3rd Gen 4Runner

[CA-RJ]

I bought some new wheels for the 4Runner last week and finally got them installed last night. These are 16x8 Toyota Land Cruiser factory alloy wheels. I got them from our wheel refinisher at work for $130 each. They're about $550 new from Toyota. I still need to get the center caps, but I'll do that next week.





While I was out today, I turn 160k.

 

[98sr5]

i just hit 160000 a couple weeks ago too congrats

 

[CA-RJ]

A little update on the 4Runner. About 2 months ago, I was leaving a restaurant when the rear end let go with a loud "BANG!". I figured that the locker had broken. The 4Runner was still drive-able but a constant clack-clack-clack every time the ring gear turned. I parked it at a friend's house and didn't take the rear end apart for about a month. I got the rear end out, finally. Looking at the case, I could see that the pinion gear and lost a couple of teeth. The ring gear had some chipped teeth as well.

I was able to pick up a used set of gears from a TRD Tacoma for free. I took the whole 3rd member down to Toyota Masters in Corona, CA and had them swap the new gears in, take the Lock Rite out, and put new bearings and seals in. $430 later I was back putting a fresh 3rd member back in my 4Runner. It had been sitting on jack stands for way too long. After 4 trips to the parts store for things I had forgotten, the 4runner was back on all 4 tires. It took some doing to bleed the brakes, but finally all the air was out.

While the 4Runner was on jack stands, I stole the 285/75-16 Nitto Terra Grapplers off of it and put them on my Jeep. The Jeep's 245/75-16 Goodyear MT/R's went on the 4Runner. I thought for sure it was going to look funny with the lift. It's not too bad, though they do look small on it. The tires howl on the street and I was reminded why I took them off the Jeep.

The 4Runner is now back out my house. It will be my daily driver until I sell it. We still owe a bit of money on it, so once the loan is clear (I figure 2 more months) it will go on the market. It drives really nice with the smaller tires and the open diff.

I'll post a picture of the 4Runner with it's small sneakers tomorrow.

If you're in the market for a nice 4Runner, start saving your pennies. You have 2 months to save! :ylsmoke:

 

[ttora4runner]

I thought you had sold your 4runner to someone over on Yotatech?

 

[CA-RJ]

No, I had forgotten about that ad and then the 4Runner broke.

 

[CA-RJ]

I have decided to keep the 4Runner and sell my Wrangler. Over the last month, I've driven it daily and after taking a couple of trips, I feel the 4Runner is the best vehicle for our needs. Too bad I couldn't have seen that a few months ago!

In the last couple of weeks, I've put new BFG MT KM2's in size 285/75-16 on and have started to tackle some of the maintenance issues that have come up. I started with a throttle body clean and then cleaned the mass air flow sensor. While doing that, I noticed the stock air box mount was broken (I think from my Ivan Stewart impression at Ocotillo Wells a month or so back. After cleaning the MAF, the check engine light came on and threw a P0170 "engine running lean" which means I'll be replacing the sensor now. That's another $260. While changing the driver's side outter tie rod today, i saw the the sway bar link was broken. It completely snapped in half! There's another $80.

Even still, I'm excited about keeping the 4Runner. It has 174k on it now and I would drive it across the country tomorrow.

The coming plans for this year include--
-Install rock sliders (probably Trail Gear)
-Reinstall roof rack with new mounting hardware
-Install forward/rearward lighting on rack
-Install new steering rack (it has been leaking for over a year)
-Look at rear bumper/tire carrier options
-Take lots of trips!!! :smiley_drive:

 

[Cackalak Han]

Good thinking on keeping the 4Runner. Also, for endlinks, I suggest WabFab.

http://www.wabfab.org/96024Runner/96024Runnerquickdiscos.htm

 

[toy_tek]

Another option is to just remove the swaybar entirely. My endlinks needed replaced so I took the bar off to see what it would be like... that was a year and half ago. Minimal gains offroad, minimal additional body roll on-road. Regular safety disclaimer should be inserted right here.

 

[Cackalak Han]

Yeah, you can get away with no endlinks, but when one of mine busted, I could really feel the difference of having one vs. not. This was apparent when I was turning left or right, as the side with the endlink still attached, it felt much more planted when turning that direction. I'd advise to keep it on. I'm not too fond of that “floaty” feeling.

 

[seanz0rz]

good looking 4runner, and good decision keeping it!

im in the process of reinstalling both my swaybars. ride was fine until i mounted a spare tire on the back, now its a bit more tippy than i think im comfortable with. removing endlinks at the trail head isnt that hard, if its even necessary at all.

 

[Maddmatt]

Good thinking on keeping the 4Runner. Also, for endlinks, I suggest WabFab.

http://www.wabfab.org/96024Runner/96024Runnerquickdiscos.htm

Yeah, I went with these when I broke one of my endlinks too. Figured if one broke, the other wasn't far behind. No complaints.

 

[Mr. Leary]

Sway bar issues

My first try at this post didnt work, and I dont feel like re writing the entire thing, so here it goes.... best solution is th ditch the front sway bar, and get a beefier rear sway bar with disconnects (ADCO). I've tried almost everything, so before you blast me understand that I've tried many different options and dealt with a great deal of frustration in the process. There are two problems with disconnectable front sway bars. Number one is what to do with the bar when it is disconnected. You can strap it up but it still seems to get in the way all the time. The second, and more troublesome issue is getting the sway bar connected up again afterward. Not impossible, but not quick and easy like it should be.

If you insist on keeping a front sway bar, i can recommend mounting Jeep JK quick disconnects and mounting them inverted. This setup would allow the links to fold against the bar so they can be tied up together. THese links also have about 2 inches of adjustment in height available for your particular needs and make it easier to reconnect when you hit the road.

Good luck guys,

Mr. Leary :coffeedrink:

 

[Mr. Leary]

Neat stuff

BTW. I checked out the new dodge power wagon, and it come stock with an electronically disconnectable sway bar... I think I would like to try to design my own... we will see...:victory:

 

[CA-RJ]

It's been a long while since I've posted about my 4Runner. Today, it hit 200k miles! Over the last year, I've replaced the tie rod ends, front sway bar links, front sway bar bushings, steering rack bushings, mass air flow meter and an oxygen sensor.

This last weekend, I did the Seafoam treatment and it seems to have really improved how the 4Runner runs. For the last year, the 4Runner has had a high idle (1300-1500 RPM). After running the Seafoam through the vacuum lines, crank case and gas tank, it's idling at 800-1000 RPM.

My BFG MT KM2's now have 29k miles and have about 1/3 of their tread life left. I keep going back and forth on what size and type of tire to get but think I am going to downsize and run a 265/75-16 Treadwright MT/R. I'm looking to get a bit of power back and hope to up the fuel mileage a bit. After next month, the 4Runner will be retired to "trip only" status so it may be some time before I wear the tires out enough to actually replace them.

I don't have too many future plans for the vehicle itself. I will just keep up on the maintenance and fix whatever breaks. For the type of exploring I do, I don't need lockers or rock sliders. I think our next large purchase will be a fridge and a good, gel-cell battery.