shawkins 1997 4Runner Build: Poor, Starving College Student Edition
- Thread starter shawkins
- Start date
shawkins
Adventurer
I continue to be amazed at how well these Fox's ride!:victory:
Night before last, I installed my poly steering rack bushings and poly front sway-bar bushings. The steering rack bushings made a big difference, steering feel and response is greatly improved. I couldn't tell much of a difference from the sway-bar bushings though.
The 4Runner feels like a completely different rig now, I love it! The past few days, I have been driving around with a huge smile on my face!:smiley_drive:
Night before last, I installed my poly steering rack bushings and poly front sway-bar bushings. The steering rack bushings made a big difference, steering feel and response is greatly improved. I couldn't tell much of a difference from the sway-bar bushings though.
The 4Runner feels like a completely different rig now, I love it! The past few days, I have been driving around with a huge smile on my face!:smiley_drive:
shawkins
Adventurer
Looking at the picture above, you can see that pretty much everything is covered in grease...thanks to blown CV boots.
To fix that issue, I will be installing these:
I have all of the parts for the conversion, but not the fancy Toyota SST ($60 4-pin socket). I called to order it and it wasn't available until July 5th! So I'm just going to take my junkyard knuckles to the dealer and have them take off the huge brass nut. I have access to a press so getting the spindles out of the junkyard knuckles and into my knuckles shouldn't be too hard. I'm hoping to get this done this week (fingers crossed).
To fix that issue, I will be installing these:
I have all of the parts for the conversion, but not the fancy Toyota SST ($60 4-pin socket). I called to order it and it wasn't available until July 5th! So I'm just going to take my junkyard knuckles to the dealer and have them take off the huge brass nut. I have access to a press so getting the spindles out of the junkyard knuckles and into my knuckles shouldn't be too hard. I'm hoping to get this done this week (fingers crossed).
shawkins
Adventurer
Got the manual hubs on about a week ago. I am currently only 2WD with a rear E-locker though as I removed the front diff to install my ARB locker. My gas mileage has gone back up considerably, I think my old front CV's were pretty bad since they both had torn boots.
I took it out for a test run on the new suspension last weekend. The only thing I don't like are the OME shocks which I have nicknamed the "bucksnort" shocks. I also broke a front sway-bar endlink so I am deciding if I'm going to replace it or just remove the bar altogether.
Heres a pic from the test run last weekend:
I took it out for a test run on the new suspension last weekend. The only thing I don't like are the OME shocks which I have nicknamed the "bucksnort" shocks. I also broke a front sway-bar endlink so I am deciding if I'm going to replace it or just remove the bar altogether.
Heres a pic from the test run last weekend:
Clark White
Explorer
What is it you don't like about the OME's? I'm looking at putting a set of either 891 or 892 springs on my 99. What leingth and travel did you decide were best?
I'm also dreaming of some 255's, but I have 4.11's. Does the performance and milage suffer a lot? Would 4.56's be too much of a change if I'm looking to keep things enjoyable down the HW as well?
Thanks!
Clark
P.S. AWESOME LOOKING RIG!
I'm also dreaming of some 255's, but I have 4.11's. Does the performance and milage suffer a lot? Would 4.56's be too much of a change if I'm looking to keep things enjoyable down the HW as well?
Thanks!
Clark
P.S. AWESOME LOOKING RIG!
shawkins
Adventurer
The OME shocks are what I don't like, not the springs. The damping just doesn't match up very well with the Fox's, and if I'm being hard on the rig I think they start to fade. Everyone that rides in my back seat says something along the lines of "Are you going to get shocks like what you have in the front for the back? It's pretty bumpy back here."
The 890 springs though, I love those. They have handled whatever load I have thrown at them so far. They also flex really well.
I ran my 255's with 4.10 gearing for around 10k miles. It wasn't too bad, it still cruised on the freeway just fine. Big hills and mountain passes became slow going though. I just changed to 4.30 gears about 3k miles ago and that helped some, but I really need 4.56's. I have the 5-speed manual though, if you have the auto tranny you would most likely want 4.88's.
IIRC, with 4.56's, 5-speed and 255's the RPM's should only be 100 or 200 higher at 70MPH than when the rig was stock.
CYi5
Explorer
Yup i'd agree with all of that. 4.56 + 255/85s on my 5spd taco was perfect. I'd run 4.88's if I were to put 255/85's on the auto runner. I'm running 235/85's on 4.30's and it does well. Runner's lookin' good man, keep it up!
