3” TRD Lift Stop Sale

Nope and nope.

 

@sudobash - I see you providing tons of information related to Tundras and it is helpful. What model Tundra do you have and have you done any mods?

 

She drives a Honda. OF ain’t paying what it used to.

 

That’s not true at all. The skid plate doesn’t work because the sway bar bracket spacers move the sway bar down 3 3/4” no sway bar would fix this.

 

The TRD sway doesn't use those spacer brackets that drop the factory sway bar down. The TRD sway bar sits higher than that front cross beam.

I just put this skid plate on today. It is made for the standard Tundra without the 3-in lift and this truck has the 3-in lift and TRD sway bar.

 

Did anyone notice you can't buy a factory lift from a dealer for a 2022? I tried to order one using the original part number for the factory lift and the website is saying does not fit my truck.

 

Website error. It will fit.

 

what say you @sudobash ? it seems to work but you to know stuff about things, so interested in your thoughts on TRD sway bar sans drop brackets + TRD 3" lift
@Reubenski about to make me spend a lot of money on a TRD sway bar, TRD skid plate, and OEM recovery hooks

 

I'm curious why people are so confident that the TRD sway bar won't fit under the OEM TRD skid plate. No response since I posted that photo. What am I missing?

 

Have you looked at the mounting points for both the black (standard) and the TRD Pro (red) sway bars? The mounting points are the same. I actually have the Pro sway bar but haven't gotten around to installing it yet, and I'm 99% sure the mounting points are identical. The Pro sway bar also has it's own specific end links that are angled differently from the standard ones.

If mounting points are the same, then the same logic applies when using the sway bar drops for the black sway bar. If you use the drops, the sway bar will sit in front of the skid plate, whether you have the black or red sway bar. If you choose NOT to use the drops, the sway bar will sit behind the skid plate, again, whether it's the black or red sway bar.

Searching would've gotten you this thread: https://www.tundras.com/threads/trd-sway-bar-2023-1794.122231/page-3

Basically answers your question. If you want to use the drops to correct the geometry, but also have skid plate protection, you need to get something like the Talon's garage skid plate specifically designed for this.

 

Ummm.....post 248 in this thread. Dealer installed.

 

The TRD red sway bar should in theory also use the sway bar drops.

You can't put two and two together and that's why no one is responding to you.

 

Are you sure about that? The TRD sway bar has a different geometry

 

Read the thread...........................

 

I read it a month ago, again when I posted that picture a couple of weeks ago, and again just now based in your insisting. Still doesn't back up what you're saying. In fact the opposite. There's three pictures of the red TRD sway bar installed without spacers and a skid plate below it, just like mine installed by the dealer. Posted above . There's exactly one post that vaguely supports, what I think is your point; you can or can not use the drop brackets or spacers at the cost of more or less body roll. But that guy that posted that based his comment on the non-TRD red sway bar and assumed that would also be the case with the red TRD sway bar. Though he had not yet installed the red TRD sway bar when he said it. Since the dealer installed my red TRD sway bar without the drop brackets....and others are running the red TRD sway bar the same way....and there's no information that can be cited to the contrary....we should understand the red TRD sway is not meant to be used with drop brackets. And since the drop brackets are the cause of the TRD skid plate fitting below the sway bar....then it's an accurate statement that the skid plate does fit as intended with the TRD sway bar. So if people are saying that's not true then how about citing something definitive. If you have something definitive, then just plainly say it rather than trying to be coy and telling people to read a 6 page thread where the answer may or may not be and may or may not be correct, because they're just ordering parts and using their best judgement when installing them vice going off Toyota instructions.

What exactly are you going off of?

 

Then go ask Toyota rather than trying to validate your hypothesis based on lack of responses?

I’ll put my lift on with Fox drop brackets and the red sway bar and report back then to make you happy.

 

I'm not making up a hypothesis. My sway bar was installed by the dealer. Sure, dealers make mistakes and do stupid shit sometimes, but it would be illogical to assume that's automatically the case with my installation without evidence of the contrary. Which, I guess you don't have. Just pointing to 6 pages of people being really confused on trying to mix and match part numbers.

So, I guess my original question this morning still stands. What is making people so sure the TRD skid plate doesn't fit under the red TRD sway as intended by Toyota? Remember the basis of this discussion was as intended by Toyota. Not what aftermarket parts can I install and get away with.

 

If you’re literally asking if it fits, then yes.. it fits. I’m pretty sure people saying it doesn’t fit behind the TRD skid is saying that under the premise that you have the sway bar drops.

In fact, even the standard black sway bar fits behind the TRD skid plate without the drop bracket, so if your question is really a matter of “does it fit” behind the TRD skid, then the answer is “yes”.. The black bar fits. The red bar fits. Don’t use the drop bracket.

I’m done with this convo/thread as the TRD lift kit doesn’t pertain to me anymore. Have a good day and hope the setup runs smoothly.

 

I'm not asking if it fits. I made the statement that it would appear that Toyota intended the TRD sway bar and TRD skid plate to be installed together in exactly this fashion and I was contradicted: "Nope". Then I posted a picture of my sway bar installed by the dealer in this configuration and the naysayers have been radio silent. I'm just genuinely curious why the contradiction was made, not backed up, and then not clarified when specifically asked.

