Hey All,
I have a stock '97 limited 4Runner that I am looking to improve on a little. I replaced the 70 series tires with some 75 series Geolandar AT's and was delighted with what seemed like an inch or so gained in height! Anyway, I am trying to find a good balance of on and off road capability and there are 2 things that I want to improve on:
-body roll
-rear sag when loaded
My truck has 130,000 miles and I am ready to replace the shocks on all 4 corners; maybe Bilstien or Tokiko. For the rear sag under load I am thinking of installing the Performance Products 1" lift springs in the rear. And for the body roll I might put the Addco sway bar in the rear.
I know the sway bar will reduce articulation and traction but she has the factory rear locker so I can lock the rear if I loose traction. This seems like the best compromise to improve on road handling and still maintain the excellent off-road capability.
Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Well, the only experience is with my friend's 89 2WD. He just put an Addco rear swaybar on, and man that thing nearly handles like a sportscar now. It corners flat and level, and where it would understeer like a pig before, you can just get the back to step out a little if you're really pushing it. Nice and neutral.

I ditched my rear sway bar years ago. It was so pretzled that it didn't do much anyway. The Addcos are stiff and limit articulation plenty. OME is another good shock/spring to look at.

Hey thanks for your guys' input! I am really looking forward to upgrading the components on my truck. Maybe I will just put on the new shocks and see where that gets me. I wanna address the body roll issue but I don't want to limit the off-road capabilities of the truck. I guess it is hard to improve on a vehicle designed by Toyota!
Thanks again!
Joe <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

I have to unbolt mine temporarily while the OME springs and shocks go in tommorow.I don't have extended pins for them yet. I'll let you know how it feels with the sway bar disconnected.
From what the ARB guys tell me the new spring packs are pretty stiff and take awhile to soften up. May need to run lower tire pressure for awhile, well see.

I didn't know leaf sprung 4Runners had sway bars in the rear.

My mistake. They don't, it's the front sway bar I was thinking of. I need some disconnects to run with the lift.
BIG difference with the OME rear leafs and nitro shocks. Feels like a new car. I only put 200 miles on them this weekend but so far so good. Ran out of time Friday for the T-bars but we'll get them in this week.

I am having the same problem with the body roll and handling issues. I was thinking about OME for the parts but I am unsure on wich ones to get? In addition I might get a custom made magnaflow exhaust put on.

OME springs will give you lift for 4Wheeling. Though they are a bit stiffer than stock, being higher is counter to better handling really but new parts do handle better than worn out ones. OME shocks are firmer than stock too. Even the comfort SC ones are. If you are trying to make it handle better on the road, use some lowering springs and Addco bars.