Sway Bars

WHAT IS A SWAY BAR

A sway bar isn't technically a bar, but a torsional spring. It's made of metal and attached to either the front or back wheels. The torsion spring will go across the width of the wheels to ensure the vehicle stays even in all-road conditions. Sway bars can be either hollow or solid, with the solid bars more commonly seen in heavier vehicles. It works with the rest of the suspension system to give the driver total confidence — even when the truck bed is packed or they have to embark down a bumpy road.

Every driver knows how important it is to have stability when they're on the road. In certain vehicles, a suspension system gets an assist from a sway bar to better anchor the vehicle. Sway bars are used for general driving and in special situations in a variety of vehicles.

What Does a Sway Bar Do?

The sway bar is meant to strengthen the standard suspension system. Struts, leaf springs, steering, tire strength: they all work to keep your vehicle on the road. These components are vital when you take a tight curve too quickly or meet a hidden pothole. However, they may not provide the amount of protection necessary to prevent body roll on tight corners. The anti-sway bar goes above and beyond to stabilize the vehicle and improves overall handling at the same time.

Sway bars don't actually do anything until the vehicle meets some type of twisting force. The most common scenario is when you turn, but drivers report better control even when driving on smooth, even road. Should the vehicle lose its balance, the sway bar has to twist in order for one side of the vehicle to rise or fall. But the sway bar is specially designed to resist that twisting motion. If the vehicle starts to lean to one side or the other, the sway bar is made to right the body back to its original level (meaning that one side won't be higher than the other during any part of the drive.

Sway bars also improve weight distribution across the tires. When you have more weight on the outside tires when taking a turn, you can take the curves faster without sacrificing your safety. There are even sway bars that can receive commands from the suspension system and actively adjust based on the needs of the vehicle. (It should be noted though that few vehicles come with such an advanced suspension system.) Finally, anti-sway bars can reduce the amount of wear and tear you put on your vehicle. The more level it stays on the road, the less work your tire, engine, and brakes have to do. It's also less likely to suffer any damage to the underside.