My Tundra sways and sways

[Phil_Deez2]

I just watched the Car and Driver 4x4 truck comparison on SPEEDVISION and it seemed that Tundra took 4th position just ahead of Chevy. Titan was 1st, Ford was 2nd, Dodge was 3rd and Tundra 4th and Chevy dead last. What I noticed was their comments that the Tundra had the most car like ride....If I wanted a STINKIN' LINCOLN ride I would have bought ONE. My Tundra is all over the road with its mushiness. I just changed the rear shocks to Bilsteins and no difference. I got a HElwig rear sway bar and what a CHEAP PIECE OF CRAP. I SENT IT AND ALL THE NUTZ AND BOLTS BACK...I also called Summit racing and told them it was cheap stuff TOO!
I even talked to HELWIG and asked why they sent me a Cheap setup and complained it was neither competition nor show quality, and would be more suited to fit on a 1960 JEEP. My truck is BRAND NEW and I dont want no crap on it... I guess I'll spend the extra 100 bucks and buy an authentic TOYOTA sway bar. Toyota of Goldsboro quoted me 266.00 with shipping included. I think CAR and DRIVER should do a 3 year residual value and a 5 or 6 year trade in value...I BET TOYOTA BUSTS THEIR A$$

[H2O_MAN]

Originally Posted by Phil_Deez2

I guess I'll spend the extra 100 bucks and buy an authentic TOYOTA sway bar. Toyota of Goldsboro quoted me 266.00 with shipping included...

I have been waiting for someone to do this
Please, please post notes and pictures of the installation.
I am aware that you have to fab and weld mounting brackets to your axle.
Other than that, it's a simple bolt on job. At least I hope it is.

Thanks, and good luck.

Here is a picture of a factory Toyota sport bar.

Click on picture to supersize.

[Phil_Deez2]

I am aware that you have to fab and weld mounting brackets to your axle.


YOU MEAN I have to fabricate stuff on TOYOTAS sway bar????

[H2O_MAN]

Originally Posted by Phil_Deez2

I am aware that you have to fab and weld mounting brackets to your axle.


YOU MEAN I have to fabricate stuff on TOYOTAS sway bar????

Yep. The OEM rear sway bar is only available on the TRD Sport and it has a specific axle with mounting brackets welded in place. You can see them in the picture I posted. Best thing to do is get a good look at one at the dealership ...

From everything I have seen - welding some brackets on the axle is all one would have to do before installing an OEM anti-sway bar.

[TRDKEAU]

what a bubble buster

[Rlockyer]

Time to give the Hellwig another try.
If show quality is what you want, then like anything on a show vehicle, it will need some prep. Strip her down and have her powder coated.
The nuts DO fit, but they are locking nuts (slightly crushed) so you feel like you're taking the threads out as you're running them down and it's impossible to tell how much torque you have.
Some guys have gone for aircraft nuts (nylock), but if going that way, I'd peen the threads.

The difference in handling will make you forget how ugly the thing was when you got it... and it only took me an hour to get mine on... that included cutting the tubes that sleeve the mounting bolts so I could get the bushings AND nuts to engage

A couple of months ago I was coming down out of Mammoth getting ready to hit the ramp leading onto Hwy395. I was doing the limit for the road we were on... 55... and the ramp has an advisory limit of 35.
As I approached the ramp, the guy I was with rested one hand on the "Jesus handle", then put his OTHER hand on it. Sailed around the corner, no problem... could have taken it at 60 or 65. He asked what I had done to the suspension because he couldn't do that in his Frontier, only his Accord.

[docsg]

I installed the Roadmaster Active Suspension system on my Tundra and have been very pleased with it. I really noticed it's effect when (1) I tow my m/c trailer (enclosed), (2) change lanes on the Interstate quickly, or (3) as the previous post discussed, exit on to a ramp at speeds higher than posted.

Has anyone else installed this system? I learned about it right after I joined TS from a member's post but have seen little about it since. I bought it direct from the mfg. and they were very courteous and helpful in the installation process which I did myself (and I'm no mechanic).

[H2O_MAN]

Originally Posted by docsg

Has anyone else installed this system? I learned about it right after I joined TS from a member's post but have seen little about it since. I bought it direct from the mfg. and they were very courteous and helpful in the installation process which I did myself (and I'm no mechanic).

I ran them for about 10K. They worked as advertised but didn't handle a heavy load as well as my air bag equipped T100.
I removed the RAS, and everything else, when I put my Tundra up for sale. Since then I have decided to keep my truck and have started re-installing things ... The RAS may be re-installed since I am not going to haul anything but butt with my Tundra.
I wonder how they would work with lowering shackles???

I'll leave the heavy loads to my T100.

[tm311]

If I wanted a STINKIN' LINCOLN ride I would have bought ONE.

Here in Vemont they let you test drive the vehicles before you buy one

[Rlockyer]

Originally Posted by tm311

Here in Vemont they let you test drive the vehicles before you buy one

I've read that in reports as well, but buying the TRD package tends to reduce it and make it ride A LITTLE more like a truck.
I still have friends ride with me and comment that it rides like a truck built by Lexus.

[TRDKEAU]

whats the deal with your front wheel shocks? I did not see any specifics listed. Changing out your front shocks makes a hug difference as well. I my self have tokico shocks in the rear with sway a way coilovers in the front. Night and day handling.

[Preludetundra]

Originally Posted by Rlockyer

I've read that in reports as well, but buying the TRD package tends to reduce it and make it ride A LITTLE more like a truck.
I still have friends ride with me and comment that it rides like a truck built by Lexus.

Since I use my truck solely as a car I agree with your friend. I rode about 60 miles in my neighbor's new Titan. Now that rides like a truck. I can't imagine a 1,000 mile trip in a real truck ride. That is too rough and too stiff for me. I'll stick to the truck ride built by Lexus.

[fteter]

Give the Helwig another try...but be prepared to spend a few extra bucks at the local hardware store. Most of the nuts and bolts from Helwig are junk. On the other hand, a properly-installed sway bar is a dream come true.

You'll find my experience with Helwig posted on TS, so I'm not going to repeat it here. However, all the frustration and extra effort was well worth it...the Helwig bar pretty much eliminated the sway. I went from the Lincoln-type roll to an extremely tight ride. It's the best mod I've done so far.

BTW, I'm with you on the look of the bar. I plan to have mine powder coated later this year.

Good Luck!

[KLS]

Phil,

1) Put HD Bilstein shocks (not the TRD original equipment shocks) on all four corners.

2) Get the Hellwig sway bar, get it powder coated, get new nuts at your local hardware store, and install it.

3) Air up your tires.

The truck will handle well; I've done everything listed above except powdercoat the bar. The appearance of the bottom of my truck isn't a concern to me.


Ken

[Phil_Deez2]

Does anyone know besides Hellwig and Toyota are there other rear bar manufacturers? There are a bunch of companies like neuspeed and adco but I can't find a Tundra application.
(cause I aint welding anything ,in the case of Toyota's) And HELLWIG makes crap
Thanks in advance