How Disconnecting Sway Bars Work

What Are The Benefits Of A Disconnecting Sway Bar?

How do electronic disconnecting sway bars work? One of the balances engineers have to address when designing an off-road truck is the amount of axle articulation allowed, versus the amount of body roll allowed. A stiff suspension means little body roll, but not enough axle articulation. A soft suspension allows for greater articulation of the axle, meaning more contact with the ground, but significantly more body roll. This can be addressed with an electronically controlled disconnecting sway bar for the front axle. At low speeds, with the sway bar disconnected, this allows for significantly more twist of the front axle, without the rear tire coming off the ground. With the Ram Power Wagon shown in this video, decoupling the sway bar allows for a total difference of 26 inches of vertical travel between the center of each of the front wheels. This changes the RTI, Ramp Travel Index, from 423 to 510. At speeds above 18 miles per hour, the sway bar automatically reconnects to decrease body roll, though you can select to turn it on or off below this speed.

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[MrVulcan]

I am an aerospace/automotive metrologist. I appreciate the effort you put into each of your videos to simply explain subject matters. Keep up the great work. I use your videos in the office when training others.

[DIYAutoHomeschool]

Another great video sir. You do have a good way of simplifying things for people to understand, it's a gift.

[inkno]

I always thought the sway bar disconnected from the body mounts but now disconnecting sway bars actually make sense on how they work. Thanks!

[ebo]

Ooooh yes, my man! Great channel. I’ve been trying to educate myself about 4-wheel drives and, as someone who has never understood auto mechanics, this has been very helpful! Will definitely subscribe as I’m sure there is much more to learn!

[baatour]

Loving the consistency, thank you @Engineering Explained .

[slickman]

Has he done a comparison between rear mounted turbos vs front mounted? If not, he should!! great vid !!

[justinhodges]

I've tracked my post rental 12' sonata GLS at Barber and Talladega Gran Prix. The understeer was pretty moderate the first track day. My only mods are a stiffer rear sway bar, FSTB, EBC yellows and RBF 600 fluid. The next two track events I ran with the front sway bar disconnected and FSTB out. The understeer is now mild oversteer and the car will turn. Tire wear is much more ever. Grip is much better.

[haloreach]

I understand mostly everything but when he goes in depth into the mathematics I get lost, but still like watching.

[scandinerdian]

Just watched a few of your other videos and I wanted to say that, you sir, have a great sense of humor :) Don´t change man.

[johnnyk]

I’m a mechanic by trade but I just found out about electronic sway bar disconnects normally we would disconnect them manually but this seems like such a great convenience feature. excellent video

[ZstripeW]

I like that you are adding in some off-road topics to your channel!

[tx_mountaineer]

Great video! I have been looking for something that explains how this mechanism works for a while now.

[mws]

Thank you Jason, I could always understand the concept but I just couldn't picture the execution.

I was trying to picture how the system works in my head but this system in comparison to the system I had my head makes more sense.

[eiserntorsphantomoftheoper]

Makes perfect sense and a really neat option for slow intricate navigation of obstacles.

[jamesmoore]

Can you do a video on how a CVT works? How it selects gear ratios and what not?

[frostys_bushcraft]

One thing you forgot to mention is that disconnecting/removing sway bar also makes for a more comfy ride when off road. Front end works with a lot less resistance when going over rough terrain or obsticles. It's not just articulation.

[ericsaunders]

Step 1.. open video
Step 2.. click like button
Step 3.. popcorn

[sidneyderksen]

Engineering explained, can you do a video on what happens when you put your vehicle in reverse? (manual, automatic, double cluch, cvt, hydrostatic)? By the way, I LOVE your channel.

[AlphaNerd]

I didnt know that this was a thing! Brilliant idea though! If i where to design it though, i would have a function on a spring. So if you hit the button for "closed" it will apply a spring loaded pressure on the two bars, and when you go over a bump, it will aline the two correctly again and it will lock, giving you a green light.

[KillSwitchNY]

That's sick. Didn't even know the factory was doing this. Great Idea!