Harsh (Jarring) side to side after lift

4Runnin2000

New member
I've had this since I installed my lift about 6 months ago. I have 5100s all around, ome 881s up front on 2nd perch, and 890s in the back. Panhard drop and dif drop. A couple problems..

1st: When I am driving down the road and hit a slight uneven dip, the back end of the rig wiggles. Hard to really explain it but it's like a dog wagging his butt kind of feeling. It wasn't like this before the lift. Have to hold on to make sure I don't go into other lanes of traffic

2nd: When I am on dirt roads, mall crawling over speed bumps, or simply pulling out of my driveway, if I don't hit the slope or bump head on, the jarring left to right is ridiculous. Feels like im in a solid axle backhoe. I have to slowly back out or drive in with my foot on the brake like I'm rock crawling in hopes to not hit my head on the driver side window.

I'm hoping someone else had this problem and fixed it. It is still a daily driver and I would like to make it atleast a little more comfortable. Thanks in advance!
 
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I've had this since I installed my lift about 6 months ago. I have 5100s all around, ome 881s up front on 2nd perch, and 890s in the back. Panhard drop and dif drop. A couple problems..

1st: When I am driving down the road and hit a slight uneven dip, the back end of the rig wiggles. Hard to really explain it but it's like a dog wagging his butt kind of feeling. It wasn't like this before the lift. Have to hold on to make sure I don't go into other lanes of traffic

2nd: When I am on dirt roads, mall crawling over speed bumps, or simply pulling out of my driveway, if I don't hit the slope or bump head on, the jarring left to right is ridiculous. Feels like im in a solid axle backhoe. I have to slowly back out or drive in with my foot on the brake like I'm rock crawling in hopes to not hit my head on the driver side window.

I'm hoping someone else had this problem and fixed it. It is still a daily driver and I would like to make it atleast a little more comfortable. Thanks in advance!

Did you get Tundra 5100s or Tacoma 5100s? What's the load rating on your tires?

I'll just speak from my own experience, which may or may not be your case, but I had Tundra 5100s with Eibach Springs up front and OME 890s in the rear from ToyTec sitting on E rated Yoko Geolanders. It was a disgustingly harsh ride for 4 years. I got Tacoma 5100s, reused the springs, and got a set of C rated tires, and it's MUCH better.

I can't speak to the pan-hard stuff though, and it might just be that your suspension is bringing out driveline wear issues or tie-rod issues too. I'll let someone with more knowledge speak to that though, I'm just throwing out ideas from things I've encountered.
 
Did you get Tundra 5100s or Tacoma 5100s? What's the load rating on your tires?

I'll just speak from my own experience, which may or may not be your case, but I had Tundra 5100s with Eibach Springs up front and OME 890s in the rear from ToyTec sitting on E rated Yoko Geolanders. It was a disgustingly harsh ride for 4 years. I got Tacoma 5100s, reused the springs, and got a set of C rated tires, and it's MUCH better.

I can't speak to the pan-hard stuff though, and it might just be that your suspension is bringing out driveline wear issues or tie-rod issues too. I'll let someone with more knowledge speak to that though, I'm just throwing out ideas from things I've encountered.
I have the Tacoma 5100s. They are not e rated tires. 265/75/16 Firestone ATs
I can see what you are getting at. But I had the tires on there before the lift and didn't have this problem. So I am pretty sure it's something that the lift did. I replaced OTREs shortly after the lift and Lbjs all oem. So those are all good. Sway bar endlinks and bushings are all original but still look decent. Not worn enough to cause problems I don't think.
 
I have \ had the same issues, but I chocked it up due to running 861s in the rear and having 255\85-16 tires (narrow). I added 1 1/4" wheel spacers awhile back and that rolling \ side to side shift is pretty much gone. For me, I think due to the center of gravity was so high and narrow width was causing it. Everything height wise was longer (shocks \ springs) so that increased the distance it could move side to side. Also, I think it's time to replace my Upper and Lower Control Arm Bushings.
 
I have the Tacoma 5100s. They are not e rated tires. 265/75/16 Firestone ATs
I can see what you are getting at. But I had the tires on there before the lift and didn't have this problem. So I am pretty sure it's something that the lift did. I replaced OTREs shortly after the lift and Lbjs all oem. So those are all good. Sway bar endlinks and bushings are all original but still look decent. Not worn enough to cause problems I don't think.

Do you happen to have a pic of the front coil-overs installed?
 
I have \ had the same issues, but I chocked it up due to running 861s in the rear and having 255\85-16 tires (narrow). I added 1 1/4" wheel spacers awhile back and that rolling \ side to side shift is pretty much gone. For me, I think due to the center of gravity was so high and narrow width was causing it. Everything height wise was longer (shocks \ springs) so that increased the distance it could move side to side. Also, I think it's time to replace my Upper and Lower Control Arm Bushings.
I am thinking I may have to chock it up to this also. Narrow tires and stock rims don't help I'm sure. And the higher center of gravity is more than likely making it worse. I was more so wondering if it was normal and/or if there was anything I could do to help it out a little bit. It's pretty uncomfortable. I'm not a huge fan of wheel spacers. Eventually I would like to get a wider rim but I like the look of the factory 5 stars too.
 
