I left my faithful CJ5 in Wasilla and drove to Soldotna where my CJ7 is. I've wheeled it mildly a couple times, but this weekend my dad and I put about 80 off-road miles on her. It's an 85 model with a 258, T-5 and open diffs. Rubber is some unknown brand of beach tire (looks a bit like ground hawgs) in 11-15LT (about 32x11.00 near as we can measure).

Anyhow, had a great time, and got a little video of me in a couple of holes. (If I can get the program to work on my comp, I'll upload it sometime) Anyhow, while turning around in the trail I managed to get a front and rear wheel off the ground to my father's amusement. Now this was no big deal, I grabbed reverse and came out of it no problem.

I was a bit baffled why I had two wheels off the ground in such a mild spot. Since I normally drive a CJ5 with no sway bars, and a limited slip rearend, the obvious never occured to me. (the '5 wouldn't have let me down, either the shorter wheelbase would have made things different on the turn, or the limited would have got me forward further, or the better flex would have helped--why am I going to give dad the '5 and get the 7 again?)

Anyhow back at Dad's place we watched the video and I saw how little the CJ7 was flexing compared to my -5.

All I can say is that when I finally get around to dragging that bugger up to Wasilla, Sway bar disconnects are the FIRST thing I'm doing!

I have a pair on order for my TJ as we speak. Just waiting for the UPS delivery...

Before adding mine I could hardly get into trail 311 up at Evans Creek. What a difference it makes.

For the cheap method, I just disconnected my sway bar and tied it up out of the way. May not be the best thing to do but I haven't had a problem with it for the past 3 years. Much cheaper than buying some kind of disconnect thingy.

Try taking the swaybar off first. You will probably find that you dont notice much of a difference.

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I just replaced the metric Torx bolts with Grade 8, 7/16" hex heads. It only takes about 5 minutes to unbolt both sides and zip-tie the sway bar up out of the way. A lot cheaper than disco's.

My sway bar was unbolted and wired to the frame some 6 years ago and never been put back on. It was a daily driver for 4 of those years on the highway.

Thanks guys! I think the sway bars may go the way of the dodo....

'Sides if I do put the full width Cherokee Chief Dana 44s under it, it will be a bit wider and probably a bit more stable anyhow.