2001 4x4 4runner build. At Molasses pace

[SOAZ]

Love the flexing pictures! Yours has always been one of my favorite 4Runners.

Just before I got rid of my 4Runner it seemed to have a speed wobble that I couldn't track down. I focused so heavily on the front suspension/steering and replaced tons of parts to no avail. Wonder if the rear lower control arm bushings were the culprit?

So I noticed a while back that you ditched the steelies. Just because of weight? I've still been kicking around the thought of a set of FJ steelies on my Taco.

Anyway, thanks for the update!

Dan

Thanks,
I do think that the loose/worn out bushings were the cause of the wobble (Or at least the reason it would propagate and get worse). It's completely gone now and the truck feels nice and tight again. I think the source of the wobble can also be the rear track bar not being lengthened after lifting the rear. The bad bushings just accentuate the issue.

I really liked the way the steel wheels look and the 4runner ones are 16" wheels which is nice, but the almost 11 pounds per wheel was just too much not to bother me. I get bad enough mileage without making it worse. In the long run I may go with an American Racing Outlaw II which looks just like the factory steel wheels, but they are aluminum. For now, it's more hassle than it's worth to me to switch.

Let me know if you have any other questions!

 

[ttora4runner]

Nice.

 

[Elbee]

Nice rig

 

[plainjaneFJC]

Liking the CO pics posted on 9-15.
Where was that?

 

[SOAZ]

Nice rig

Thanks

Liking the CO pics posted on 9-15.
Where was that?

That was near blue lakes.
It was on this day of my Co trip this year. http://soaztim.blogspot.com/2011/09/co-day-5-governor-basin-ridgeway-blue.html

 

[Marc P]

Runner looks great! Some very cool mods you have added

 

[SOAZ]

I'm doing a lot of preventative maintenance and getting her ready for some commuting duty.
To revert back to more of a street truck I put some new tires on a different set of wheels, took the rear swing out off, took the belly pan skid plate off (It drive noticeably different without that keel underneath the truck), took the HAM radio antenna off, put the back seat in, and removed some of the lesser used recovery gear. The truck sits about an inch and a half higher in the rear and about a half in higher in the front now.

 

[MRYotaRunner]

Next time you're in Colorado drop me a line. I had a 94 but my engine seized Just picked up a 98 today though! So far way better than the 94. Gonna see how she does tomorrow on some easy trails

 

[xcmountain80]

I'm doing a lot of preventative maintenance and getting her ready for some commuting duty.
To revert back to more of a street truck I put some new tires on a different set of wheels, took the rear swing out off, took the belly pan skid plate off (It drive noticeably different without that keel underneath the truck), took the HAM radio antenna off, put the back seat in, and removed some of the lesser used recovery gear. The truck sits about an inch and a half higher in the rear and about a half in higher in the front now.
View attachment 103220

I'm telling you these things on a diet are great. I'm debating on putting my skids back on but we will see. I would have gotten a more street tire this time around but no one makes anything over a 285.... and the Nitto's I run average 55-60k. I still still get 15/17.

 

[StarGazer]

Bumpers

Nice truck!!

Looking through your thread (around page 14), I noticed you changed you bumpers. What brand are they?

 

[SOAZ]

Next time you're in Colorado drop me a line. I had a 94 but my engine seized Just picked up a 98 today though! So far way better than the 94. Gonna see how she does tomorrow on some easy trails

Right on. I'm in ABQ, NM for a few months so I'm going to do a CO trip at some point this summer. You'll like the 3rd gen. A lot more guts than the 2nd gen engines and still a relatively small truck.

I'm telling you these things on a diet are great. I'm debating on putting my skids back on but we will see. I would have gotten a more street tire this time around but no one makes anything over a 285.... and the Nitto's I run average 55-60k. I still still get 15/17.

I agree. I've been loving no swing out and some items taken out of the drawers. I put just the front skid on. The belly pan is great, but for 99% of wheeling I don't seem to need it. Plus, after swiss cheezing my BudBuilts they aren't "quite" as heavy. Still heavy bitches though.

Nice truck!!

Looking through your thread (around page 14), I noticed you changed you bumpers. What brand are they?

The rear setup iterations have all been home made. The front is a TJM-17. Simple bumper. It's been great for me.

Tim

 

[rc51kid]

just to bump a great build thread. In the latest pictures. What suspension lift and size tire are you using?

 

[SOAZ]

just to bump a great build thread. In the latest pictures. What suspension lift and size tire are you using?

rc51kid,
Thanks!

From the beginning I've had the same set of extended length Icon/Donahoe Racing coilovers up front. I pre-emptively rebuilt them once a little over a year ago.
In the rear I am running OME heavy springs with the Icon 2.5 reservoir shocks. I run Total Chaos lower arms too. No sway bars on either end.
BFG KM2 255/85/16

 

[SOAZ]

Here is a random pic of how to overload a 4runner and a rear bumper. My welds help up just fine after 400 miles.

 

[njtacoma]

Tim,
Bud built now offers aluminum and thinner steel options. Do you think either would be a good option to shed weight while still offering protection?

I have a tacoma double cab, and if it stays in the fleet, I want some better protection underneath. Not heavy rock crawling, but here in Colorado we have a lot of granite, so your always doing a little bit. Just curious what you think.

Thanks.