Increase ARTICULATION - FOR FREE | Let's Talk About Sway Bars on Toyota 4Runner, Lexus GX470 chassis
In this video, I show you how to get better flex and articulation on your Lexus GX470, Toyota 4 Runner, Toyota Tacoma, Land Cruiser, etc. FOR FREE. Again, do this at your own risk, but I think the off-road benefits are massive after experiencing it myself. This modification has to be the most effective free mod I've done, and, inconjunction with the PCK panhard bar correction kit I had installed in the last video, the rig is sure to have monster flex even without long travel suspension.
HD Sway bar (must also purchase extended end links below): amzn.to/3yJtQj0
Extended End Links: amzn.to/3yEOAbI
Channel INSTAGRAM: / lexus_offroad_adventures
Channel FACEBOOK: facebook.com/profile.php?...
#gx470 #4runner
#offroad #overlanding #4runner #tacoma #t4r #toyotatacoma #diesel #heater #toyota #sequoia #gx460 #offroad #lexusgx470 #gxor #gxorsocal #Lexus #lexusoffroad #lx470 #lexuslx470 #lexuslx #lexusoffroadadventures #overlanding #overland #overlanding4x4 #overlandlife #overlander #toyota #toyotatacoma #toyota4runner #toyota4x4
Good call on backing up and not running over your friend
Haha yeah idk what his plan was on that one 😅
One of your best videos! Great explanation! 👏
Thanks Kareem! Means a lot! Leave a like on the video if you could 🤙
Great video with great shots of the improvement in articulartion w/no front sway bar. Been trying similar things with my GX470 and thought I'd share where i'm at. My build is much milder than your awesome setup (running 2.5" lift w/265/70r17s) but similarly heavy with a 200lb rooftop tent, winch, stuffed drawers etc (6k lbs?). After some experimentation, I've ended up with a Nolathane 24mm HD rear sway bar on the middle setting with the front sway bar set up for easy disconnect when I hit the trail but hooked up for day-to-day pavement work. Can't recco enough removing the front sway bar for off road - the articulation and levelness of the vehicle is great and the ride is so buttery smooth. Also can't recco the HD rear enough - even with all that weight up top, it handles surprisingly well. Thanks again for posting your vid - lots of great ideas.
Great video! I had seen Kai's video, but it's nice to see it performing in the real world. I'm about to lift my 4Runner, and I don't do a ton of off-roading, but I will probably take the bar off when I do go on trips. If I like the way it handles I'll probably just leave it off. I used to drive my solid axle first gen Grand Cherokee with no sway bars, if I could deal with that I'm sure I could deal with the 4Runner lol. (I miss that solid axle articulation so bad!)
Great I’m taking mine off today 😁👍🏻
It will. Always run a sway bar on the solid axle, when mixed with IFS. The solid axle does not need help to flex. The rear sway bar will actually leverage through the chassis and push the front corner down that is lifting. Another tip is to make sure you run extended sway bar link arms. Particularly with any lift or extended shock length. Otherwise, the bar will bind before allowing full wheel droop. I've been considering running a heavier rear bar, like the SuperPro from down unda'.
I added a rear bar option w extended links in the description!
Bought an 80 series without sway bars; bloody near killed me , abit of extra sway on icy roads and lost it into a snow bank, now fitted with sway bars with minimal loss of articulation.
You gave correct advice. On the 5th gen 4Runner, not only should the rear sway bar remain in place, a 7/8 rear bar ever so slightly increases articulation. One caveat however as it applies to 5th gen 4Runners is what you and I have said only applies when the maximum lit is limited to 2 to 2 1/4". Lift beyond that quickly decreases articulation.
Nice video. Please tell us couple of words about disadvantages at highway, what is maximum recommended speed. Also why you linked ADDCO rear sway bar, do you use it? As i understand you have both sway bars removed.
Just took mine off a 4 runner and what a difference this makes off road. It felt as if is was floating over the surface at times. I have bilstien 6112 up front and now I can finally feel the improvement they make. Do it!!!
How do you like those 6112s? I’m between those and a set of Radflo shocks. Looks like really interesting technology in the bilsteins though.
Well, I went from stock shocks with 41,000 miles on them. It felt like I was driving a boat, lol! Then the 6112 with just a little lift (about 1.5") and it was INCREDIBLE! Both on and off-road. Probably equally impressive both on and off road. Then after I took the sway bar off yesterday...it is exactly what I was looking for. Super controlled and smooth as butter. @@lexus_offroad_adventures
I got my 2nd set of 6112s done with the little known HD spring option from Bilstein and (only) running the lower preload collars(deleted the upper spacers in same kit) from Westcott Designs. Im ~3.2" lift amd my front has 90lbs added from Magnussen supercharger. Rides like BUTTER on road w 700lb HD springs vs the 650s. It is definitely little tighter w body roll on road w extra spring rate under small preload from the Westcott collars, so front sway is coming off asap only a rear soon, probably get the bigger rear one. FR Sway bars are for stock sprung 4Rs not our stuff.
