Sway bar end link question

[DCameraMan]

I've been searching the forums and google and have yet to find a definitive answer about the end links I may or may not need.

I have the the Daystar 2.5" front and 1.5" rear lift/level spacer kit on my 06 4x4 v6 sport. (Disclaimer: I already know spacers aren't the best lift solution. When I have the money to rip out my xreas and put proper suspension in there, I will).

I'm replacing my sway bar bushings, and end links, and have been reading about needing people with lifts needing new end links. I need help understanding if I need new lengths or if i'm good with stock. The front sway bar seems to be hanging low, since the spacer ended up pushing the control arm down in resting position. Do I need shorter end links to bring the sway bar back up in the front?

The rear bar seems to be sitting high, do I need longer links after just a 1.5" spacer in the back?

I'm hoping to update all my suspension in a year so I'm really trying not to spend $200 on end links. The rear end links are only a couple months old, so It'd be really nice to only have to replace the front for $20

:guitar2: :drum: :guitar3:

 

[techno]

Ideally, the optimum end link length should result in no loading on the sway bar when you're at normal ride height (ie: just sitting on level ground on the wheels). You should be able to undo the nuts on the end links and separate them from the chassis/spindle without them flinging off.
I have a 1.5" rear lift and found that 2nd gen 4Runner endlinks are the perfect length to do this. They eliminated the preload from the stock length links and improved the handling a little. Wheel travel was improved a little also.
I haven't done anything to my front with 2" lift yet.

 

[blackoutt]

You don't need to get extended links in the rear but if you'd like them to perform as designed, see the above post. I'm running "customish" rear sway bar links on mine with 3" lift springs, I honestly can't tell a difference between them and stock links. I'm debating just getting rid of the whole sway bar at this point.

You also don't need shorter front links (for some reason others think you need longer front links, but I agree with you based on the geometry a lifted setup would require shorter links.) Most people including me have a sway bar relocate block that spaces the mounting points down, making it a little better. Again I didn't notice a handling difference blocks or not, I just put them on because they came with the coilovers.

 

[DCameraMan]

You don't need to get extended links in the rear but if you'd like them to perform as designed, see the above post. I'm running "customish" rear sway bar links on mine with 3" lift springs, I honestly can't tell a difference between them and stock links. I'm debating just getting rid of the whole sway bar at this point.

You also don't need shorter front links (for some reason others think you need longer front links, but I agree with you based on the geometry a lifted setup would require shorter links.) Most people including me have a sway bar relocate block that spaces the mounting points down, making it a little better. Again I didn't notice a handling difference blocks or not, I just put them on because they came with the coilovers.

This is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you!

 

[Sukhoi]

Ideally, the optimum end link length should result in no loading on the sway bar when you're at normal ride height (ie: just sitting on level ground on the wheels). You should be able to undo the nuts on the end links and separate them from the chassis/spindle without them flinging off.
I have a 1.5" rear lift and found that 2nd gen 4Runner endlinks are the perfect length to do this. They eliminated the preload from the stock length links and improved the handling a little. Wheel travel was improved a little also.
I haven't done anything to my front with 2" lift yet.

I like the idea of using OEM Toyota endlinks from a different year. How different are the 2nd gen end links? It is this part number, right: 48830-35010?

Apologies if I'm doing anything wrong - long time lurker but my first post

 

[cwilliams563]

I like the idea of using OEM Toyota endlinks from a different year. How different are the 2nd gen end links? It is this part number, right: 48830-35010?

Apologies if I'm doing anything wrong - long time lurker but my first post

That looks like the right Toyota part. The 2nd Gens are 1” longer that our 4th gens. I replaced my originals with these Moog rear endlinks for 2nd Gen and worked fine. More Information for MOOG K80380

 

[Sukhoi]

Got the 2nd gen endlinks installed (48830-3501), they are just about the perfect length with OME 895E coils (1.5ish inches of lift). A bit pricey, but I like keeping things OEM when possible.

I installed the second one with the car on the ground, and the swaybar was only loaded 1/4" inch or so. I think ideally the endlinks would be about 1/8" shorter for this amount of lift. Definitely better than the stock length though.

Thanks for the help, [MENTION=9776]techno[/MENTION] and [MENTION=511893]cwilliams563[/MENTION]

 

[taxzz]

I just installed 2nd gen sway links last week, and this is what they gave me yesterday. I am running a 5100/OME lift with 896s on the rear for my added weight.

These are the PROFORGED 11310144 from rock auto (best price).