Sway bar links aligned funny

I spoke with the relative I got the truck from and we dug through some photos to find shots of the sway bar setup as it was originally. The photos below are from 2018.

Things I observed:
1. The sway bar is in the same orientation as I currently have it installed
2. The links appear to be in a much more "natural" position

Huh, interesting. I can't imagine why this sway bar wouldn't be original, but myself and the relative are 2nd/3rd owners so anything is possible. I will keep this possibility in mind as I continue to diagnose/research this problem.

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As a follow-up to the details above about my links being different than the one in this thread, I see now that Tacoma is a 2000 and mine is a 2001. Research on this forum tells me the sway bars vary from 98-00 to 01-04. -reference

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Appreciate the encouragement and welcome!

 

I believe that discussion is on 6 lug Tacomas. It may or may not be true for the 5 lug tacoma.

 

These are only for 4WD and pre-runner...

Pair of Front Stabilizer / Sway Bar End Links Fits Toyota Tacoma 01-04 K90705 | eBay

 

The thing that jumps out at me is the oil pan angle. I know zero about a 2001 swaybar, but to me, it looks like your right side engine mount is toast... good luck getting this worked out.

 

The FSM shows that your sway bar, is indeed installed up-side-down.


That's not the most concerning thing though. You have a serious rust problem- and I too think that your truck is probably not safe to operate. It only takes one of those many totally shot suspension components to fail while at speed to turn a loose wheel or your whole truck into a heavy dangerous object for those around you.

 

It Happens.

I purchased new 24mm front sway
Installed
Went to the autoX
After looking at same car competition, I realized sway was on upside down

in the pouring rain, no protection (canopy/etc) had to flip the sway
My biggest rival in my class helped me to make the race start
I lost.

 

....




These are not the same.....

Notice on 1st one how much lower it is to the frame.....

2nd one, its all the way up to the bump stop....

 

And yeah he needs to replace a ton of suspension parts....
.....its fortunate that for Tacoma's just like jeep parts....
especially rwd 5 lug tacomas.....are cheap and plentiful....

everyone of those I replaced on mine short of the torsion bar....that I just put a new bushing in....

and maybe clean up the frame and have some stuff reinforced rebrazed before it becomes a problem....

The lower control arm might be salvageable......but even on that one I'd just go buy a new one with a new bushing in it....

Little bit of work and a lot of money it can feel/drive around like a new truck...

I would consider everything rubber on the truck is shot...nearing failure...

Wouldnt even consider of salvaging another truck.....I just get all new stuff spread out over time.

 

This guy has all his old 5 lug front parts for sale.....

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/5-lug-rear-long-travel-do-i-get-deavers.800579/#post-28691467

 

Those who said sway bar was on wrong were correct. It needed to be flipped. Thank you.