Just found this channel, but I also have the thicker rear from Kai's video. As others have stated, what a new/weird feeling with the extra articulation
(Also had the worst combo-front only)
Removed the sway bars on my '05 tundra double cab. Shortly after took it wheeling in Helen Ga, drove it like a maniac on the winding roads in the mountains, lots and lots of sharp corners and steep angles up and down hill, even off road. Not once did it ever feel like it was rolling excessively or did I even lose traction or have any issues on stock suspension & cheap small street tires. The only time I can ever really feel the lack of sway bar is when i PURPOSEFULLY pretend to avoid an imaginary object in the road extremely abruptly. Then and only then do i feel a ton of body roll but still i dont think id be able to roll the truck even if i tried. I have full confidence in the truck without sway bars even going 80/90 on the highway. No body roll or issues. Sway bar will be staying off.
Nice. Results can vary depending on the amount of weight and how high up it is carried but yeah, it’s been fine for me as well
Yee thanks
What about adding more controlled tests that would let us to compare it better? Probably would be interesting to see how lifting one of the front wheels would look in those three scenarios ( original sway bars, no front sway bar and extra stiff rear sway bar)
You can spray or brush on a used automotive oil to those rust spots to help control them
Was nice seeing how much of a difference it made on trail, the body is SO much more balanced. Just had my stiffer rear sway bar delivered this past week, can't wait to try it out myself.
👏👏
Do you have the link for your stiffer rear sway bar?
@@allanpusag4075 I haven’t installed yet so can’t give a full review but here is what I got: 1) amzn.to/42aU3o7 2) amzn.to/3mLcbF3
Thank you!
removing my front sway in my 100 was the best free mad ever. Just have to make sure I drive slower on the fwy lol
This seems like a no-brainer traction upgrade for off-road. The benefit would be even larger on an open-diff vehicle which needs both tires of a given axle on the ground to put down any power at all. The only problem is the on-road performance. I'm going to try it on the road to see how bad it really is. It might not be the worst as long as you're not lifted and top-heavy.
Absolutely. Keeping contact on both sides of a given axle is critical when open. I do lean a lot on-road, that’s for sure. Just can’t be in too much of a hurry going around corners
Did you ever install your heavy duty rear sway bar. Just wondering how it is working out. do you have a link of where you purchased it ? Thanks for the great videos
Thanks for watching! I have not gotten to it yet. Lots going on right now and haven’t had much time to work on the GX. Plus, I really like how the truck feels with no sway bars so I’m holding off for now. I believe I left a link in the description but I know the Tinkerer’s Adventure video had a link to a bar/endlink set from Amazon
So did you add the stiffer rear sway? I'd like to see direct to direct trail comparisons on the same vehicle. That way we can see the articulation difference between the options and finally put the argument to rest.
I’m still running no sways and I really like it. I have heavy duty rear springs which can have a similar effect. But for the time being I want to go on trips and gather that footage so that when I do, I have plenty of footage of each configuration to compare and share with everyone.
This trick work in all vehicles. I diconected the sawy bars in my suzuki vitara now there are not ways to stop
How do city and highway driving feel with the front sway bar removed? I also have the eibach stage 1 up front
It leans in corners, but drive accordingly and carefully. i have gotten the hang of it.
Is there a way to disconnect sway bar without removing it? If the bar was cut in the the middle & ends splined with a moveable splined connector. How's highway driving without the anti-sway bar?
Great! Did you upgrade your CV axles? Thanks
Yes, I got OEM reman 5th gen 4runner CVs
@Lexus Off-Road Adventures why is that an improvement. I'm new.
@@georgec2562 5th gen 4Runner axles are the same as GX460 axles (2010-present model years). They have a revised boot design with an extra rib which holds up better on a lifted application. My original ones tore almost immediately after I lifted my GX
@@georgec2562 if you’re off roading a lot your stock CV axles on IFS is the weak spot of Toyota 4Runner, FJ’s or Tacoma.there’s a heavy aftermarket duty CV axles that can upgraded. Dirt Garage use those on his Tacoma on you tube vids
wondering if you had installed the stiffer rear sway bar yet and if it required any modification to fitting the end links? I have front sway off on my GX470 and thinking of adding the stiffer rear to help lessen the sway. thanks!
Have not added the rear yet. Honestly liking it without any sway bars, but will be adding it eventually. Just haven’t had time to do much work on the truck at all recently.
great video! how does it handle on the highway without the front swaybar?
