How bad is it to drive with the right rear stabilizer link off?

[6716]

I thought I would outsmart these OEM links by cutting them off. I got the right rear cut off but the nuts are rusted to the bar and frame. My compressor and impact gun are 45 minutes away at my friend's place. How stupid is it to drive my trailblazer out there with one link missing?

 

[6716]

A quick internet search shows lots of people look under their vehicles to learn they had lost their links somewhere along the way. So I think if I take it easy I should be ok.

 

[Mooseman]

The rear isn't so critical so you can live without it for a while unless you're running a slalom. Like you said, some don't even notice it gone.

 

[6716]

Now to get the rusted bolts off the frame and stabilizer bar ...

 

[Matt]

I took my rear bar off years ago and haven't noticed any difference.

 

[6716]

I took my rear bar off years ago and haven't noticed any difference.

Why did you remove it?

 

[BrianF]

One of our work F150s lost a front link. Now that was scary to drive. Mind you we like to haul ass.

 

[Matt]

Why did you remove it?

Because it really doesn't do shit and I was tired of replacing endlinks.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

I have not had a rear bar in many years. I tried running none, front, rear, both, and honestly... Front does the work and these really are not bad to drive with none unless you are really pushing a 5K SUV.

 

[TollKeeper]

...unless you are really pushing a 5K SUV.

You lightweight! 1100 lbs difference inbetween SWB and LWB? I didnt think it would be that much!

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

Maybe more like 400 lbs stock. Mine is pushing 5K on a scale with winch/bumpers/35 inch spare/tools/steel skids from front to behind TC. Not sure how you got 1100 lbs.

 

[TollKeeper]

Mine is 6080 with me in it, but empty on fuel. Dont know if the XUV is heavier or not.

Shes a thick girl, but I love her!

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

Damn. I knew they were a few lbs heavier according to curb weight, but you got an extra grand.

 

[TollKeeper]

Its kinda odd. I weighed it on a certified scale. And for a truck of this size, I was expecting 70/30 or if I was lucky, 60/40. Front was 3260, rear was 2820. Thats a 54/46. This truck has always driven extremely well balanced, almost like a cloud.... For a fat girl anyways!

Sorry for the thread hi-jack OP

 

[6716]

Sorry for the thread hi-jack OP

No worries, all in good fun.

Do the rear links have any impact while towing? In theory this was the summer I was going to tow a small camping trailer.

 

[Mooseman]

Not really and probably even less as you won't carve corners with a trailer in tow.

 

[HARDTRAILZ]

I even tow our dump trailer without a rear bar. No issues.

 

[6716]

I'm glad y'all convinced me to delete the rear bar entirely. The link ends are stuck in the bar and the frame. And I sheared the bolt of the passenger insulator bracket putting waaaay to much leverage on it. It wouldn't go back on without a while lot more work.

 

[Mooseman]

And how's the ride?

 

[6716]

And how's the ride?

I think it's ok. On city streets it is perfectly awesome. On the highway yesterday it maybe felt a little looser, but admittedly the front end needs plenty of work and that is next on the list. Did it seem that way because I was paying attention to it?

I am a former taxi driver, and my other vehicle is a German sedan, so you might gather that I am no stranger to going fast and cornering hard. I'll just take it down a notch in the Trailblazer now.

 

[Mooseman]

There would probably be better gains if we could swap the front bar. Unfortunately, as I found out, it's captured inside the frame in later years so no way to upgrade to another from from say, an SS. The earlier years were outside the frame.