First time out after lifting- what to look out for?

[DeTwizzle]

As the title states, I just lifted my 4runner at the beginning of this year. While it has still been somewhat cool and outta season, I have spent the time leveling her out, getting bigger tires, ordering sliders and a new front bumper, etc... and much more to come.

My question is... what do I need to watch out for that might be the first thing to break on my first outting? Thinking of running Saran Wrap & Eagle Rock if weather permitting... anyone wanna go?

My sway-bar mounts look like they are taking the brunt of stress from the lift when I stretch her out.

Do I need quick-disconnects or longer mounts? Is it a common problem for the stock mounts to break, especially in the rear after lifting?

 

[brian2sun]

I didn't break my sway bar mounts, but it didn't take long to snap a link in 1/2.

You should either get disco links, swaybar mount drops, or just remove the sway bar if you are going to be off roading alot. You'll get a little more independent motion in the front and a little more flex too with no sway bar.

 

[DeTwizzle]

Brian,
Thank you for the speedy reply! I mean and meant links.
Did you go with aftermarket links, what is your set-up/

 

[brian2sun]

My set up is no sway bars - front or rear.

 

[DeTwizzle]

So Wabfabs disco links are the preferred method if I still wanna run a swaybar for highway purposes?.
I guess that a sway-bar drop is unnecessary if I go with that since i just disconnect at the trail head?

 

[Jon]

I'm also running w/o sway bars and love it. A lot more flex and better trail ride. Watch out for your rear U-joint/gas tank skid contact and gas tank fill tube/tire contact with the driver's tire stuffed. You may have to bang the pinch welds in at the bottom rear corner of the rear fenders. Might need an extended rear brake hose. Hows the UCA/tire clearance?

 

[DeTwizzle]

Holly Crap!!! $290 for new sway-bar links is heavy duty.... and there is no warranty on them I guess. Someone else said that he would replace them if they broke... not the case I guess.
I think Ill just wait for mine to break before I make a move.

 

[t4r4life]

My set up is no sway bars - front or rear.

wow i heard it rides horriable with no front sway bar, i just took my my rear and i can feel a little roll

 

[Elton H]

ya with my set up and no rear sway bar pulling out fast is not wise it will lift the front tire off the ground

 

[brian2sun]

wow i heard it rides horriable with no front sway bar, i just took my my rear and i can feel a little roll

It rides fine, I think it may even soak up bumps on the road better. But cornering sucks.

ya with my set up and no rear sway bar pulling out fast is not wise it will lift the front tire off the ground

Exactly, you just gotta get used to it.

I took my front one off first just because it was always making noise and loosening up and finally I snapped that link so I just said screw it. WabFab's discos are really sweet, I'm still thinking about getting some so I can have at least one sway bar for road trips.

I ditched the rear one too because it limits your travel a lot back there - way more than the front.

 

[Gerdo]

Wheeling with a lifted 4runner is one of the most dangerous things you can do!

Since you have raised you CG it'll roll over on the smallest slant.

 

[Gerdo]

Just kidding!

4runners are great wheeling vehicles.

I wheeled for years with the swaybars connected. I now remove one or both of the front swaybar links. The ride offroad is so much better. The independent front wheels can now move independently and flex without rocking the vehicle.

The rear? I leave the swaybar connected. I have extended the links. They can only be extended by ~1". If they are too long they will come in contact with the lower control arms.

 

[BrianSD_42]

what do you think about this...

I spoke with Steve of Sonoran Steel last month about the front sway bar; mine broke about 3 months after I installed the SS 1.2

He told me that I should install any 3rd gen sway bar along with 2WD Tundra end links (w/ Tundra bushings).

I priced this out and it is about $150 for the part from local auto yard.

What I want though is a setup that is easy to disconnect when I hit the trail.

- Brian

 

[jdmaccord6]

using tundra links aren't a bad idea. what i did was find some endlinks from a 2nd gen 4runner. they are about 1-1.5 inches longer to bring the rear sway bar back into spec. the front endlinks i left alone. They should be cheaper then the tundra ones anyways.

 

[DeTwizzle]

JDMaccord- Thank you for the advise. I went to my junkyard and found some 95' rear swaybar links. Like you said, 1-1.5in longer and looks like it is back to normal. Just got them on there so I'm go take it for a quick spin, and flex it out on some rocks on the median in the neighborhood.
I guess now it is either take off the front swaybar, or go with wabfabs front disconnects... choices, choices, choices!

 

[Pikeman]

I am running Wabfabs discos up front and no sway bar in rear. 5 minutes to pull before and after wheeling, at same time as airing down and airing up so no real lost time. I would do the Wab Discos up front before i did the Tundra ones. Then take the front end links nad put them on the rear and bingo you have your 1" longer in the back and disco in the front.