Lifted my 4Runner, now I've got issues.

[Swimmerboy2112]

Hello all.

I recently lifted my 1997 4Runner with Bilstein 5100's in all 4 corners, LC 8 wrap coils in the rear and Toytec coils up front. I also have an adjustable panhard bar and diff drop. Both swaybars are connected with the factory end links. Also yesterday I got an alignment done.

Now on to the issue.

The vehicle feels very unstable while driving and it is extremely bouncy both front to back and side to side. It is horrible to drive. I have no clue what's wrong. I'm hoping the T4R community can help me out.

 

[JayRolla]

Billies are known to be a little softer, get the cadillac feel when driving. Any lifted truck will sway a lot more. The rear would be a lot stiffer if you ran a tokico land cruiser shock.

 

[fightman80]

Think about replacing your stabilizer bar bushings with Poly Urathane bushings.... made a world of difference on my truck.

 

[amalik]

Now you just need to click the 'undo lift' button under the driver-side dash.

Ok sorry, I had to.

Good luck, I don't know anything about lifts

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

Billies are known to be a little softer, get the cadillac feel when driving. Any lifted truck will sway a lot more. The rear would be a lot stiffer if you ran a tokico land cruiser shock.

Think about replacing your stabilizer bar bushings with Poly Urathane bushings.... made a world of difference on my truck.

I think it's something more than either of these. It's a pretty serious issue.

 

[rubbertoe]

The springs you put on (such as the 8 wraps or tundra length lc springs ) might tend to have a harsher road mannerism to them,as they are designed for a heavier truck and this type of set up is oriented towards off road .I know this is probably not what you want to hear and i am not trying to suggest to you that you have an issue ,but softer springs might solve the issues you speak of ,just a suggestion . also as fightman says replacing the bushings would be a good place to start especially if yours are worn out

 

[mountain mike]

I think it's something more than either of these. It's a pretty serious issue.

I know when I have lifted IFS trucks they always seem a little unstable. I am of the strong belief once you lift an IFS truck more than an inch it is a wise idea to replace the UCA's with aftermarket ones. Your stock ones, I would guess, are being pulled down and making it difficult to get it back to stock alignment specs, which makes it feel unstable.
Not sure why it would seems so bouncy.

 

[JayRolla]

If its a serious issue than something is installed wrong. I have ran worn shocks, lifted, spacers, crap tires, bad tie rod end and it was never really that serious. I also dont run front sway bar. Worn shocks can cause bouncy? Where the parts new or used?

 

[4x4mike]

I'm going to say the problem is due to the tall and stiff rear springs. I'd load up the rear and drive around for a week or two to accelerate settling. I assume your alignment comes with a short warranty. Before that time expires take it back into make sure that it's still within spec after some settling.

Another thing to check is the alignment of your front and rear sway bar end links. When you're parked on a flat surface they should be perpendicular to the ground. If they are at an angle they are being pulled and will add to the feeling you're having.

I put a 1" coil spacer on my rear coils and within 10 mile removed them. On turns in intersections it felt like the rear end was going to fall out of the truck. It boiled down to the rear being too high.

 

[Skidmarcx]

Adjustable panhard bars don't zero out the angle... The rear axle will shift side to side as a result when the rear end jounces... Get a panhard drop and that should help

 

[PitbullRescuer]

Disconnect your rear sway bar. Takes 5 minutes and I guarantee you it'll feel more stable. (Sounds crazy). Your stock end links are way too short for those 8 wraps in the back. Just disconnect the links and use something to tie the bar up and out of the way and then go drive it. If it feels better, and I guarantee you it will, buy longer end links and reinstall the sway bar.

 

[Forrrrest]

Post up your alignment specs. It could be a multitude of things. But my assumption would be a caster issue

 

[PitbullRescuer]

I'm sorry. I did assume that you had it aligned after the lift. Could you please reply back to let us know. Forrrrest is right that an alignment issue would certainly cause issues too. But I am still convinced that pulling your rear sway bar will help.

 

[RTI]

What clip setting are the front 5100s on?

You did not do a panhard drop bracket right?

 

[TCMach]

I don't think the 8 wraps/sway bar combo are the issue. [MENTION=78892]FR4R[/MENTION] runs that rear setup and it's stable as can be. I'm thinking alignment is the culprit. Before I got new UCAs my caster wasn't able to be adjusted enough and it was all over the place. I got used to it but now that I have almost 4* of caster, smooooth sailing.

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

If its a serious issue than something is installed wrong. I have ran worn shocks, lifted, spacers, crap tires, bad tie rod end and it was never really that serious. I also dont run front sway bar. Worn shocks can cause bouncy? Where the parts new or used?

Fronts were used for 500mi or so, rears are all new.

Disconnect your rear sway bar. Takes 5 minutes and I guarantee you it'll feel more stable. (Sounds crazy). Your stock end links are way too short for those 8 wraps in the back. Just disconnect the links and use something to tie the bar up and out of the way and then go drive it. If it feels better, and I guarantee you it will, buy longer end links and reinstall the sway bar.

I'll give that a try!

Post up your alignment specs. It could be a multitude of things. But my assumption would be a caster issue

I'm also thinking alignment.

I'm sorry. I did assume that you had it aligned after the lift. Could you please reply back to let us know. Forrrrest is right that an alignment issue would certainly cause issues too. But I am still convinced that pulling your rear sway bar will help.

I had it aligned, I will post up my specs.

What clip setting are the front 5100s on?

You did not do a panhard drop bracket right?

They are on the second clip from the bottom. And I do not have a bracket, just an adjustable bar.

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

 

[Forrrrest]

It's your caster, take it back to the alignment shop and tell them you need more positive caster. The should do it for free to fix their mistakes. 0.4 is ridiculous! !! You should be able to max out your exxcentrics and get at the most 2 degrees

 

[Swimmerboy2112]

It's your caster, take it back to the alignment shop and tell them you need more positive caster. The should do it for free to fix their mistakes. 0.4 is ridiculous! !! You should be able to max out your exxcentrics and get at the most 2 degrees

That explains that then. Gotta take it back!

 

[RTI]

They need to be on the bottom clip. You have too much lift which is causing the alignment to have too little caster