper end connects to the sway bar. The lower end connects to the axle. The lower end uses a nut over bolt configuration, while the upper end uses a stud inside the end link. Remove the upper nut from the stud by turning the nut counterclockwise. To remove the end link from the axle, you'll need to hold the nut stationary while turning the bolt counterclockwise. Once the nut is removed, pull the bolt out and away from the axle bracket. Now pull the end link stud out of the sway bar. Repeat the process on the other side.
Figure 2. The rear sway bar and end link.
Step 3 – Remove sway bar from the rear subframe
This step in not required; although, there is a chance of damage to the sway bar and rear brake lines when driving over bumps if left connected. Locate the rear sway bar bushing brackets (Figure 2). Remove the two bolts from both brackets. There is one at each side of the sway bar. While removing the bolts, hold the sway bar up to reduce the chance of damage to the bolt or bolt holes. Repeat the process for installation. Tighten to bracket bolts to 50 ft/lbs. Tighten the sway bar end link nuts to 65 ft/lbs.
Figure 3. The rear sway bar to brake line clearance.
Materials Needed
- Metric wrench set (12mm-19mm)
- 1/2" metric socket set (12mm-19mm)
- 1/2" ratchet
- Floor jack
- Jack stands (x2)
Place wheel chocks on both sides of one front tire. If you don't have an impact wrench capable of removing the lug nuts, loosen the nuts a few turns with the tires on the ground. Use a 3/4" or 19mm socket. Place a floor jack underneath the factory jacking point. Once the wheel is high enough, place a jack stand next to the floor jack on the jacking point. Lower the vehicle's weight onto the jack stand and repeat the procedure on the other side.
Figure 1. The jacking points.
Step 2 – Disconnect rear sway bar end links from sway bar
Locate the sway bar end link. The upper end connects to the sway bar. The lower end connects to the axle. The lower end uses a nut over bolt configuration, while the upper end uses a stud inside the end link. Remove the upper nut from the stud by turning the nut counterclockwise. To remove the end link from the axle, you'll need to hold the nut stationary while turning the bolt counterclockwise. Once the nut is removed, pull the bolt out and away from the axle bracket. Now pull the end link stud out of the sway bar. Repeat the process on the other side.
Figure 2. The rear sway bar and end link.
Step 3 – Remove sway bar from the rear subframe
This step in not required; although, there is a chance of damage to the sway bar and rear brake lines when driving over bumps if left connected. Locate the rear sway bar bushing brackets (Figure 2). Remove the two bolts from both brackets. There is one at each side of the sway bar. While removing the bolts, hold the sway bar up to reduce the chance of damage to the bolt or bolt holes. Repeat the process for installation. Tighten to bracket bolts to 50 ft/lbs. Tighten the sway bar end link nuts to 65 ft/lbs.
Figure 3. The rear sway bar to brake line clearance.