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- What is the RockJock AntiRock?
- Is the Jeep JL Antirock worth it?
- What’s wrong with manual sway bar disconnects?
- Should I get the Antirock even though I have a Rubicon?
- Do I only need the front Antirock or should I get both?
- How does it affect body roll?
- Will I be disappointed with on-road driving?
- How difficult is it to install?
- What are other options for Disconnecting my sway bar?
- Conclusion
One of the most important things you can do with your Jeep JL once you get on the trail is disconnecting your sway bar and the Antirock is something that can help you. Your sway bar is there to help with handling turns and prevent massive body roll when on the road.
However, on the trail, it can be very constricting to your suspension’s ability to flex, and for those who have paid a hefty sum upgrading their suspension you certainly want to get every inch of flex you paid for.
This is why disconnecting your sway bar along with airing down your tires is something everyone should do as soon as they hit the trail. Keep reading to find out if the Antirock sway bar is the next upgrade your vehicle needs.
What is the RockJock AntiRock?
The Antirock is a sway bar replacement system created by RockJock. They specialize in designing and building some of the best aftermarket suspension products for Jeeps.
The Antirock completely replaces your stock sway bar with a 4130 heat-treated Chromoly torsion bar. A torsion bar is essentially a metal rod that acts as a spring and when used as a sway bar it keeps your suspension linked together but still allows for independent travel. Increasing or decreasing the diameter of the torsion bar will change the strength of the spring which may be needed for heavier vehicles with lots of protective gear.
The Antirock system has been around for quite some time and has versions for the following models:
Jeep JL Wrangler 2018+
Jeep JT Gladiator 2020+
Jeep JK Wrangler 2017-2018
Jeep TJ Wrangler 1997-2006
Jeep YJ Wrangler 1987-1995
Jeep XY Cherokee 1984-2001
Jeep MJ Comanche 1986-1992
Is the Jeep JL Antirock worth it?
Off-Road performance
Right off the bat, the first thing you will notice off-road when switching to the Antirock is that the ride is much smoother and you get less side-to-side jostling. Since both ends of your axle are able to flex because of the torsion bar your suspension is able to absorb and react to bumps without transferring that energy directly to the cabin.
Now the biggest reason to get the Antirock is for unleashing your suspension from the confinement of its sway bar, and it certainly does. Having the Antirock allows your suspension to articulate fully just as if you had disconnected your sway bar without actually doing so.
On-road performance
Anyone who has driven a Jeep knows how they drive They’re big, bouncy, and noisy. But that’s what gives them personality and we love them for that. We don’t drive for the comfort on road, we drive them to explore new places and destination a little sedan can’t get us.
On the first drive on-road you will notice a slight change in body roll when cornering. It’s nothing drastic and within a few hundred miles you won’t even notice it’s any different and at the end of the day still drives just like a jeep.
However, I did notice an improvement on the road. Since Jeeps have a solid front axle they’re ride tends to be much rougher than an independent suspension. With the Antirock I noticed that bumps in the road and potholes no longer rattled my head senseless and the overall ride was much smoother.
Pros and Cons
- No more manually disconnecting the sway bar on the trail
- No impact on articulation
- Smoother ride on and off-road
- Easy installs within a few hours
- Slight increase in body roll
- Expensive
What’s the verdict?
Having run the Antirock on both my TJ and JL I can without a doubt say it will definitely be on my next Jeep. The improvements on the road made it more enjoyable to daily drive. The amount of articulation I get without having to crawl under my Jeep to manually disconnect my sway bar is without a doubt the best benefit.
- Unlocks suspensions full articulation potential
- No more manually disconnecting your sway bar
- Easily installed with basic hand tools with 2-3 hours
What’s wrong with manual sway bar disconnects?
Manually disconnecting your sway bar with aftermarket links has been the tried and true method for a long time. There is nothing wrong with it and it’s a much more affordable option.
Anyone who has used manual disconnects knows the struggle of trying to get the pins back in to reconnect your sway bar on uneven ground. Having a friend inch the vehicle forward or rock the car to get the link lined up to get the pin through can often be a pain.
Should I get the Antirock even though I have a Rubicon?
If you have a Rubicon model it will come standard with the electronic sway bar disconnect. However, this feature does have its limitations.
- You must be in 4-wheel drive. If you switch to 2-wheel drive the sway bar will reconnect.
- The sway bar will only stay disconnected up to 18mph at which point it will reconnect until your speed is decreased.
- Difficulty disconnecting and reconnecting on uneven ground. This is not a common problem but it does tend to happen If your jeep is not level.
- The electronic sway bar disconnect only disconnects the front.
Most of the problems can be fixed with the use of a Tazer, but with the Antirock there is no button or electronics to break. Once installed your vehicle has all of its articulation available and still provides a great on-road experience.
Do I only need the front Antirock or should I get both?
The front Antirock sway bar has been designed to work in conjunction with the rear Antirock. You can get away with running just the front Antirock and stock sway bar in the rear, but for the best performance, the system has been designed to perform best with both. Keeping your stock sway bar in the rear you could bend the stock links or the bar itself.
- Unlocks suspensions full articulation potential
- No more manually disconnecting your sway bar
- Easily installed with basic hand tools with 2-3 hours
How does it affect body roll?
One of the first things you will notice when you install your Antirock sway bar is the body roll. The amount is not drastic but will take some getting used to and within a short time, you won’t notice any difference.
Will I be disappointed with on-road driving?
No! And this is a big misconception with the Antirock. While you may notice a sligh increase in body roll initially. You will completely forget about it within a short time.
One of the benefits on-road with the Antirock is that your Jeep will not transfer as many bumps in the road to the cabin and provides a much smoother ride.
How difficult is it to install?
Installation of the RockJock Antirock is fairly simple and can be completed within a few hours. You only need basic hand tools. The front requires no modifications and bolts directly on. The rear may require some slight grinding of a seam to fit the sway bar bushings into the frame.
What are other options for Disconnecting my sway bar?
If you have a non-Rubicon model and you’re looking to disconnect your sway bar the Antirock is a great option but it’s certainly an expensive option. Here are a few alternatives.
- Manual Sway Bar Disconnect Links
- Finding a Used Electronic Disconnect System From A Rubicon
Conclusion
Unlocking your Jeep’s true articulation potential starts with your sway bar. While there may be a few cheaper options, the AntiRock is a premium upgrade. The installation is simple, and the instructions are easy to follow so anyone should be able to complete the installation process in a few hours.
Having used both manual disconnects and the Antirock I can honestly say the on-road and off-road improvements as well as the ease of use make this a no-brainer if your budget allows for it.
