[JT-P4X]

Hey all, I changed out my coilovers and UCAs yesterday from Stock Pro-4x fare to 5100s with ADO MD springs and SPC/Mevotech UCAs. Loving the ride! While I was doing the work, I looked at the potential for swinging the front sway bar up into the stock bumper cover behind the fog lights for wheeling. It looked to me like there would be enough room to clear the fog lights, and it would probably make contact with the crash bar, which would be fine with me.

I'd need to make relief cuts, maybe flaps in the stock bumper and splash guard to allow the sway bar to rotate up there. But I'm thinking it wouldn't affect the overall look or function of either too much, especially from eye-level. Once the bumper cover was modified, I'm thinking all that would need to be done is to remove the top end link nuts and rotate it 180°. This seems pretty simple and could be done while airing down at the trailhead.

I've been through lots of sway bar posts between here and clubfrontier over the years, and have never seen anything about this...

So here are my questions:

1) Has anyone attempted this?
2) Would the tires need to be removed to swing the front sway forward into the bumper?
3) Is there anything behind the bumper cover that I didn't see on first assessment that would preclude someone from rotating the bar up there?
4) Is there any negative to doing this that I haven't thought of?

Also, I know the simple thing to do would be to buy a high-clearance aftermarket bumper or T-Swap the truck, but I'm in grad school for the next couple years so those mods will remain in the "future plans" category for a while.

Looking forward to hearing the wise words of the folks on here. Thanks!

 

[whatnext]

I was curious so looked under my 08 X, the ends of the sway bar will not clear my stock tires/wheels when swinging them down. Sure makes things more complicated.

 

[JT-P4X]

I was curious so looked under my 08 X, the ends of the sway bar will not clear my stock tires/wheels when swinging them down. Sure makes things more complicated.

Dang. I was afraid of that. Thanks for taking a look at this. I hadn't had the time to check it with the tires on in the daytime, but it makes sense that it would swing too wide. Also, not surprising that it was too good to be true, given that no one has done this in 15 years of the truck's existence. HA!

Oh well... Back to the drawing board. I'll update if I ever come up with a workaround.

 

[boyer]

based on your setup, grab a set of extended endlinks or remove the swaybar completely (even just for off road trips). you'd really only get in a true bind if you'd extend the total travel, such as a spacer on the 5100.

bottom line is run it like you have it, enjoy it, and deal with any issues if they ever arise, which it likely wont.

 

[JT-P4X]

based on your setup, grab a set of extended endlinks or remove the swaybar completely (even just for off road trips). you'd really only get in a true bind if you'd extend the total travel, such as a spacer on the 5100.

bottom line is run it like you have it, enjoy it, and deal with any issues if they ever arise, which it likely wont.

Thank you for the advice, @boyer. Since I'm on the highway a lot, I normally keep the rear sway bar on and remove it when I go wheeling. I'll definitely be removing the front next time as well to test out that new flex.

Cheers!

 

[JD’s X]

Still liking the 5100’s and ADO setup?? Would you do anything differently lookin’ back?

 

[JT-P4X]

Hi @JD'sX Congrats on your new ride! Your maiden voyage in the X looked like a blast, too. I've only had this setup a little more than a week, so I don't have too much time behind the wheel with it. For context, I moved directly from replacement 4600's with ~15k on them and stock Pro-4x springs with ~90k miles.

With that said, I would absolutely recommend this setup! Especially if you're not planning skids and a bumper/winch any time soon. If you are, I'd suggest sticking with the stock setup until you get all that weight on, then moving to HD springs.

With this setup so far, the front end is much more responsive and tight than with the stock springs. It's a really nice ride on the street.

For a little more context, I helped a friend install OME MD coilovers and AAL last year. I have some experience on/offroad in his Xterra. And though not side-by side, my initial impression is that the ADO coils are better-suited to our trucks with stock weight. As memory serves, the ride in his X is a bit more bouncy/stiff than with the ADOs, which seem more compliant so far.

As many folks on here will attest, both ADO and OME are great budget-friendly options. Neither require new UCAs, which is also nice. Also, ADO's customer support is fantastic. So when the time is right, I'd say go for it!

 

[JD’s X]

Thanks for the thorough response man! I’ve currently got the stock suspension setup with only 34k miles or so on them but they leave for some wanting.
My biggest issue is trying to choose between ADO and OME though lol I do have steel bumpers/sliders on order though so I figure I just ought to make do with this setup until I get them so I can choose one of the HD kits.
My trip to Big Bear was a lot of fun! Reminds me a lot of Ruidoso if you ever make your way to southern NM.

 

[GeolJon]

Some other forum members and I mused about this in the past, it seems that a center disconnect sway bar mechanism is the way to do it, but it would likely get tricky and expensive. Maybe someone with more of an engineering/manufacturing/machining background could try and make it happen still.

How a (center) Disconnecting Sway Bar Works, Creating a...

How a (center) Disconnecting Sway Bar Works, Creating a "Manual" One for the Xterra? I keep on watching videos like this when I probably should be writing more of my dissertation. Engineering Explained: "how a disconnecting sway bar works" illustrated by the RAM Power Wagon. Woke up this...

www.thenewx.org

 

[JT-P4X]

Hi @GeolJon, Thanks for the heads-up and the link. I had read this thread a while back, but missed the post about tire geometry being the issue. I kept thinking the limiting factor was the bumper. I guess that's what I get for only disconnecting the sway bar when the wheels are off.

Looking forward to following that thread for any solutions that may arise.

 

[JT-P4X]

Thanks for the thorough response man! I’ve currently got the stock suspension setup with only 34k miles or so on them but they leave for some wanting.
My biggest issue is trying to choose between ADO and OME though lol I do have steel bumpers/sliders on order though so I figure I just ought to make do with this setup until I get them so I can choose one of the HD kits.
My trip to Big Bear was a lot of fun! Reminds me a lot of Ruidoso if you ever make your way to southern NM.

Nice, man. You're building up quickly! Of course lots of info on here besides the ADO and OME stuff. I know Radflo would be a step up if you want something nicer, too. You could always contact ADO and riff with them about your goals. I called them a couple times this year, and they've been super helpful.

Regrettably, I haven't done much traveling in the southern part of the state yet. Just moved from CO not long ago. I'll look forward to hitting up Ruidoso when the opportunity arises though. It looks like a beautiful area.
Cheers!