mistershmi

I just finished putting on ball joint spacers, add a leaf, and a 2" body lift on my 2WD. Im adding some slightly bigger tires (235/75R15) and wondered if I need to get better torsion bars? I see some 26mm downey bars for $150 locally and sway aways are 25mm and run about $200.

My question is do I even need these? Is it worth upgrading? This is my daily driver and only goes off road for the occasional camping trip. If it is worth it are there any good guides out there?

Robert m

iTrader: (2)

If you can get the downeys for that price or cheaper, I would grab them. Because they are thicker, they will require less cranking and preload on them to achieve the lift you want in the front and will ride better then cranked up stock bars.

mistershmi

Right now I have ball joint spacers and a 2" body lift, just looking at clearing 235-75-15 tires. I haven't touched the stock bars, so do I really need the downeys? If so, wouldn't it make the ride a lot more harsh? Thanks for the advice so far.

Robert m

iTrader: (2)

Do you have the 235s on the truck already and do they rub?

Years ago, I ran 235s with that same basic setup (BJ spacers, cranked stock torsions) and until I added a 2'' body lift, the tires would rub the inner fender wells over bumps and in sharp turns. It also rode like an empty dump truck because of the almost maxed out, cranked up stock torsion bars. I added the downey bars and because they were not cranked up nearly as far, the ride was much better and actually had some suspension travel. I later ditched the factory upper arms and BJ spacers for a set of fabtech upper arms, then went to a long travel kit.
On a side note, the balljoint spacer itself wont give you much of a lift (if any at all) but they let you crank the torsions up more before the upper arms bottom out on the bumpstops.

What are your plans for the rear?

mistershmi

Ah ok, that makes sense. I wondered why the spacers hadn't made any noticeable difference, lol. Do you think I need low profile bump stops if I replace the torsions? Or modify the stock ones? Or are the Bj spacers giving me enough space there?

In the rear I've got a simple add a leaf. Rear height is pretty good right now, should be plenty of room.

Haven't put the tires on yet but I will probably do the Downey torsions, align it, them put them on.

Robert m

iTrader: (2)

I would do the low pros. Every bit of extra suspension travel you can get, will be worth it.
What are your plans for shocks?
This is what mine looked like with the 235s and the above suspension setup and the addition of downey lift shackles

mistershmi

I put Bilstein 4600 series shocks on there. They've been great so far. Do I need to add shackles as well as the add a leaf? If looks like AAL gave me plenty of space . I always liked your 2WD . Nice pickup!

Robert m

iTrader: (2)

Thanks
The bils should be pretty good with that setup. I just put them on my 4runner too. I would hold off on the shackles until you get everything else done and see where it sits.

mistershmi

That sounds good. So will the Downey torsions work for the 2wd or are there 2wd/4wd specific versions?

EDIT: looks like they come in two lengths. Looking at the sway away torsions it shows the 4wd are longer than the 2wd. Looks like the downeys I was looking at for $130 won't work. $207 for swayaways is the next cheapest :/

OwenYota

So I'm kinda in the same boat here. I am just about to buy a 91 2wd PU and lifting it will be my first plan of attack. What should I do first? Buy the FabTech 3.5 lift, then Sway-Away's, then Bilsteins? And what kind of Bilsteins exactly... the ones for my truck, or for a stock, 1st gen 4runner? So many questions