Well-known in the desert and prerunner world, Total Chaos Fabrication has recently developed a new suspension system that’s got lots of appeal for the trail world, too.
This new T.C. system fits ’05-and newer 4WD Tacoma’s, ’03-and newer 4WD 4Runners, and ’07-and newer 4WD FJ Cruisers. Total Chaos has had a 3.5-inch wider per side long-travel suspension system for these vehicles for several years now, and recently introduced a system that fits the same applications, but is 2 inches wider per side instead of 3.5.
Why is it cool to go a little narrower? At two added inches per side, purchasing and installing bulged fiberglass fenders is no longer a necessity the way it is with the 3.5-inches per side kit. We have nothing against bulged fiberglass fenders, but they are an added cost that some vehicle owners would rather not incur when making a suspension upgrade. The other plus is that the track width is not radically increased, so the vehicle will fit better on tight trails.
Boxed plate lower control arms combine with tubular chromoly upper control arms that integrate a rugged uniball in place of the stock upper ball joint. Custom 4340 axle shafts are inserted into the stock inner and outer CV joints. The kit is designed to use commonly available coilover shocks from King, Fox, and Sway-A-Way. The shocks’ upper mount is the stock coil bucket, so custom shock hoops are not needed, making this an easy-to-install system. This system can be used with the stock bump stops, but the T.C.-equipped FJ Cruiser on display used Light Racing’s way-cool Jounce Shocks. This system delivers 11.5 inches of suspension travel, which is still enough for speed through the rough.
If you plan to drive your T.C.-equipped Toyota to its full potential (and we bet you will) you’ll want to go for the optional knuckle and upper control arm tower gussets.
Healthy suspension travel, easy installation, a better fit on tight trails, and the ability to leave the stock fenders in place all combine to make the Total Chaos 2-Over system a superb choice for your Toy.
Remember the blog about “phenomenal times?” Years ago, this product would have been cost-prohibitive to manufacture. Want an example? The lower control arms are built using laser-cut plate. Back in the day before laser cutting, the plate would have been cut out by hand on a band saw. This would have taken hours. By contrast, today’s CNC laser machines take minutes. Want another example? With the T.C. 2-Over kit, both the upper and lower ball joints are replaced by uniballs. Uniball-style bearings were invented during World War II, but were only used in military and industrial applications for decades after that. Today, uniballs and rod ends (a.k.a. heim joints) are produced in far greater numbers and are available in a wide variety of sizes and styles for use in off-roading.