My newest addition is a 1985 2WD pickup that we're using for some road racing. We're looking for some cheap ways to improve the suspension. I was thinking stiffer torsion bars and sway bars. I was wondering if anyone else has any ideas and/or leads on parts for our venture. Please let me know, thanks.

 

Supposed to be "2WD" not "2WS." Although we did get one that uses both front wheels to steer.

 

Yep, stiffer tbars. I believe bigger swaybars are available from Addco.

Go spring-under in the rear

 

Arent 2wd's spring under in the rear stock...?

 

Been a while, but IIRC mine was spring over ... maybe not though.

Regardless, he wants to be spring-under

 

Yes, it's sprung under. Anyone have the stock parts from a 4Runner of the same vintage? Maybe someone that did a SAS conversion? I forgot to mention, it's for a 24 Hour of Lemons race, so we're on a very tight budget. Needs to be formerly stock parts, not high priced aftermarkets. So these are probably our best bets...

- 4WD front swaybar
- 4WD rear swaybar
- 2WD 4Runner torsion bars?

Will 4WD torsion bars work on a 2WD? Seems not according to Sway-A-Way:

Toyota 2WD 84-97 25mm 35 1/8” 1636
Toyota T100 4WD Up To 92 25.5mm 35 7/8” 1638
Toyota T100 2WD 93-97 25.5mm 34 3/4” 1639
Toyota 4WD/ 4-Runner 86-97 25mm 41 7/8” 1646
Toyota T100 4WD 93-97 25mm 41 7/8” 1646
http://www.swayaway.com/TorsionBars.php

So I guess actually there's nothing we can do unless we're going to move the crossmember back, which we're not interested in (also the trans mount). So, maybe the best bet is to run multiple shocks, multiple sway bars, and just work with the stock torsion bars. If someone has a set of upgraded 2WD torsion bars laying around, that would be awesome, but I'm not holding my breath.

Thanks again.

 

Cheaper way would be to add a big bump stop that's basically in contact with the arm, so your spring rate is effectively the squishiness of the bumpstop. (obviously, you'd want a reasonably squishy bumpstop design)

 

You could weld some 2x2" stock to the middle of the swaybar, effectively reducing the length of the torsion spring portion of the swaybar. Why not add some cheap lift blocks to the topside of the axle?

 

Mines spring under. Yeah, I'm a low rider

 

I don't know what you're talking about...
Odd how those things magically get fixed, huh?

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