Not well! 🤣
Haha its more... eventful to take turns id say. Not bad, just plan for turns having a lot more lean than before. As I said in the video, sway bars were designed for on-road safety and preventing high-speed rollovers, so remove at your own risk. My advice is to try it out for a bit and see if you can adapt your driving. If not, it's super easy to reinstall. But I am able to make it down windy roads at above the speed limit just fine. However I have racetrack experience and know how to stay well within the limits of the platform I'm driving. Its up to the individual. But again, easily reversible.
@@lexus_offroad_adventures thanks brother I appreciate your time and explanation. I look forward to other great content
Does anybody make a swaybar disconnect for the gx?
@@bobbymorgan6745 not that I’ve seen but that would be awesome
Does having a little bit of a “poke” in your stance affect stuffing or tucking the tires when articulating?
Yes it absolutely does, however, I have been able to overcome it through careful trimming and bending, etc. with my +18 offset wheels and 1.25” spacers, which is a net -11 offset, I think it’s a great balance between having a wide track providing stability in off-camber situations, while not requiring an insane amount of cutting in order to minimize rubbing with 35x12.50s
Have you had any issues with your CV/tie rod angles since removing your sway bar? Any need for limiting straps up front?
No issues, nah, not on stock lower control arms. It just leans a bit (a lot) more, which can probably be mitigated if I spent more on a higher end suspension kit. Currently still just running my $800 eibach pro truck kit lol
@@lexus_offroad_adventures I’m also running the Eibach stage 1 haha, it gets the job done.
@@Alex.outboundOh nice! haha it really does. I have far more weight than they're designed for so I really can't complain about the lean. They're great. Off-road, I actually appreciate how easy they compress because, without sway bars, the chassis stays really flat. Really working out those Perry Parts bumpstops on hard impacts at speed though lol
Did you had to extend the brake lines for the front since you remove the sway bar?
No not with stock length A arms. Ur good to go unless you switch to long travel
@@lexus_offroad_adventures Thank you
How did on road handling change? My buddies Jeep gets really bad on road w/ sway bar disconnected ….. i have a GX on 35’s (silver ‘08 😉)
I mean jeeps drive like tractors compared to the GX lol so I’m sure it’s not as bad with IFS but still can be risky i guess if you’re taking corners super fast
@@lexus_offroad_adventures I guess I’m asking how does yours drive on the road now, w the sway bar removed? More ‘tippy’? Or pretty similar w bar?
@@msw4988 more tippy for sure
Have you noticed any reduction in front end articulation after installing the longer bump stops?
No. The PerryParts bump stops do a great job of easily compressing under slow-bump. Could I possibly eek out another half-inch of compression by cutting or removing them? Maybe. But the benefits of having them to cushion fast-bump compression when driving fast is worth the trade-off imo
I have a front lift on my 4runner, is it true that removing the sway bar will actually just increase the height by like a hair more ?
It will not increase the height. The sway bar pivots on bushings on the frame that allow for height changes.
@@lexus_offroad_adventures Oh okay 👍🏽 Cool. I was scared of height differences. I mean I don't mind an increase of height obviously, but I do not want my 3 inch lift to decrease to like 2.5 or 2 inch. Thank you !!!
How is it now with the rear sway bar? Better or worse off road articulation?
I have not done the rear bar install yet. Still actually loving the articulation with no sways at all. I’ll have to do a before/after trail run to talk about the differences when I install it
How does this perform driving fast offroad and on road?
She LEANS on road. And it leans way less off road. I used to pick up my front wheels all the time. Now there’s a bunch more articulation without the front sway bar.
How much difference does the kdss make in these situations?
Good question. I imagine KDSS does a good job of allowing more articulation off-road, which is why I’d try to keep it if my GXs were equipped
what size tires are you running again?
315/70/17
What if you just disconnect sway bar links? Also will this put extra pressure on other steering components when the sway bar is removed or links are disconnected?
Unfortunately with Toyota IFS, you can’t do that because the free sway bar will contact the CV Axle boots and other components/cause damage. No, there is no extra pressure on steering components. But I would argue GX470 steering components are too light for 35” tires. So if you have big tires drive accordingly because those will put extra pressure on steering components
What upgrades do you suggest for Steering Components? Thanks for the great work. @@lexus_offroad_adventures
@@tbgtbg6311 Definitely interested in a tundra rack upgrade with gusseted spindles. There are some small companies starting to come out with kits
How’s the on road driving now without the sway bars?
She leans a lot. Definitely need to change driving style. I think it’s fun though lol
is your front lifted 3 inches?
According to eibach, the front coils on the 3rd setting are around 2.8”, however, with the amount of weight I’m running, it’s likely a bit lower.
Your buddy is worthless as a spotter had you not made the right decision to back up and take another line he would had you on your top.