Advice needed on 2001!!

[eric70412]

Hi All, Well today I figured I would climb under the runner and see what kinda rust I had under there. Well I didnt see much frame rust but however I did find that I have a broken front sway bar linkage on the passenger side! It appears that the top bolt must of rotted off and the linkage pulled away from the sway bar. I looked at the drivers side and its still intact.

Im not sure how long that I have been driving the runner like this. It appears that the top of the linkage where the bolt snapped off looks a lil rusty so I must of been driving it like this for some time now.

Ok my questions are:

Should I be worried about this and get it fixed right away or not worry about it at all??

I have read on here and if I am understanding it correctly that some people dont run with a sway bar on the front at all??

I never noticed any handling difference with it being like this but I dont want the other side that is taking all the load to break and then I have a wreck or something. Would that be possible??

Also im not sure if I have a rear one I didnt think to look when I was under it and then I read on here that some have front and rear sway bars.

I have a 2001 would I have both??



Here are some pics of it and the sway bar that it is connected too hope you all can see em! Any advice is appreciated..

Thank you!

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Just a sway bar link, pretty easy fix. Replace them as a pair though.

 

[Baja Runner]

Yep, just buy a pair from the auto parts store with new bushings. They should be ~$20 each. Just to let you know this is a very common failure.

And yes, the rear of our 4runner's have a sway bar as well.

 

[GladeRunner]

Great job Eric70412 posting excellent pics and writeup with your problem. Best I've seen in a while.

Agree with PitbullRescuer.

 

[eric70412]

Great job Eric70412 posting excellent pics and writeup with your problem. Best I've seen in a while.

Agree with PitbullRescuer.

Thanks! Yeah I just wanted to make sure everyone knew what I was talking about lol

Yeah I just bought one for 23 bucks at advanced auto gonna try and put it on on my next set of offdays. If all goes well with that side I will do the other side also.

Thanks for all the great advice guys!

Eric

 

[jspagna1]

Just a sway bar link, pretty easy fix. Replace them as a pair though.

Ya had mine replaced. And yes do them both at the same time. Good as new.