Rear Suspension Extended Stabilizer End Links on 5th Gen 4Runner – Install Guide

Additional Upgrades For the 5th Gen 4Runner When Changing Your Rear Suspension for a Lift: Step-By-Step Guide For Installing Rear Suspension Stabilizer Bar Links

Step-By-Step Guide For Installing Rear Suspension Stabilizer Bar Links

Additional Upgrades For the 5th Gen 4Runner When Changing Your Rear Suspension for a Lift

Problem Statement

The stabilizer bars, also known as anti-sway bars or sway bars, work best when parallel to the ground and in the same orientation as you would have a horseshoe a staple laid flat on a desk. The other part of this suspension system for the 5th Gen 4Runner has stabilizer links connected at the end of the sway bars and are completely vertical.

When a suspension is upgraded for lifting a vehicle, the stabilizer links are often ignored. Simply adding a lift without addressing the stabilizer links will preload the sway bar and make it less effective due to the angle changes. The stabilizer links are no longer vertical and will tilt towards the front of the vehicle.

It will be apparent if your suspension should be addressed as your stabilizer links will have an obvious tilt. The solution is to find longer stabilizer links. Below is one of many options available which can be ordered online or purchase through a local automotive retail store.

Rear Stabilizer Link Options: 

Note: You will need to buy two kits, one for each side.

For my particular lift (Icon 2” rear springs SKU 52700), I went with the length of these links. My effective lift is closer to 2.5” despite the springs being rated for only a 2” change in height. Depending on your lift height, you can select from a few options above.

Tools Needed

  • 12mm open box wrench
  • 17mm open box wrench
  • 6mm Allen key
  • Torque wrench

Skill Required

This should be considered novice-level repair and replacement work. All you really need is to have a basic understanding of how to operate the tools required. Allotted time: Approximately 30 minutes to 45 minutes from start to finish.

Step-By-Step Installation

This upgrade can be completed without lifting the 4Runner off the ground or the removal of your wheels. You will just need to make sure you have access to both sides of the rear suspension.

Step 1. Remove Hardware From Stabilizer Link

Additional Upgrades For the 5th Gen 4Runner When Changing Your Rear Suspension for a Lift: Step-By-Step Guide For Installing Rear Suspension Stabilizer Bar Links

The first step is to remove the hardware from the stabilizer link (above the frame bracket). Use a 12mm wrench to loosen the top nut.

Remove all three accessible parts above the frame bracket. Stack order (from top to bottom) starting with the nut, bushing plate, and then the bushing.

Additional Upgrades For the 5th Gen 4Runner When Changing Your Rear Suspension for a Lift: Step-By-Step Guide For Installing Rear Suspension Stabilizer Bar Links

Repeat this step for the other side of the vehicle, and the sway bar should be loose enough to move.

Step 2. Remove All Hardware From Stabilizer Link

Additional Upgrades For the 5th Gen 4Runner When Changing Your Rear Suspension for a Lift: Step-By-Step Guide For Installing Rear Suspension Stabilizer Bar Links

Remove the remaining hardware from the stabilizer link (below the frame bracket). If the swaybar hasn’t rotated on its own due to its weight, push down on one end to loosen the stabilizer link.

Remove the remaining parts of the bushing kit for the stabilizer link. Then, stack order (from top to bottom), starting with the bushing plate, then bushing, and then the bushing plate.

Additional Upgrades For the 5th Gen 4Runner When Changing Your Rear Suspension for a Lift: Step-By-Step Guide For Installing Rear Suspension Stabilizer Bar Links

Set aside all the components of the bushing kit.

Step 3. Remove Stabilizer Links

Additional Upgrades For the 5th Gen 4Runner When Changing Your Rear Suspension for a Lift: Step-By-Step Guide For Installing Rear Suspension Stabilizer Bar Links

Use a 17mm wrench to loosen the nut while using a 6mm Allen key to hold the ball joint.

Repeat this step above for the other side.

Step 4. Replace With New Stabilizer Link

Additional Upgrades For the 5th Gen 4Runner When Changing Your Rear Suspension for a Lift: Step-By-Step Guide For Installing Rear Suspension Stabilizer Bar Links

Replace the OEM stabilizer link with the new stabilizer link. Open the box and prepare the kit for installation.

Use the factory recommended torque spec when installing the supplied nut

Additional Upgrades For the 5th Gen 4Runner When Changing Your Rear Suspension for a Lift: Step-By-Step Guide For Installing Rear Suspension Stabilizer Bar Links

Repeat this step for the other side.

