Sway Bar Links - Eugene, OR

[apohl17]

Glad to see this thread is up and running again. Always wanted a pair of these and I finally got the opportunity to purchase a pair for the rear of my 4th gen. Definitely made a difference in feel and articulation. If I remember right I set them to almost 1.5" longer than stock to get the bar parallel and to have ample clearance down below.
Thanks [MENTION=98153]MStudt[/MENTION] :guitar3:

 

[MStudt]

Friday night bump since I'm old, and have nothing better to do.

Mike

 

[mesooohoppy]

The front disco's can be hard on the front suspension period. If you add disco's you do run the risk of binding your CV's. With the sway bar disconnected your limiting factor is now your shocks. Or, your ball joints once they max out.

Not running a sway has con's, but most don't believe that. Suspension parts are meant the cycle, and are designed to cycle. But, they're designed to cycle with a sway bar in mind. When you take that out your cycles will increase, and so will the distance of the cycle. Basically, your parts will wear faster.

Mike

is there a thread on here that discusses this in depth and what i need to do? i googled real quick and the thread i found was mostly for rear stuff. i will search more later, but i figured i would ask if you have a thread in mind.

the limiting strap is the last thing id like to figure out so i can do it at once with these end links. i dont mind piecing together a kit, but i need to know what to buy and how to weld/assemble. im not new to cars, but im new to offroading and i have no one to help me. so guides with pictures are lots of help.

 

[Co4Fun]

Well last week I got mine and installed them and took off for Moab. I should also mention that I also changed out my bushings with new Energy suspension ones and I modded my swaybar a bit in the rear because it was rubbing my eLocker housing (lots on that if you google.)

Anyway, the result is that I certainly had more flex and zero clunking or noise down there! Also, it still drives well on the road (800 miles of it to Moab and back). There's maybe a very slight more amount of roll but not bad at all. I wasn't expecting to be that impressed with the amount of flex gained and I know my truck as I do wheel a lot.

I am glad I didn't go with disco's. I did Hell's Revenge and a lot of the tough stuff on there and had tons of flex and traction. My buddy in a 3rd gen without extended links was lifting wheels all over the place and mine didn't leave the ground once even on some big step-over's. To me it's not worth the disco risk of overextending a CV axle, loss of some traction, increased body roll (which can be bad for off-camber situations as I found in a previous life with my Jeep) and just the hassle of it.

Also, Mike, when you see my pics, lmk what you think of my locknuts. I didn't snug the bottome one up against the couplers yet. In this way I could even turn them by hand to mess with the amount of tension I wanted on them. Now that I have them where I want them I may snug the locknuts up but lmk your thoughts.

AND ALSO, I PM'd you. I need to get one of the heim shims from you please. Thanks!

 

[revsm]

I'm interested in some front end links for a 4th Gen 4Runner but hope you might help me with some questions first. I've broken a few OEM style end links and want to make sure I do everything necessary to fix the problem before installing new ones. Maybe you could email me and we can discuss there rather than here?

[email protected]
Front Links only
Whichever bushings you recommend. If you don't think it matters for my situation I'll go with red.

Thanks!

 

[mesooohoppy]

3rd gen users:

how are you installing these? i have a 3" lift so can i get away with not having to jack the car up and just install static? that would be much easier than jacking up, installing, lowering, checking sway angle, rejacking, readjusting, etc.

 

[revsm]

3rd gen users:

how are you installing these? i have a 3" lift so can i get away with not having to jack the car up and just install static? that would be much easier than jacking up, installing, lowering, checking sway angle, rejacking, readjusting, etc.

I doubt 3rd gen is any different than 4th gen and I did not have to jack up the truck to install OEM end links.

 

[mesooohoppy]

I doubt 3rd gen is any different than 4th gen and I did not have to jack up the truck to install OEM end links.

thank you, installed this weekend static and it went together smoothly. i think i spent more time making sure the sways were straight then actually installing.

doing this static was insanely easy. if you lifted your truck to do this, its going to be a giant pain in the ass.

i do wish they came for jam nuts with both sides, you can see the bushing side in the front here doesnt have a jam nut. although its not like its going to go anywhere. if you bought these and your truck was not lifted, i can see why mstudt chose not to include the second set of jam nuts (it wouldnt fit). although it looks like it would be a suuuper tight fit if i put a second jam nut in there and im lifted 3".

i also wish the nuts/bolts on the heim end came with washers. i had spares, but i recommend you buy take your hardware into a local hardware store and buy washers before installing. the fronts were fine as the metal flange on the front LCA acts like a washer, but the rears need washers on the heim end, IMO.

 

[revsm]

Anyone know if MStudt is on vacation or something? I haven't heard back yet.

 

[mesooohoppy]

Anyone know if MStudt is on vacation or something? I haven't heard back yet.

he always got back to me pretty quickly. you can also try his IG if you have one, its overland_custom_design.

 

[MStudt]

Anyone know if MStudt is on vacation or something? I haven't heard back yet.

I've been out of town for the last couple weeks. Shoot me a PM since I don't have anything from you.

Mike

 

[Off-Camber]

Just installed the 5th Gen front and back links. Quality was good and Mike was very responsive via DM.

Question. Have you guys noticed on the front that the larger diameter links contact the spindle just prior to full left or right steering wheel lock before the steering stops make contact?

 

[MStudt]

Just installed the 5th Gen front and back links. Quality was good and Mike was very responsive via DM.

Question. Have you guys noticed on the front that the larger diameter links contact the spindle just prior to full left or right steering wheel lock before the steering stops make contact?

I've heard this happens in 3rd Gen Tacoma's, but this is the first for a 4runner. I can send you new upper boots with a spacer that'll fix the issue.

Mike

 

[TeamShiftPoint]

Just installed the 5th Gen front and back links. Quality was good and Mike was very responsive via DM.

Question. Have you guys noticed on the front that the larger diameter links contact the spindle just prior to full left or right steering wheel lock before the steering stops make contact?

My QD front pins that hold the collar on place keep rotating and the ends bend when they contact the sway bar end. Makes it hard to get the pins off. Had to replace them 3x already. I carry spares I got off Amazon.

 

[Off-Camber]

I've heard this happens in 3rd Gen Tacoma's, but this is the first for a 4runner. I can send you new upper boots with a spacer that'll fix the issue.

Mike

That would be excellent, Mike! Do you need me to PM you my address again or do you still have it from the order?

Thanks,
Brandon

 

[MStudt]

That would be excellent, Mike! Do you need me to PM you my address again or do you still have it from the order?

Thanks,
Brandon

Shoot me a PM with your address, and I'll get them sent out tomorrow.

Mike

 

[Off-Camber]

Shoot me a PM with your address, and I'll get them sent out tomorrow.

Mike

Sent yesterday.

Thanks

 

[MStudt]

Sent yesterday.

Thanks

I didn't get anything from you yesterday.

Mike

 

[Off-Camber]

I didn't get anything from you yesterday.

Mike

Oops. Must have not hit send. I did just send it this time. Sorry, and thanks!

Brandon

 

[OnTheEllipse]

apologies if these questions have been answered somewhere in these 36 pages. I'm about to install MStudts's sway bar links:

1) I ordered fronts and rears. Which are front and which are rear? The longer ones or shorter ones?

2) Do the longer bolts go with the longer links or the shorter links?

3) Is it recommended to put the truck on jack stands for this?

thanks in advance for any tips/tricks