Ok guys i know im gonna get flamed here but what are some ways to make the toyota IFS stronger? Starting this spring il be wheeling a 87 truck with 35"s and i dont have the dough or the time to SAS. Thanks.

Rear IFS crossmember brace... The rear of your lower control arms only have a mounting point coming down off the frame. Build or buy a brace to span that section to ensure the leverage doesn't tweak your frame or mounts and keeps your alignment.



I have wheeled IFS for years. The only real "carnage" I have seen is the c-clips coming off my stubs and my stubs walking out of the axle housing (the pressure on the C/V's usually pops them back in). Other "carnage" would be numerous sets of auto hubs, until I changed them out for manuals.

Most breakage comes from excessive use of the skinny pedal while the wheel is turned. The next in line would be axle wrap... When the rear of your truck is hopping in the hunt for traction. Both of these situations will snap your C/V's or stubs. Just be smart out there, and you will be fine.

As a buddy of mine says: "Right foot on, brain off!" He broke a LOT of stuff.

The idler arm is another weak point, either invest in a brace, or buy a heavy duty on w/a lifetime warranty, and carry an extra one on the trail.


This is an issue regardless of what set-up you have, and is why most SA break Berfs.

Wheeling w/35's you will also want to carry couple of extra tie rods(complete inner and outer), this is the only item that I have broken in my '91 so far.

Probably the best thing to do to reinforce the IFS is to add a 2nd t-case. Being able to crawl slowly up onto and over a rock is about the best thing you can do to prevent breaking something, and should really be the first mod one makes to their rig, even before a lift and larger tires.

im agreein with both of these. a buddy of mine is havin problems with his front end, and all because he takes things quick and dirty. he's replaced alot of parts on his '92 runner (idler arm, 3 CV boots, one axle, and two timing belts in three months), all because he dosent take things slow and easy. i also think the control arm brace is a darn good idea. ive seen a couple of trucks at the dealership, that because the owner thinks its invincible, will push the truck. they want to know why its pulling, or why they hear weird noises when wheeling. we'll put them up on the rack, and cant get them to align, all because the lower arms are tweaked.

the best advice i can give is that you should always be nice to your rig. if not, karma has its way of kickin you straight in the <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/butwiggle.gif" alt="" /> and leavin ya stranded like it did me.

I can't believe I forgot about the idler arm... Been too long since I've wheeled mine!

I have been through no less than 2 dozen idler arms in the 10 years I have owned my 4Runner... And that's NOT from off-road abuse. The Idler arm can't take the torque loads present when you have 33's, traction up front on a steep incline, and no traction out back. It will bend the arm up, and you can't rebuild a bent arm.

i think downey sells an idler arm brace.

I did the downey brace for a number of years, but it doesnt protect the joint at the end, the Total Chaos idler arm is expensive, but once installed you can forget about it...wheeled my truck hard for 2+ years with no problems, with a stock idler arm i went through 2-3/year.

As long as you don't install a drop-bracket ifs lift, or front locker, you should be relatively fine. Unless you're asking for it you shouldn't break TOO much with 35's. I'd carry a spare cv and spare hub, but if you have an open diff you probably won't need them very often.

-Scerb

Thanks for all the replies guys.

Yup no bracket style lift (hate em), open diff, just body lift and cranked t-bars. I've heard about the total chaos idler arm and been thinkin about gettin one. Is it only available from them or are there other vendors as well? any in canada?

You can get the idler arm from Offroadwarehouse.com, offroadsolutions, or kartek...best bet is ORW, not sure about any Canada locations.