GX470 Track Bar Correction: Fitment, Bolt Height and What Comes in the Box
By Dom Ruangnol
The GX470 is one of the best platforms Toyota and Lexus ever built for people who like to keep a truck for a long time. It is also a truck that a lot of owners lift, and once the lift goes on, the rear track bar starts working against you. The rear end feels loose, the axle shifts to one side, and the truck never feels as planted as it did stock.
A track bar correction kit is the bolt-on answer to that. This post covers which GX470s our B.O.T.C.K. fits, how to measure the one number that decides which version you need, and exactly what you will find when you open the box.
Which GX470 years and lifts does the kit fit?
The GX470 was built for the 2003 to 2009 model years, and it uses the same correction kit as the fourth-generation 4Runner. Our B.O.T.C.K. for this platform is listed for the 4th and 5th Gen 4Runner, the Lexus GX470 and GX460, the FJ Cruiser, and the Prado 150. It is not for the third-generation 4Runner, which uses a different kit. You can find both, along with every other version we make, in the B.O.T.C.K. track bar correction kits collection.
KDSS or non-KDSS does not matter for this part. The correction kit works at the track bar mount, not at the sway bars, so it installs the same way on both. If you want a broader rundown of what fits a GX470 and what needs modification, our GX470 fitment guide from August goes model by model.
As for lift height, the kit does not care what brand of lift you ran or what the box said it was. It cares about one measurement: how far apart the two ends of your track bar sit, top to bottom. That number is what tells you whether you need a correction kit at all and which version to buy.
How do I measure bolt height?
This takes about ten minutes with a tape measure. Do it before you order, because it is the single most common reason people end up with the wrong version.
- Park on level ground. A sloped driveway will throw the numbers off. Let the truck sit at its normal ride height with nothing jacked up.
- Measure the frame side. Measure from the ground to the center of the frame-side track bar bolt.
- Measure the axle side. Measure from the ground to the center of the axle-side track bar bolt.
- Subtract. Take the frame-side number minus the axle-side number. That is your bolt-height difference.
Now match it to the kit:
- 1.5 to 2.99 inches: the Shorty version, or the bottom hole on the Standard bracket.
- 3 inches or more: the Standard version, using the top hole.
If you are planning to go taller later, pick the Standard. It gives you more mounting options as the suspension height changes, so the same bracket can follow the truck through its next lift.
One more note from the product page that is worth repeating. Standard height brackets can contact the frame at full suspension cycle, and that is true of every bracket on the market, not just ours. Longer bump stops or a bump stop drop take care of it, or you can go with the Shorty if your measurement allows.
What is in a B.O.T.C.K. box?
Every kit for this platform ships with the following:
- Front bracket
- Back bracket
- Flag nut (1)
- M14 x 1.5 x 75mm flange head bolt (1)
- M14 x 1.5 x 80mm flange head bolt (1)
- M14 x 1.5 x 35mm flange head bolts (2)
- M14 hex nut (1)
All hardware is zinc coated. A couple of recent updates are worth knowing if you read an older forum thread: the kit now uses standard hex nuts instead of flange nuts, the washer on the side bolt is no longer needed, and you no longer need to clearance the ABS tab.
The torque specs are 105 ft-lbs on the bolt at the OEM mounting location and 125 ft-lbs on the rest. Use blue thread locker on all bolts and nuts. If red is all you have, use very little of it.
What you will need from your own toolbox: a socket set, a torque wrench, a jack and stands, and a pry bar helps with lining up holes. There is no welding and no cutting. It bolts to the factory mount and spreads the load across it instead of relying on welds. If you are looking at other KDSS hardware while you are under there, the KDSS components collection lists the billet parts, and each product page states exactly which trucks it fits. Go by that list, not by what fits a cousin platform.
Allow 36 to 48 hours for the kit to be fulfilled, and shipping inside the US is free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Shorty or Standard: which one do I need?
Measure the frame-side bolt and the axle-side bolt from the ground, then subtract. A difference of 1.5 to 2.99 inches calls for the Shorty. A difference of 3 inches or more calls for the Standard. If more lift is in your plans, the Standard is the safer pick because it offers more mounting positions.
How long does the install take?
It depends mostly on the condition of your factory bolts. On a clean truck with a torque wrench and jack stands, it is a driveway job. On an older truck that has seen salt, soak the factory bolts with penetrating oil a few days before you start, because seized hardware is what turns a short job into a long one.
Are the blemished units worth buying?
A blemished unit is the same part with minor cosmetic imperfections, $10 off. Since the bracket lives under the truck and sees dirt the first weekend, a lot of owners consider that an easy trade. Check the product page or the Blemished collection to see which versions are in stock.
Does the kit work if my GX470 does not have KDSS?
Yes. The kit mounts at the track bar and works the same on KDSS and non-KDSS trucks.
Do I need an alignment afterward?
The correction kit changes the rear track bar angle, not your front alignment settings, but any lifted truck is worth a fresh alignment once all of the suspension work is finished.