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T-Mo · 06-07-2020, 09:45 AM

Just found this broken (sway bar?) while looking under my Outlaw. I’m 3 hours from home. Is it safe to drive? [ATTACH] Just found this broken (sway bar?) while looking under my Outlaw. I’m 3 hours from home. Is it safe to drive? [/ATTACH]

lawjohnson · 06-07-2020, 09:55 AM

Not sure on that one. I have driven cars with the sway bar missing but not a motorhome. Driving the car it was not noticeable at all.

Domo · 06-07-2020, 09:59 AM

The ends of the breaks look very rusted from what I can see.

I'd guess it's been broken a long time already.

Sway bars are supposed to improve handling and keep your vehicle from rolling over on curves/turns. I'm guessing your MH had been horrible on curves - if not downright scary.

I'd probably try the last 3 hours if it was my rig. I'd go slow and not change lanes very much. Remain vigilant as the handling will/was compromised and can cause you to over/under react if it starts acting funky.

Of course, it is your gear, your life, your choice, not mine.

A healthier/safer choice could be to park it, get a rental car then buy a replacement to put on.

Alpine36 · 06-07-2020, 10:10 AM

I'd probably be ok driving it home. Travel as light as possible, distribute weight as evenly as possible, drive reasonably slow, steady and smooth.
If towing a toad maybe have someone drive it home. Of course have it repaired asap. I believe there are several aftermarket upgrades to address the shortcomings of the OEM setup...

Bill Gail · 06-07-2020, 10:12 AM

Check if your coach has a rear sway bar . If it has one , you won't have any problem driving it home.
The rear sway bar will provide enough stability to safely drive the vehicle .
If no rear sway bar , stay off the freeway and take it slow around tight corners and keep it under 50.
I agree that the break appears rusty , which indicates it's not a recent break.
Easy fix , and I would replace links on both sides.

SGhost · 06-07-2020, 10:14 AM

Send the family in another car and try to limp home. May take some time to find a replacement. Like the previous poster, looks like its been that way for some time.

Opinions are worth what you paid for.

Waiter21 · 06-07-2020, 11:39 AM

Should be OK to drive, but you won't have any front sway bar action.

If you know anyone who can weld, get a short section of 1/2 inch water pipe to use as a sleeve and weld the two broken ends togther when you insert them into the sleeve.

OH, and search for the term CHF on this site. Its an adjustment made to the torsion bar to improve sway.

n2zon · 06-07-2020, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waiter21

Should be OK to drive, but you won't have any front sway bar action.

If you know anyone who can weld, get a short section of 1/2 inch water pipe to use as a sleeve and weld the two broken ends togther when you insert them into the sleeve.

OH, and search for the term CHF on this site. Its an adjustment made to the torsion bar to improve sway.

I hope that weldment idea is for a (very) temporary fix. The change in heat treatment at the welds and the change in section are both recipes for stress risers that will lead to more breaks.

I've had the bushings age, deteriorate, and fall out of the retaining hoops on a prior coach. Other than more rattles than usual, I didn't notice, but I never corner fast in a coach and never had to do any fast, hard emergency steering.

*I* would drive it home, carefully, and replace the broken sway bar in the driveway. The *OP* should make his own choices.

Xmcdog · 06-07-2020, 05:16 PM

As noted, it has been broken for a while. Likely you won't notice any difference. Get it replaced as soon as possible. Certainly not a big job. Replace the bushings as well.

Don't recommend welding of any suspension part. Could break at the worst possible moment.

As for driving it the three hours home, take it for a test drive. I doubt you will notice any difference.

Is it safe? I can't say either way. You will know better after your test drive.
Certainly it would be better to get it replaced asap.

JohnBoyToo · 06-07-2020, 05:28 PM

Yes drive it, just be careful on turns, but I would tie it up so it doesn't drop down and pole vault you over the handlebars

We have quick disconnects on our jeeps we offroad to allow for more movement to keep tires on the ground for traction, but we do tie them up with lanyards...
even drove home one weekend with it tied up because it was a very muddy trail ride

Did notice how it leaned a LOT more in the turns...

Earl II · 06-07-2020, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Mo

Just found this broken (sway bar?) while looking under my Outlaw. I’m 3 hours from home. Is it safe to drive? [ATTACH] Just found this broken (sway bar?) while looking under my Outlaw. I’m 3 hours from home. Is it safe to drive? [/ATTACH]

Three hours home going much slower and very aware of your current mechanical limitations. Just wondering too.... did someone do the CHF on your rig?

hohenwald48 · 06-07-2020, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Earl II

Three hours home going much slower and very aware of your current mechanical limitations. Just wondering too.... did someone do the CHF on your rig?

If you look where the anti sway bar connecting link is connected to the anti sway bar you can see the "CHF" was not done. The link is attached to the the same hole as when it leaves the factory.

Waiter21 · 06-07-2020, 06:43 PM

Quote:

I hope that weldment idea is for a (very) temporary fix.

I intentionally cut my links in 1/2, then use a 1/2 inch water pipe to make the links a couple inches longer. been driving like this for years.. Very common for those who have done the CHF to make the links longer

ALSO - The link should (may) be a stock item at Ford dealers.

IMPORTANT - It hasn't been mentioned yet, but you may want to take a look at the rear torsion bar also. These have a very common problem of the bolts coming out and braking the saddle that holds the torsion bar to the axle.