 

To be fair, I wondered the same thing, mainly trying to figure out why the TRD 3" kit lists the TRD Pro trim as incompatible because essentially everything is identical between trims minus the shocks and sway bar. I asked this in other groups and got no answer. You won't find anything here either, whether in support of using the drops w/ the red bar, or against it, so ignore the naysayers (or even the supporters). Only definitive answer would be through Toyota, or you doing a "controlled" experiment, but even then I think it'll be impossible to distinguish over a <2" sway bar relocation.

I'm doing a more modest 2.5" lift but am using the drop brackets because that's what Fox includes in the kit. I guess I could do a before and after test, but I'm running a 1000 lb camper full-time and I doubt a sway bar drop will be the limiting factor. At the shop I've seen TRD Pros with Fox setups that have the sway bar drop, and those that do not - the same goes for non-TRD Pro trims. So is there truly a right/wrong? I think it just boils down to preference, your application, and how much you're willing to spend on an aftermarket skid plate, or even care to.

Sway bar geometry probably makes a difference when you're doing higher lifts or other strenuous applications. If your ride currently runs smoothly for your intended application, then that's all that matters. Only time will tell if you run into problems, if ever.

If I do a before/after, I'll report back. This is my less coy response. Good luck!

 

Perhaps the reason for at least Sudobash's response is that there is no intended fitment for the TRD sway bar with the TRD skid plate and the 3" TRD lift kit(despite the nomenclature) because the only intended use is for the TRD sway bar in the TRD Pro suspension. So drop bracket, no drop bracket, 3/4" aftermarket drop bracket.... it's all experimental. (To your point above) And in a world where people on this forum are discussing completely removing their sway bar and debating how negative the body roll consequences are during high speed cornering, the felt ride difference between sway bar brackets falls into an impossible to codify, anecdotal account. I went from a 2.5 gen with 200K + mi with a 4" lift, varying states of wear in bushings and bearings, a steering rack that needed some love, 35"s with cupping....to a 2025 with a completely different suspension on street tires, stock sway bar in 1.5" drop brackets and no weight in the back...to then the same truck and suspension but with larger off road tires, the TRD sway bar, and a Smart Cap on the back. So when I'm taking a high speed curve that has a 45 mph suggestive road sign at 55mph...what can I really tell? For me, I could see where a person could say the truck feels a little floaty at times but I can't honestly say it felt different before the sway bar, tires, and cap on the back. I've got 2500 more miles on it and I'm more in tune with it. I had the truck for 6 days with the stock sway bar and street tires and it just felt amazingly different and firm compared to my previous blown out suspension. I can say that I have no problem driving high speeds on the interstate and when making high speed maneuvers and cornering, you just need to know the vehicle and stay under the fringe of reckless or aggressive driving. I'm definitely not worried about higher speed driving, but long term wear as a result of too aggressive geometry would make me sit up and take notice. At least, Toyota warranties the 3" lift WITH the TRD sway bar and the dealer installed it that way. Perhaps we'll meet up in 6 years and have a more definitive answer on one way or the other in that regard.

I may be saying a very similar thing to your post but I'm just trying to synthesize where Sudobash is coming from and what perhaps you are also articulating.

 

I still wouldn't be able to put my money on one way or another re: whether the red sway bar is "compatible" with the TRD lift kit. IMHO, and this is purely speculation/bro science, the red sway bar could probably do without the drop brackets because it was designed for the TRD Pro that already has a 1-1.5" lift with the Fox 2.0 suspension (I forget the exact height differences, so am estimating). The TRD lift kit would only add another 1 or so inches to a TRD Pro (3 inches to a standard Tundra), so one can assume that the relatively modest 1-1.5" lift should fall within the tolerable "range" with the red bar, if any. A 3 inch lift kit on a standard Tundra yields a 2-fold difference in height gain than a 3-inch kit on a TRD Pro, and it was certainly enough of a change for Toyota to address via the drop bracket.

I can also argue the need for the drop bracket from the standpoint of preserving factory geometry, because the 3" lift kit is still 1-1.5" higher than the factory Fox 2.0 setup with the red bar. So in theory, a drop bracket matching the height change could be used - not the massive 2" drop bracket from the TRD lift kit, but something smaller that corresponds better to the height change. Again, this is really oversimplifying things to 1+1=2, as all components should have an acceptable "range" of function, and not all ranges are linear. I'm also no physicist, but a more horizontal plane of movement should provide a better lever, and any sort of lift makes that less horizontal. So, the most stress likely falls on the end links/ball joint, which is a cheap and easy thing to replace. I can't imagine how the bar itself would be damaged since it's mainly the end link doing the twists and turns to push that lever up. It would be cool if someone did an experiment to observe both scenarios under full compression and decompression.

I struggle with the same question and the rear trackbar correction kit. Maybe there's more proven science around that plus tons of anecdotal experience, but I wonder if it will provide any tangible benefit for a modest 1" rear lift. I still purchased one because that seems like the right thing to do. Will it truly matter though? Probably not for my application.

You've clearly thought this through and it's nice to see, as I contemplated with this as well when piecing together all the other geometry-correcting components of the kit after ditching the full kit due to the stop sale.

 

It is compatible. And you'll still need the sway bar drop kit.

 

So is my dealership F'd up?

 

possibly, called my local dealer and they said if they were to install a front TRD sway bar in tandem with the 3" TRD lift they would keep the drop brackets as they are. that being said if it's working for you without them in terms of ride quality and handling I don't think you "need" it

 

While it may work, most report that the ride suffers and articulation is limited.

 

I think I might just buy the knuckle's (for improved turning radius), upper control arms, and axles. Do you recall if anything else was needed to make any of those parts fit or would you recommend getting any other parts on the list?