On an independent front suspension (IFS) equipped truck like the Toyota 4Runner, a easy way to gain additional suspension lift is to rotate the torsion bar anchor points to increase height. This is referred to as cranking the t-bars. As it is the only way to cheaply raise the suspension on a IFS truck, it is a common modification owners do to allow larger tires. Unfortunately, this alters the angle of the control arms, and thus makes the 4Runner's ride much stiffer. In order to restore factory ride comfort and height, you will need to restore the torsion bar anchor point location to the factory location.
Park your 4Runner on level ground and engage the parking brake. Take a tape measure and measure the distance from the ground to the top of the front wheel arches on both sides of the SUV, writing down the measurement. Ideally you will have recorded the ride height prior to having cranked the t-bars, but otherwise as a general rule of thumb you can gain a maximum of two inches of lift this way, so the goal will be to lower, at max, the ride height down two inches.
Use a hydraulic jack to raise the front of the SUV by jacking at the front IFS crossmember, then place the front end on jackstands. You can place the jackstands under the front axle. Place wheel chocks behind the rear wheels for maximum safety. Do not crawl under your SUV when it is only supported by the hydraulic jack.
Locate your front trackbar. It will be a straight piece of tubular metal that connect from the upper control arms back to the frame. On the 4Runner's IFS front, these twist when the suspension is compressed and thus act as "springs" for the front suspension. The adjuster bolts are under the frame rails near hte transfer case, on top of the bar. Liberally spray down the bolts on each side with PB Blaster or similar penetrating oil, and allow to sit for at least 10 minutes, repeating the process several times if your SUV is rusty and has seen salted winter roads.
Check to see if there are any markings since the t-bars have already been cranked. If you were the one to originally crank the bolts up, hopefully you wrote down the number of revolutions. The bolt needs to be turned a few times, and the same number of cranks need to be done to each side to maintain a level ride. Using a 22mm wrench, turn the bolt counter-clockwise, making sure to mark the bolt so you can accurately count the number of revolutions. The bolt should turn inside of the nut, if you see the nut is also turning, replace the but and bolt set.
After turning the bolt back a few turns on each side (remember the number) lower the 4Runner and take a short drive. Measure the distance between the tire and the top of the front fender. While older 4Runners can sag as t-bars fatigue, you are looking for about 13.5 to 14 inches distance. If you find your 4Runner is still higher than this, you will need to re-raise and turn back the bolts some more.