Step 5. Install Hardware for Stabilizer Link

Additional Upgrades For the 5th Gen 4Runner When Changing Your Rear Suspension for a Lift: Step-By-Step Guide For Installing Rear Suspension Stabilizer Bar Links

Install the hardware for the stabilizer link (below the frame bracket). Install the lower half of the bushing kit onto the stabilizer bar. Stack order (from top to bottom) starting with the bushing plate, bushing, and then the bushing plate.

Note: I elected to use the old OEM bushing kit so that my only alteration to the suspension system (at the time) was simply extending the length. I could always come back and swap out the bushings should the OEM ones feel too soft and worn out. The replacement ones seem quite a bit higher on the durometer scale (how to quantify the hardness of an elastomer (i.e. rubber).

Repeat this step for the other side. Then, push the stabilizer link up and into the frame bracket (you can stay on the side you’re on). Install the upper half of the bushing kit onto the stabilizer link and only thread the nut a few threads.

Lastly, stack the order (from top to bottom), starting with the nut, bushing plate, and then the bushing.

Additional Upgrades For the 5th Gen 4Runner When Changing Your Rear Suspension for a Lift: Step-By-Step Guide For Installing Rear Suspension Stabilizer Bar Links

Note: I elected to use the old OEM bushing kit (for this half as well) so that my only alteration to the suspension system (at the time) was simply extending the length. I considered using the newly supplied bushing plate, but the contours did not exactly match OEM bushing. Similarly, it did not appear to seat on the OEM bushing plate properly with the newly supplied nut.

Additional Upgrades For the 5th Gen 4Runner When Changing Your Rear Suspension for a Lift: Step-By-Step Guide For Installing Rear Suspension Stabilizer Bar Links

Repeat these steps on the other side. You may have to pull the end of the stabilizer downward to install the remaining parts.

Step 6. Finalize Installation

To finalize the install, tighten the top nut per factory recommendation. Then, repeat for the other side. Set aside the remaining, unused parts of the kit for future use.

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Canuto
Canuto
2 years ago

The moog sway bar end link listed in the article is the stock length. The extended moog sway bar end link is part #K80380.

Robert
Robert
2 years ago
Reply to  Canuto

Moog site says K80380 only fits 90-95 4runners. Can you confirm these fit for 5th gen?
https://www.moog-suspension-parts.com/moog-k80380

Viktor
Viktor
10 months ago
Reply to  Robert

That is why they are longer! 🙂 I can confirm they fit, I’ve been using them for a year now with around 4.5″ of lift in the rear.

Matthew
Matthew
2 years ago

You need to tell readers to only tighten the hardware with vehicle’s suspension loaded which shouldn’t be hard on a lifted truck. This hardware should not be tightened while the suspension is in droop such as when on a hoist.

Greg
Greg
3 years ago

I used the link in the article for the Moog links and bought myself a set. From my understanding they were put in this article because they were extended length, but I just got them in the mail and they are the same length as the stock ones. Part number matches the one in the article. Save yourself the trouble and don’t use the link for the Moog links. I’ll have to return them.

Erich
Erich
3 years ago
Reply to  Greg

Just tried to install these and noticed the same thing. Frustrating.

Jeff Steffens
Jeff Steffens
2 years ago
Reply to  Erich

Ugh ya. Total bummer. I did same thing. Got tire off and everything. Luckily I eyeballed it before removing the factory ones. Didn’t have time to do install until now and missed my return window by a day.
Which new end link did you use instead?

Last edited 2 years ago by Jeff Steffens
Viktor
Viktor
10 months ago
Reply to  Jeff Steffens

you guys need K80380

Brian
Brian
3 years ago

Hi, which Link kit did you end up using for the install? Thanks

Greg
Greg
3 years ago
Reply to  Brian

By the looks of the picture, it seems to match up better with the Moog link

Matt
Matt
3 years ago

Thank you for the very helpful writeup. Which brand of end link did you use in your post and what is the total length of it as compared to the stock end link? Thank you.

Jason
Jason
3 years ago

i just lifted my truck 2” in the rear and my stabilizer link is tilted forward. Will this help with rear body roll? I noticed mine seems to really feel floaty (back heavy) in the back when making turns and it almost feels like it’s gonna topple over.

rstemme
rstemme
3 years ago

Does this only apply to trucks withOUT KDSS?

Roger
Roger
3 years ago
Reply to  rstemme

correct

cesar
cesar
2 years ago
Reply to  Roger

Hi, please What is KDSS?
In my runner I used OME suspension with 2.5″ lift

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