Can anyone explain what's been done to my suspension?

[TheBFA]

I bought this 94 with the 3VFE about 4 years ago pretty much just like it sits now, except I've put street wheels on, and it came with some Super Swampers. It's been sitting about 2 years with a blown head gasket, and I had big plans for swapping out the motor for a V8, and eventually beefing up the drivetrain. I'm pretty good with doing work in the engine bay, and this is the 4th head gasket replacement I've ever done on my own, and have done quite a few clutches, just to give an idea of my mechanical capability. But I don't know much about drivetrain stuff other than direct replacement. This is my first 4wd vehicle that's geared for offroad.

So I know I have 5.29 gears front and back, detroit lockers front and back, and something about a Landcruiser suspension in the rear. When the previous owner told me about it, I was under the impression it was just a part swap out. But I just found out last week when my buddy was looking at it, that it may be an entirely different setup from factory. So I'm wondering how this will affect how I chose parts if I decide to swap out axels later on. And also, I don't have any sway bars. I'd like to get some that I can easily disconnect, and I'd be fine with it like it is, but my girlfriend will probably be driving it a lot with our kids in it, so I'd like it to be a little safer to drive. It's kind of like driving a flat-bottomed boat on a lake right now with all the sway. If anyone could point me in the right direction, is appreciate it.

I should also mention I'm a pipe welder/NCCER level 4 fitter, so if I need to weld some different mounts in for the sway bar, it wouldn't be a problem at all. I just don't know the engineering aspect of it.

 

[TheBFA]

Another angle from the front....

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

I don't know for sure but I think that is a stock rear suspension for the 2nd generation 1989-1995. Someone probably put heavier rated Land Cruiser rear springs in there to compensate for the OEM sagging coils. Edit: Or to lift it up for the Super Swampers. Hope this helps.
I copied this from Wikipedia:

Toyota issued a second generation of Hilux Surf and 4Runner in 1989 for the 1990 model year. Known as the N120/N130 series, these models continued their reliance on the Hilux pickup as a basis. It represented a fundamental departure from the first generation model. Instead of an enhanced pickup truck with fiberglass cap, the new 4Runners featured a freshly designed, full steel integrated body mounted on the existing frame. However, the 4Runner did remain virtually identical to the Hilux from the B-pillars forward. It also gained an all new coil spring rear suspension system, which unfortunately proved to be just as prone to sagging as the leaf springs on the rear of the previous models.

 

[TheBFA]

I don't know for sure but I think that is a stock rear suspension for the 2nd generation 1989-1995. Someone probably put heavier rated Land Cruiser rear springs in there to compensate for the OEM sagging coils. Hope this helps.
I copied this from Wikipedia:

Toyota issued a second generation of Hilux Surf and 4Runner in 1989 for the 1990 model year. Known as the N120/N130 series, these models continued their reliance on the Hilux pickup as a basis. It represented a fundamental departure from the first generation model. Instead of an enhanced pickup truck with fiberglass cap, the new 4Runners featured a freshly designed, full steel integrated body mounted on the existing frame. However, the 4Runner did remain virtually identical to the Hilux from the B-pillars forward. It also gained an all new coil spring rear suspension system, which unfortunately proved to be just as prone to sagging as the leaf springs on the rear of the previous models.

I was just finding this out after doing some more looking. I was under the impression it had leaf springs as stock, after my buddy mentioned it. He's a Toyota fanatic so I was taking his word for it. It does look like there were perch mounts for leaf springs where the rust marks are on the frame with holes, so it seemed plausible. And idea what was bolted there originally? The forward ones are in the center pic on my first post, and there is another set just like it the same distance from the axle to the rear.

 

[4RunnerAquasport]

I was just finding this out after doing some more looking. I was under the impression it had leaf springs as stock, after my buddy mentioned it. He's a Toyota fanatic so I was taking his word for it. It does look like there were perch mounts for leaf springs where the rust marks are on the frame with holes, so it seemed plausible. And idea what was bolted there originally? The forward ones are in the center pic on my first post, and there is another set just like it the same distance from the axle to the rear.

The 2nd gens are treated like black sheep, unfortunately. So they're cheap for the guys who try different ideas with their fab work. It wouldn't surprise me if someone converted it to leafs for awhile. Hell It could have been a crawler with a longer and beefier four link and that's where the hanger was sitting for the longer trailing arm. Especially out there in the land of Toyotas. lol My buddy says they're everywhere out there in CO.

 

[Dropzone]

84-89 1st gens had read leafs,
2nd gens started in 1990 and went to coils..

[MENTION=115918]TheBFA[/MENTION] your 4runner pretty much has the standard go to 2nd gen lift
99% sure you have a set of 91(?)-97 FJ80 rear springs with a panhard bar drop kit.
The two holes you see in the frame were for the rest away bar connects.

Attached pics are of my 94's rear suspension.
I still have the rear seat bar, I don't see one on yours so that would account for the missing brackets in the frame.
I also don't have the LSPV rod that you have going to the left side of the axle.

I see no evidence on your frame that would indicate it ever had lead springs

Just saw you had kids...even with a rear sway bar these things are tippy with longer coils.. panic turns bring the suck... might reconsider not having the GF drive it..my wife drove my 94 once..

Unless you consider adding a Currie Anti Rock sway bar type syste

 

[TheBFA]

84-89 1st gens had read leafs,
2nd gens started in 1990 and went to coils..

[MENTION=115918]TheBFA[/MENTION] your 4runner pretty much has the standard go to 2nd gen lift
99% sure you have a set of 91(?)-97 FJ80 rear springs with a panhard bar drop kit.
The two holes you see in the frame were for the rest away bar connects.

Attached pics are of my 94's rear suspension.
I still have the rear seat bar, I don't see one on yours so that would account for the missing brackets in the frame.
I also don't have the LSPV rod that you have going to the left side of the axle.

I see no evidence on your frame that would indicate it ever had lead springs

Just saw you had kids...even with a rear sway bar these things are tippy with longer coils.. panic turns bring the suck... might reconsider not having the GF drive it..my wife drove my 94 once..

Unless you consider adding a Currie Anti Rock sway bar type syste

Thanks for the info. When I first test drove it, I didn't realize it only had 10psi in the 34.5" super swampers. It was like driving a moon buggy. I kinda liked it. But as soon as I realized how low they were, I filled them up.

Have you heard of anyone doing an axle swap with wider axles?

 

[Dropzone]

Thanks for the info. When I first test drove it, I didn't realize it only had 10psi in the 34.5" super swampers. It was like driving a moon buggy. I kinda liked it. But as soon as I realized how low they were, I filled them up.

Have you heard of anyone doing an axle swap with wider axles?

Sure a lot of people have swapped T-100 or 1 ton axles...they generally do it at the same time they convert to leaf springs or a true 4 link