Coil Spring Spacer Install & anti-sway bar removal (96SR Montero)

[off-roader]

My buddy Carlos helped me install my coil spring spacers (Daystar units made for a Toyota Sequoia) and removed the rear anti-sway bars a couple of weekends ago. Finally got the pics online.

The R&R procedure is as follows.
1) Chock the front tires.
2) Raise the rear end.
- We used two 48" Hi-Lifts to raise the rear up.
- We then used two jack stands + two 2" thick concrete pavers on each side to support the frame & remove the weight from the Hi-Lifts to minimize any danger.
3) Next, used a floor jack to lift the rear pumpkin enough to remove the weight from the shocks.
DSC_0217.jpg
4) Next, disconnect bottom bolt for both rear shocks.
DSC_0218.jpg
5) Disconnect the end links of the anti sway bars
6) Lower the floor jack which lowers the pumpkin. The 2 coils will simply drop out.
7) There's a rubber ring that sits on top of the spring that needs to be removed. In our case, it stayed up in the top spring perch.
8) Next, put the 2" coil spring spacers on top of both springs.
9) Put both springs with their spacers onto the lower spring perch.
10) Carefully raise the rear pumpkin until the spring is back in the top perch. Make sure it goes in straight on top.
11) Re-attach the bottom shock bolts on both shocks.
12) Re-attach the antisway bar end links.

That's about it for the spacer install!


Alternatively you can also remove the antisway bar which is what I did. Rather than try and snake it out, I simply cut it in the middle using a die grinder and remove both side.
DSC_0221.jpg

That's about it.

[LaOutbackTrail]

Nice! And how does it ride and handle without the swaybar?

Thanks for the writeup.

[78Bronco]

What about the front? Maybe you are going for the giant spoiler effect for more downforce in the corners.

[off-roader]

Nice! And how does it ride and handle without the sway bars?

Definitely more roll in the corners but it's also 80% filled weight-wise.

What about the front? Maybe you are going for the giant spoiler effect for more downforce in the corners.

Front anti sway bars? No, not with it also being streetable. Nope, not worth the extra body roll. "spoiler effect"??

[LaOutbackTrail]

Front anti sway bars? No, not with it also being streetable. Nope, not worth the extra body roll. "spoiler effect"??

I think he's referring to lift in front in comparison to the extra lift in back.

[off-roader]

I think he's referring to lift in front in comparison to the extra lift in back.

Ah, I see. Actually it looks right this way versus, the worn 4runner look which it had prior to the spacers. Plus when I put other stuff back there when wheeling it should drop it another 1/2" or so.

[RU55ELL]

Did you remove the swaybar out of choice or necessity? I don't think I'd want to drive it around lifted and loaded with gear and my family without the swaybar.

[off-roader]

Did you remove the swaybar out of choice or necessity? I don't think I'd want to drive it around lifted and loaded with gear and my family without the swaybar.

Yes, it was by choice.

IMHO, although anything can & does happen, I believe a rollover occurring is most frequently dependent on the driver and not the situation.

For example, you can avoid being cut off probably as much as 95% of the time by driving with more distance between you and the vehicle in front of you. Same goes for having to take very aggressive turns in order to avoid an accident that occurs in front of you. If you would have been further back then it would have been a less dangerous situation. Of course this can't always be avoided but in most cases, by doing this, you can really prevent things like that from happening.

FWIW, my last 4 montero's over the past 15+ years have all had their rear antisway bar removed. As I noted, if you drive defensively (looking around yourself, identifying & avoiding the stupid drivers) and drive it like the TRUCK that it essentially is, the rig is VERY, VERY, stable. However, if you drive it like a car, and don't provide enough distance between you and the vehicles around you like most owners do then yes, I wouldn't recommend removing the sway bar.