Do you happen to have a pic of the front coil-overs installed?
I am working on that right now. Trying to get the wife to send me a picture. I Took the Subaru to work today. I Had to explain what the shock and spring was. We'll see what kind of picture gets sent to me. Haha
 
I am thinking I may have to chock it up to this also. Narrow tires and stock rims don't help I'm sure. And the higher center of gravity is more than likely making it worse. I was more so wondering if it was normal and/or if there was anything I could do to help it out a little bit. It's pretty uncomfortable. I'm not a huge fan of wheel spacers. Eventually I would like to get a wider rim but I like the look of the factory 5 stars too.

Check the rear upper and lower control arm bushings. If they are good I would remove that panhard drop and see how it feels.
 
Check the rear upper and lower control arm bushings. If they are good I would remove that panhard drop and see how it feels.
I will check those. I mean the Panhard drop is welded so it's hard to remove. Can't remember if I can put it back in the stock location or if the weld messed that up. I'll look. And I'll try that too. That's also kind of my issue. I had to put additional washers on both sides of the passenger side Panhard bushing because the gap in the Panhard drop bracket was too big. Don't think that would effect functionality but it seemed odd to me. It's the toytec panhard drop bracket.
 
I will check those. I mean the Panhard drop is welded so it's hard to remove. Can't remember if I can put it back in the stock location or if the weld messed that up. I'll look. And I'll try that too. That's also kind of my issue. I had to put additional washers on both sides of the passenger side Panhard bushing because the gap in the Panhard drop bracket was too big. Don't think that would effect functionality but it seemed odd to me. It's the toytec panhard drop bracket.

Yeah I though maybe since you just installed it was just bolted at the moment which could cause the issues your talking about. I had the issue your talking about a little before I added my adj panhard bar(no drop) and its pretty solid now. But again I never had it as bad as you are which makes me think its something else.

I have felt this left to right rear waggle before in my buddys FJ but he had broken a lower and upper rear control arm on the trail and was ratchet strapped together.
 
Yeah I though maybe since you just installed it was just bolted at the moment which could cause the issues your talking about. I had the issue your talking about a little before I added my adj panhard bar(no drop) and its pretty solid now. But again I never had it as bad as you are which makes me think its something else.

I have felt this left to right rear waggle before in my buddys FJ but he had broken a lower and upper rear control arm on the trail and was ratchet strapped together.
Makes me wonder if it is the rear lower control arm bushings then. But shoot I'm pretty sure I checked them out recently when I was doing the oil change and they looked ok. But the fact that adding the adjustable Panhard bar fixed your problem makes me want to put it back in the stock location and see what happens.
 
Do you happen to have a pic of the front coil-overs installed?
20009896b20f4158ccbcc831cf66b860.jpg

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Here's what I got. Not sure if these help you find what you were looking for. I can take better pics when I get home. The wheel is turned all the way to the right. Don't mind the torn inner cv boot. [emoji53]
 
I've had this since I installed my lift about 6 months ago. I have 5100s all around, ome 881s up front on 2nd perch, and 890s in the back. Panhard drop and dif drop. A couple problems..

1st: When I am driving down the road and hit a slight uneven dip, the back end of the rig wiggles. Hard to really explain it but it's like a dog wagging his butt kind of feeling. It wasn't like this before the lift. Have to hold on to make sure I don't go into other lanes of traffic

2nd: When I am on dirt roads, mall crawling over speed bumps, or simply pulling out of my driveway, if I don't hit the slope or bump head on, the jarring left to right is ridiculous. Feels like im in a solid axle backhoe. I have to slowly back out or drive in with my foot on the brake like I'm rock crawling in hopes to not hit my head on the driver side window.

I'm hoping someone else had this problem and fixed it. It is still a daily driver and I would like to make it atleast a little more comfortable. Thanks in advance!

Can't comment on the rear end, but honestly it sounds like your describing a lifted 4runner. I have the toytec ultimate lift and I get the same back and forth motion when I back out of my driveway at an angle. Lifted 3 inches isn't going to feel like stock no matter what you do. Have you driven another lifted 4runner to compare? Is it making a banging noise at all or does it just feel stiff when you approach from an angle?
 
Makes me wonder if it is the rear lower control arm bushings then. But shoot I'm pretty sure I checked them out recently when I was doing the oil change and they looked ok. But the fact that adding the adjustable Panhard bar fixed your problem makes me want to put it back in the stock location and see what happens.

Mine would slightly sway on the highway when hitting bumps. I actually did not know it was an issue till I installed the bar. Im not saying your drop is causing it.
 
Can't comment on the rear end, but honestly it sounds like your describing a lifted 4runner. I have the toytec ultimate lift and I get the same back and forth motion when I back out of my driveway at an angle. Lifted 3 inches isn't going to feel like stock no matter what you do. Have you driven another lifted 4runner to compare? Is it making a banging noise at all or does it just feel stiff when you approach from an angle?
No I haven't driven another 4runner to compare. That's a good idea actually. No banging or popping noise. Feels pretty solid just real stiff like you said. I know it will never feel like stock. I guess I assumed it would handle bumps like that a little better with a new suspension. But you may be right.
 
Mine would slightly sway on the highway when hitting bumps. I actually did not know it was an issue till I installed the bar. Im not saying your drop is causing it.
It does that on the highway too. But when I did a search for that it seemed like everyone with a 3rd Gen had that problem so I just forgot it. I know it may not be the culprit but it's a free and easy thing to try
 
I when I had this happening I found it to be my rear sway bar bushing were flat out gone and the ball joint of the link pins to be the main culprit.
 
You need to use a prybar to properly check for play in the rear LCA.....

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