To sway or not to sway

Never heard the truck beep from to much sway until today. I was going too fast on freeway off-ramp, and halfway through the turn the thing started beeping. It swayed a whole lot too. Is it normal to beef up swaybar when you install a lift, or would that make the ride stiffer?

 

What was beeping?

one time going uphill on a very winding road with some surface runoff on one of the turns and the amber traction LED started blinking ... but the car never lost any traction. Don't recall if it beeped or not. Maybe it did.

If you are in 2WD and going uphill, there is not much traction on back tires and I think I was kind of accelerating into the turn. This all happened under 35-40mph iirc. I was not speeding at all but the traction control is very sensitive. I was pretty impressed with the warning and liked the truck even more. My Tacoma has none of these fancy features and fishtails easily.

I think sway bar should help ... I don't have one but have the stiffer TRD so that might help a little.

 

I don't know know if it helps, but I recently put a TRD sway bar on my DC. I can't really feel a difference.

To me, the TRD sway bar is like a cold air intake. Some people swear they feel a difference, and others feel nothing and enjoy it for more of an aesthetic. I'm sure in theory and on paper, it helps, but like I said, I personally can't feel a difference. I think it looks rad though.

 

I wouldn't own a truck that I couldn't install a read anti-roll bar on. I installed one on both of my Tundra trucks, and I had one on my old T100. The T100 had a slight lift, the 2002 is stock, and the 2007 has leaf springs hung under the axle.

Suspension lift & oversize tires are limiting factors for handling & cornering at speed, you could probably get by without a sway bar if you navigated the twists & turns slower.

 

I have a TRD rear sway bar and have a rack and decked system in the rear. When my truck is empty and when it’s loaded up with gear I am able to feel a massive difference in mow my truck corners on the road. Off road not so much and most people disconnect theirs for off reading. But on road it definitely works well.

 

If you were going too fast and lifted your foot off the gas the tail might come around. The term is "trailing throttle oversteer". It can be a good thing by pointing you when you needed to go. A sway bar would not make the ride stiffer. But if your truck is raised it would change the center of gravity and handling may get worse.

Before you do another modification, find out if the first one caused the issue. Not sure where your priorities are, handling or off-road (which why I assumed you raised the truck).

 

Here is a question for you guys...
I installed 5100's all around. Front on top setting and with the front sway bar, my ride was harsh and unforgiving so I removed it and now rides like stock. I also installed ToyTech rear shackles at 1" in rear and love the way it rides now.
I will tow a 14' enclosed trailer and a 21ft boat.
Would a rear sway bar be beneficial and not upset the soft ride I have now?

 

In the towing situation, you will like the difference by adding the sway bar at higher speeds or on/off ramps. Additionally, airbags are always an option as well. I have firestone bags and love them.