Clark White
Explorer
Awesome, thanks for the advice! I've heard a few people mention that the OME shocks are crap, so I'm probably going to go with the Bilsteins or Rancho's.
I have a 5spd, so I've got that on my side, but I have a cross country trip coming up in a few months, so I think at least for my first set I'm going to go with 235's. You have DEFINITELY got me thinking about those 255's though! :victory:
Clark
I have a 5spd, so I've got that on my side, but I have a cross country trip coming up in a few months, so I think at least for my first set I'm going to go with 235's. You have DEFINITELY got me thinking about those 255's though! :victory:
Clark
shawkins
Adventurer
Here's a small update:
DBA Rotors, Rebuilt Tundra calipers, Toyota pads.
My stock brakes were really starting to become inadequate. They would easily fade, and just seemed to struggle to bring the vehicle to a stop quickly and safely. The rotors warped, so instead of replacing the pads/rotors with stock components I decided to upgrade it all!
One of the easiest modifications to do. Everything bolts right up.
So far everything is great, the truck stops easier and better than I ever remember. I wish I had done this upgrade sooner.
DBA Rotors, Rebuilt Tundra calipers, Toyota pads.
My stock brakes were really starting to become inadequate. They would easily fade, and just seemed to struggle to bring the vehicle to a stop quickly and safely. The rotors warped, so instead of replacing the pads/rotors with stock components I decided to upgrade it all!
One of the easiest modifications to do. Everything bolts right up.
So far everything is great, the truck stops easier and better than I ever remember. I wish I had done this upgrade sooner.
shawkins
Adventurer
I have the standard ones. N86 I believe is their model number.
shawkins
Adventurer
Time for an update!
I got my panhard bar on!
Specs:
Bar - 4130 chromoly from Spidertrax, powder coated by my friend
Heims - XAM-10T one is right hand thread, the other is left hand
Hardware - F911 bolts, Grade 8 washers and nuts, some mis-alignment spacers
I also just got my 4.30 front diff put in. I was rolling around without it for a few months. Winter is here, and I'm going snow wheeling this week so I finally found the time to get back together and installed.
That is the best front flex I have ever gotten out of this thing!
Next up is making some beefy front sway bar endlinks since I completely broke one and trashed the other.
I got my panhard bar on!
Specs:
Bar - 4130 chromoly from Spidertrax, powder coated by my friend
Heims - XAM-10T one is right hand thread, the other is left hand
Hardware - F911 bolts, Grade 8 washers and nuts, some mis-alignment spacers
I also just got my 4.30 front diff put in. I was rolling around without it for a few months. Winter is here, and I'm going snow wheeling this week so I finally found the time to get back together and installed.
That is the best front flex I have ever gotten out of this thing!
Next up is making some beefy front sway bar endlinks since I completely broke one and trashed the other.
TheEstablishment
New member
Very nice build!
What did those Fox C/O's cost you? Do you know how their ride compares to any of the other C/O options out there?
How do you like those Stubb's sliders? Those are the same ones that I am looking at getting.
What did those Fox C/O's cost you? Do you know how their ride compares to any of the other C/O options out there?
How do you like those Stubb's sliders? Those are the same ones that I am looking at getting.
shawkins
Adventurer
I got the Fox C/O's as a present from a best friend. IIRC, they run around $1400. I have never ridden in another Taco or 3G 4Runner with C/O's before so I dont know how they compare to other C/O's. I haven't been able to weld the sliders on yet... I should be getting them on soon though.
shawkins
Adventurer
Had some fun in the snow the other day. We were in about 18 to 24 inches at one point.
I'm planning on welding my sliders on one night this week. I've only had them sitting in the garage for a year or so now...don't want to rush these things!
The pinion bearing in the rear end is toasted. Last time I checked the pinion flange had about an 1/8" of up/down play in it, and its getting worse. Stupid crush sleeves! I'm planning on regearing up to 4.88's very soon so I'm trying to not explode the ring gear in the mean time while I collect the parts and get everything cryo treated.
I'm planning on welding my sliders on one night this week. I've only had them sitting in the garage for a year or so now...don't want to rush these things!
The pinion bearing in the rear end is toasted. Last time I checked the pinion flange had about an 1/8" of up/down play in it, and its getting worse. Stupid crush sleeves! I'm planning on regearing up to 4.88's very soon so I'm trying to not explode the ring gear in the mean time while I collect the parts and get everything cryo treated.
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