Lowered 2nd gen aftermarket sway bar help

Hey guys, new here. I have a 2013 regular cab 5 lug, lowered 3" front and 4" back. I just ordered qa1 rear shocks and I am looking to buy a rear sway bar as well. I have looked all through the forums and haven't been able to find the answer I'm looking for. Truck didn't come with a sway bar, so what all do I need? And does anyone have an aftermarket bar in their lowered 2nd gen? Thanks in advance.

 

Try checking Tundra Racing or http://www.xiiperformance.com/

 

Hellwig makes a decent rear sway bar for 1st/2nd Gen 2WD 5 lug Tacomas. You might check out customtacos.com for actual installation info on a lowered 2nd Gen Tacoma. The Hellwig rear bar has links to the frame that can be shortened, which might be required for a lowered truck. The other option is using a rear bar from a X-Runner, but you need to create mounts on the rear axle.

 

I have a Hellwig bad on a 3/3 dropped 09 5lug. I had it installed so I can't say what exactly was involved (I don't think any cutting was needed).
If you want good handling a rear bar is a must.

 

You can use an OEM X runner swar bay and this install kit, 2 of 4 the holes for the frame brackets should be there already. You'll have to finagle the the exhaust pipe way in the back because it and the R/S link want to exist in the same place somewhat. Helwig also makes one. I used the kit and OE bar though my truck is not lowered.

OEM Rear Sway Bar Part # 48812-AD030
https://sosperformance.com/products/tr-dot-1221-dot-ta-tacoma-rear-sway-bar-kit
TOYOTA TACOMA Hellwig Anti-Sway Bar 7731

 

I picked up an OEM X-Runner rear sway bar, and to test out the mounting for the drop links picked up an OEM bracket. It looks like all 4 holes in the frame align, but two holes (one on each side) have a rivet in place holding the spare tire cross member



And here is what the top of the rivet looks like


Is it safe to remove the rivets and replace with bolts? And if so, what is the method for removing the rivets? Drill them out?

 

Finagle is an understatement! I talked to SOS Performance and they assured me their 4x2 kit would fit. They lied! When I talked to them after my first attempt to install, they admitted maybe I needed to reroute the exhaust pipe. A friend who helped me drill out a couple of the frame rivets for the drop link mounting bracket said I could cut down the drop links by a couple of inches to avoid hitting the exhaust pipe. Very frustrating, to say the least! In the end, I used the axle mounting hardware from the SOS kit, bought a pair of X-Runner drop link mounting brackets and the drop links themselves from a Toyota dealer, and managed to get everything installed. My truck definitely handles better, and no exhaust pipe finagling needed.

If anyone is looking for just the drop links and drop link brackets from the SOS Performance kit, let me know. I have those for sale and just want to get rid of them (I don't have enough posts to be able to post in the For Sale section yet)

 

I'll answer my own question. It is safe to remove the rivets and replace with bolts. The bolts are solid and it takes a combination of drilling, grinding and chiseling to remove. For me at least, the effort was worth the benefit for adding the rear sway bar. I had to use the OEM drop links

 

Well I don't think it's that bad, as I said the exhaust pipe and R/S drop link want to exist in the same place so I just let them, this is a new Bosal system in the picture though I had the OE pipe when I put the kit on.
The pipe and the sway bar (not drop link) do touch, but it's minimal, and it's consistent, they don't come apart and bang together so it doesn't make noise.
They are at least 4 ways to configure the frame brackets and drop links, not just 1 way. I think drilling 1 hole per side is easier than popping a rivet.
Also I cut off all excess length on all the hardware to mitigate any Michigan rust issues and the truck is now lowered 1 inch.