My 3rd Gen 4Runner Build/Appreciation Thread

[Go4Lo]

Picked up the 3rd member yesterday and got her back together last night. Finished up all the plumbing for the ARB and ran through the test cycles...no leaks!!

Planning to head out for trip this weekend for some real world testing :elkgrin:

 

[the kid]

Just as a heads up...

The e-locker came on the 8" axle so the rear diff doesn't match up with the open diff 8.4" axle. So, if you find one, you'll have to swap the entire axle. (not a huge deal and you may already know this)

this only applys to the tacomas. all 4runners locked or unlocked came with the 8" rear end -all 4runners up till 2009 at least im not sure about the 5th gens.

Been working on a few updates to the 4Runner that are worthy of posting. She's been torn down and going nowhere fast for the last week while new Tundra 199mm front calipers and Powerslot rotors have been installed up front and an ARB RD132 Air Locker in the rear Toyota 8" axle. Hope to have the 3rd member back from the gear installer mid-week so I can drop it in and get her back on the road for a trip this weekend. :sombrero:

Minor surgery - :Wow1:


Fancy new brakes.


My particular 4Runner did not come with the E-Locker so it was only a matter of time before a bit more traction was added. ARB is running a promotion through mid-June that includes a free compressor with the purchase of an AIR Locker so that was all I needed to pull the trigger :wings:

Firewall mounted



Magic buttons!!!

this is what i would have suggested... ARB is a much better option. and realistically they are the same cost. by the time you source a new rear axle and wire in and make a new harness for the rear Elocker you have spent the same amount. i looked into this, even had a complete rear housing for a Elocker, and i have gone ARB twice now.

also id recommend finding a gravel lot field or something other than pavement and a big enought area to drive around in figure 8s, and back and fourth to break-in the locker and free it up... when ARBs are new they like to stick -they typically dont take long to engage when new, but they take their sweet time to unlook when new. i think i spend two days about 30min each day cycling the locker on/off driving in circles and figure8s and back and forth untill it was nice and free/smooth.

good looking 3rd gen, i really like the color matched bumpers!

 

[the kid]

and i just noticed we share the same sticker in the same spot...

IMG_7219 by isaacyocum, on Flickr

did we just become best friends!?

 

[City_Rider]

this only applys to the tacomas. all 4runners locked or unlocked came with the 8" rear end -all 4runners up till 2009 at least im not sure about the 5th gens.




this is what i would have suggested... ARB is a much better option. and realistically they are the same cost. by the time you source a new rear axle and wire in and make a new harness for the rear Elocker you have spent the same amount. i looked into this, even had a complete rear housing for a Elocker, and i have gone ARB twice now.

also id recommend finding a gravel lot field or something other than pavement and a big enought area to drive around in figure 8s, and back and fourth to break-in the locker and free it up... when ARBs are new they like to stick -they typically dont take long to engage when new, but they take their sweet time to unlook when new. i think i spend two days about 30min each day cycling the locker on/off driving in circles and figure8s and back and forth untill it was nice and free/smooth.

good looking 3rd gen, i really like the color matched bumpers!

NOW you tell me!!

I fought this for a while on my adventure / trip! Ugh. PITA. I will be cycling it a lot in the near future!

 

[the kid]

You can do so while driving down the fwy as long as you are going in a strait line, just make sure to let off the gas when doing so... But I found the best results in gravel lots or forest service roads.

 

[Go4Lo]

and i just noticed we share the same sticker in the same spot...

IMG_7219 by isaacyocum, on Flickr

did we just become best friends!?

Beautiful truck. Love the "teq" stickers. :agree:

Good tips on the ARB. I did spend some time locking and unlocking it a field after the install while going in circles. I noticed that putting the truck in reverse and backing up a few feet helps with the unlocking.

 

[4eigner]

this is what i would have suggested... ARB is a much better option. and realistically they are the same cost. by the time you source a new rear axle and wire in and make a new harness for the rear Elocker you have spent the same amount. i looked into this, even had a complete rear housing for a Elocker, and i have gone ARB twice now.

good looking 3rd gen, i really like the color matched bumpers!

Let me know where I need to go to get an ARB airlocker installed for $277.15. That's what it cost me for a complete e-locker axle, matching front clamshell, factory wiring harness (which I modified), RR diff lock button, & diff lock ecu. However, I cheated and got the gear oil via a gift card and used brake fluid that I already had laying around.

I also second a good looking 3rd gen. I'm planning to color match the bumpers when I can afford them .

 

[Go4Lo]

Let me know where I need to go to get an ARB airlocker installed for $277.15.

I really wanted an OEM E-Locker just because I wanted to keep the truck as OEM as possible but after wasting two Saturdays chasing down possible donor rear e-locker axles I said screw it an ordered the ARB with the free compressor (I have a 2 yr old and 4 yr old so my time is VERY limited).


For what it's worth I have a tick over $1100 in my ARB set up. I purchased the locker with free shipping and the free compressor for $945 from Amazon. I pulled the 3rd myself and took it to a local gear guy and he installed the ARB, re-set the gears and drilled and tapped the case for the air line fitting for $175. While he had the 3rd I mounted the compressor and ran all the lines and wiring so when I got the 3rd back it was just a matter of dropping it in and hooking up the air line.


This method obviously took some leg work on my end but if I had just taken the truck to him with the locker the cost would have been in the $500 range. :friday:


Planning to do the same with the front clamshell before heading to Moab in September.

 

[Go4Lo]

Loaded up and ready to hit the dirt for the weekend.

 

[rickashay]

Nice Runner, very clean! I think you will be more than pleased with the ARB and you don't have to worry about the E-locker solenoid sticking and not being able to engage/disengage the locker.

 

[City_Rider]

Nice Runner, very clean! I think you will be more than pleased with the ARB and you don't have to worry about the E-locker solenoid sticking and not being able to engage/disengage the locker.

You just have to worry about the ARB sticking!!

 

[Go4Lo]

Nice relaxing weekend camping and off roading in Uwharrie National Forest in NC. Weather was perfect and the 4Runner did everything I asked of it with ease. Happy to say we had no issues with the new ARB locking and unlocking.

This pic pretty much sums up the weekend....



And a few boring shots of the 4Runner

 

[4eigner]

Are your bumpers powder coated?

 

[Go4Lo]

Are your bumpers powder coated?

No they are painted. I used a local body shop to shoot them in a standard base coat/clear coat method.

 

[Go4Lo]

Scored a nice set of 5 FJ Cruiser 8 Hole wheels tonight from a local CL seller. The plan is to bump up to a 285/70 tire size on the 17" FJ wheels and sell off the 4Runner 5 Stars and BFGs. As an added bonus "I think" the spacers will be able to come off as well due to more aggressive offset of the FJ wheels.

Teaser shot with the bald Dueler's :sombrero: