What happens when sway bars are removed from a vehicle?

When sway bars (also known as anti-roll bars) are removed from a vehicle, one of the most immediate effects is an increase in body roll during cornering. Sway bars are designed to reduce the amount of body roll that occurs when a vehicle turns. They do this by connecting the left and right sides of the suspension, allowing them to work together to counteract the forces that cause the body to lean to one side.

Without a sway bar, the vehicle’s body becomes less stable during turns, and the wheels on one side can compress more than those on the opposite side. This can lead to a significant increase in body roll, which compromises handling and cornering performance. The vehicle may feel less controlled and more tippy, impacting driver confidence and safety.

The other choices suggest improvements or characteristics that would not be associated with the removal of sway bars. For example, suspension stiffness would not improve without sway bars, and traction on rough surfaces would likely decrease as the vehicle's stability is compromised. Additionally, ride height is generally not affected by the presence or absence of sway bars. Therefore, the increase in body roll is indeed the primary and most relevant consequence of removing sway bars from a vehicle.