I am new to the Toyota world as of about a month ago and just bought a 1987 4Runner. The previous owner lifted the truck about an inch and a half with an add a leaf in the rear and turn the tortion bars in the front. This makes for a very rough ride on dirt roads or off road. I was talking to someone that told me they make some kind of spacer for the front a that gives you an additional half an inch and a much smoother ride. I was just wondering if any new what it was or where i could get it. Thanks, Lyndon

 

I believe its called a ball joint spacer? Someone must have used one here. It would do the same thing as the torsion bar lift, while maintaining ride quality.

 

lol. yea. i think thats right. btw, for future ref, theres a button in ur toolbar that says search. its amazing. it will actually find everything u need.

however, seeing as ur pretty new, check 4crawlers site. 4crawler.com

or more specifically,

http://www.4crawler.com/4x4/ForSale/...ntSpacer.shtml

any other questions?

 

thanks for the information, i will definately look into it. Lyndon

 

Just go for some aftermarket torsion bars from sway away, you will get the lift and a better ride.

 

ummm... not exactly. unless there is something wrong with the t-bars in there now, which i dont think the problem was. not to mention most aftermarket torsion bars are thicker than the stock, which actually produce a stiffer ride, and new bars dont just give u lift, or even give u the ability to get a higher lift. they will just hold onto the same height lift longer, and should mainly be used when the stock bars cant support the weight of new brush bars and winches, etc.

 

new bars are stronger(thicker) and arent a bad idea, but do limit your uptravel slightly.

some bjspacers are what the op should get so you can turn down those torsion bars to allow for a softer ride while still keeping the inch or so lift.

 

i went with the spacers for my 2wd. i'll probally crank my bars a little as well to match the rear lift from shackels i ordered too.

 

Sas

 

lol. what a jerk. give him at least a week before the sfa crowd starts poundin on him. sheesh.

 

im pretty sure he was kidding. sheesh.

 

I am only speaking from first hand experience here. I have had 2 Toyotas with the sway away torsions. Yes the ride is firmer, but not to a point where you sacrifice quality. Look at these pics of my truck, the first one is with the stock torsions, cranked to the max, the second pic has the sway away torsions and an upper arm. Granted, the upper arm does allow for more angle out of the upper ball joint.

 

yea. the upper arm is whats rly maknig the difference there. the torsion bars are the same thing in the same place regardless. thicker bars are just thicker and stronger. they dont have a real impact on positioning or anything.

 

I totally hear what you are saying

With the stock torsions maxed, they dont come near maxing out the balljoints. So I'd say you would be able to get some lift out of torsions alone. And like you said, it not changing anything other than the stronger torsions being able to hold the truck up better.

 

i run the OME torsions w/ bj spacers and the torsions relaxed a little (it was to stiff before i relaxed them ) pretty flexy for IFS

 

Do yourself a favor and go with the balljoint spacers and get some ride quality back. Either cranking the tbars or going with larger, stiffer bars will sacrifice ride quality.

The spacers are an afternoon install and do exactly what they're intended to do.

And a bargain at just over $100.

 

precisely.