Sway Bar Link

Anyone know the torque specs for the sway bar bracket bolts and the sway bar links (or how much the bushings need to expand)?

 

Here's the job done. Did I compress the bushings too much, little, just right?

 

Looks fine.

 

Just some food for thought with pros and cons for sway bars by a mechanical engineer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhWZ57baTOw

BTW I think the link has been broken since I got it. I notice now when driving out of a driveway there is definitely less bounce in the front. It feels less "trucky/bouncy" and more "controlled" when driving at higher speeds, taking turns and driving over the railroad tracks. I can't decide which way I like it yet...I like the control but kind of miss the rocking when on uneven terrain.

 

took my sway bar off for the first time. I drive like a grandpa. Those who say to take it off for offloading must be referring to sass's trucks because in a truck with IFS, that extra articulation is a joke. What, 1-2" extra travel gained?

The body roll, even at low speeds is so much more noticeable. When the body of the truck wants to roll, pressure has to be put on something. What that is, I don't know.

Put an OME lift on my 02 DC a couple weeks ago. Even with the upgraded suspension, unacceptable body roll was present. Mine will be reinstalled ASAP as soon as I get a new bushing kit.

To those who advocate tossing the sway bar, there are new members here all the time, some younger than most. When you advise people to toss a piece of equipment that was put on these trucks for a reason, things get dangerous. My first thought after taking a corner with the SB off was "those dudes must be high".

If the majority of your tacoma driving is street or highway driving, LEAVE IT ON!

 

While looking at sway bar bushing kits for the 1st gen tacomas, I see kits that contain the 2 half round, large bushings that go where the sway bar is bolted on. In those kits I also see the little donut bushings that get compressed where the end link attaches to the sway bar itself. My issue is I don't have a place for those little donut bushings. My sway bar has a "dog bone" at each end. Basically end links with little grease filled boots like on other steering/suspension stuff.

Is there a kit with just the 2 larger half round bushings? I haven't see one.

 

Change in design starting in 2001 I believe. I was wondering the same thing so I looked into it.

 

Thats the one. Is there a kit with those end links included?

 

No kit per say, what you see in the pic is exactly what you get. I bought them off rock auto for 23.99 a piece. They are ac delco and are driver / passenger side specific.
I chose not to get the greasable units, I've recently learned they don't seem to last as long.
I plan on putting mine in this week.

 

Thanks for the heads up about rock auto, logger. What did you get for the half round bushings? I'm looking at energy suspensions

 

Ahh I'm assuming you are talking about the two larger inboard bushings holding the bar?
Nothing yet mine literally look new. Just my ends are rattling around.