ZJ sway bar

[jeeptorino68]

has anyone installed a ZJ sway bar for more stability?
i know it will decrease my suspension travel, but thats what disconnects are for if i am unhappy. but right now i am unhappy with the highway ride, and turning.

i read one post online where someone did install the bigger bar, and obviously larger bushings too.

thoughts?
right now i have a 24mm bar i believe, and i think i read the ZJ was 28.

 

[O-Gauge Steamer]

Late model XJ's had the 28mm as well. My 98 has one for instance...

 

[yossarian19]

My 98 has the 24mm bar.
Measure a few times in a few different places, and measure any bar you might be swapping in.
There seems to be very little in the way of rhyme or reason for which Jeeps got which sway bars.

 

[cruiser54]

Seems it's hit and miss on the 28mm bars. My 88 Laredo with tow package doesn't have a 28 but my 89 Limited with tow package does. Get out your tape measure.

 

[chpmnsws6]

Are all ZJ's 28mm bars?

 

[tdkask]

Oddly enough, I was wondering how different such a small increase could be, so did some math.
Basically, a 16.67% increase is width comes out to a 36.11% increase in cross-sectional area, meaning a huge increase in strength.

I'd be interested to see the responses on anyone who's done this upgrade from 24 to 28 and how it affected DD manners.

(cross-sectional area = pi times radius squared) or

 

[WAM174]

Your math is right for area, but not stiffness. Torsional stiffness of a bar goes up as diameter to the fourth power. A 28 mm bar is 85% stiffer than a 24 mm bar. (28/24)^4

 

[tdkask]

That's even more impressive, then. It would seem like a have-to for every DD.

 

[toates89]

we are talking front sway correct? interested

 

[bjoehandley]

we are talking front sway correct? interested

Yup, IIRC the rear XJ bar is about 1/2 to 3/4 the the thickness of the front bars.

 

[cruiser54]

I think all the XJ rear bars are the same diameter.

 

[Talyn]

All the rear are the same. If they have one that is.

 

[jeeptorino68]

this is the only article on the net that i could find:
http://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/v8-zj-swaybar-onto-xj-mj-20347/

i measured my bar with digital calipers where i could and came up with 24.
i have a front skid so i can only measure near the end, but i was right by the bushing so it should be fine.
im hoping i could find a 28 at the JY and maybe it would have good bushings.
glad to know i dont just have to look on ZJs though.



as a side note, i have a small lift 2-2.5 inches

does anyone know if the ZJ sway bar end links are any longer? even and inch would help.


i asked these same questions on jeeforum, and everyone thought i was talking about tie rods :twak:

 

[cruiser54]

If you're serious about adding the 28mm bar, get one from the JY regardless of the condition of the bushings. Then install the bar with poly bushings.

 

[WAM174]

this is the only article on the net that i could find:
http://www.cherokeeforum.com/f51/v8-zj-swaybar-onto-xj-mj-20347/

I had to laugh at his final results. It's pretty amazing when a new swaybar greatly reduces nose lift and dive. Wonder if he got better mileage too?

 

[Gold Cobra]

My gas mileage improved by 85%.

I had also put in there that it adds 15 horsepower, but they cut that out. You're the first person to catch that. On a serious note, I've done this on a few Jeeps and it's definitely worthwhile. Especially if you go from a 24 with worn bushings to a 28 with new poly bushings on the bar and links.

 

[jeeptorino68]

i ddint even read the name of the poster on that thread, or i would have known it was you!
thanks for the info, are you still running the 28mm bar?

 

[sharq]

stupid question: when measuring a sway bar, is it width or circumference?

Edit: Nevermind. it's width in case anyone's wondering.

 

[Kinslayer]

I had to laugh at his final results. It's pretty amazing when a new swaybar greatly reduces nose lift and dive. Wonder if he got better mileage too?

Haha ya I was going to post there too but the thread was closed..

I'm researching this topic because it appears that newer (96+) ZJs have the smaller hole in the end link where as the XJs have a big ass hole.. my RE gen2 discos have a weird little collar that tends to disappear when the bolt wiggles it way free and the link falls off..so I figure I can beef up the swaybar and remove the requirement for that collar at the same time..

 

[Talyn]

I'm keeping an eye out for used Addco sway bars for my ZJ. In doing so I have found that in 96 they changed the upper end of the sway bar ink to a tapered style with a ball joint. Crappy design if you ask me. The ones on my 97 ZJ clunk, but when inspecting by hand you can't notice it.

I have heard of people drilling it out to fit the older style end links (ours).

The link length is the same as ours.