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.