85 stock suspension questions

[85ghettorunner]

My 4 runner is almost scary to drive on the street. It tracks grooves in the road, and swerves to the right when i hit the brakes.

There is a dogbone that connects the front axle to the chassis. The bushings are bad, but no one seems to know what the part is called, or where to get replacement bushings...

Suggestions on replacing it?

2. Is there a stronger, or quality replacement part for the draglink (i think thats what its called..it connects the steering box to the knuckle)... Truck is fairly stock with 32" tires.... I purchased a rebuild kit from napa for nearly 60 bucks, but i'm wondering if there is a better/stronger replacement seeing as i beat the crap out of my poor truck, and that is an important piece....

any suggestions/links will be greatly appriciated.

[fourwd1]

That dog bone is called a Torque Rod. It prevents axle wrap when braking, which prevents the truck from pulling drastically to the right when braking. Bushings are probably dealer only.

The drag link has spring loaded cups inside that mate with the balls in the j-arm that bolts to the steering knuckle and tie rod. They wear and get corroded. Is it that straight piece that you rebuilt? Parts for that are dealer only AFAIK, I can't see NAPA having them.

There are beefier aftermarket tie rods available for the stock steering.

Hope that helps.

[85ghettorunner]

Thanks a lot for the reply.

I guess i'll have to check the dealer for the bushings.

The drag link parts i actually found at NAPA. They sell rebuild kits for aprox. 30 bucks per end, and it includes the little cup part, the spring, and something else. Before i install them, i was just wondering if anyone makes an aftermarket bar that is stronger/better.

I'll look into the tie rods...any suggestions?

[fourwd1]

Check AllPro or Marlin for beefier tie-rods for stock steering.