Suspension

Know Your Front End First

The second generation runs independent front suspension on torsion bars, not front leaf springs. That changes both what you can do and what you buy: front ride height comes from the torsion bars and the lift kit, and the wear items are ball joints rather than spring bushings.

If yours is a 1984 to 1989 it is the previous generation, and part of that range is leaf-sprung up front — go to 1st gen 4Runner suspension instead.

Where to Go From Here

• Lift kits — the biggest section by far, and the right starting point if you want the truck higher. A 2" kit built specifically for the 1990-1995 4WD, through to long-travel 3-link and 4-link.
• Stock height — torsion bars, Old Man Emu shocks and IFS ball joints for a truck staying at factory height.
• Brackets and hardware — shackle mounts, spring hangers, U-bolt flip kits, link brackets and shock hoops.
• Lowering — one item only, and we would rather tell you that than waste the click. Almost nobody lowers these.

The Parts That Actually Wear Out

On a truck this age the front end usually needs attention first, and it is rarely the springs.

• Ball joints — OE upper, IFS 1986-1995 and OE lower, IFS 1989-1995. The upper is listed 1986-1995 and the lower 1989-1995 — check your year against both.
• Torsion bars — Sway-A-Way performance bars, 1986-1995 4WD, or Old Man Emu heavy duty if the nose is sagging under a bumper and winch.
• Shocks — OME Soft Ride rear Nitrocharger Sport, 1990-2002 4Runner and OME front shocks.

Tell us the year and what the truck is doing — daily driving, towing, or carrying armour and a winch — and we will point you at the right end of the range. The rest of the 2nd gen 4Runner catalogue is one level up.