1997 Sketchy SleepyDad build

now for the more important stuff...

way back in days of yore

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3162709-post2.html

I did some sketchy stuff to hold up the auto trans cooler lines... well it has come time to fix that sketch.

anything I design in autodesk must have some secret animal shape, this one is no different.
<a href="https://imgur.com/0sOQmSW"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/0sOQmSWl.png" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

the rubber lines had started to show some rubbing marks where they were zip tied to the old hard line brackets.

<a href="https://imgur.com/8OjWPEm"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/8OjWPEml.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

took a couple of proto-types but I got something I liked
<a href="https://imgur.com/1algPF6"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/1algPF6l.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

I decided in the spirit of sketchy I needed to maintain the zip tie portion. the design has 2@5mm holes so the zip ties are routed thru the bracket. nice a secure.
<a href="https://imgur.com/1S8wG76"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/1S8wG76l.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

perfect, they keep the lines nice and snug without crushing them.
<a href="https://imgur.com/s7L41aF"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/s7L41aFl.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

under side looking up, yes I did trim the tails... just took that shot before I did it.
<a href="https://imgur.com/MCzogqg"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/MCzogqgl.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>


note: I referenced to the filament I used above ApolloX ASA filament. If you do not believe the filament is good enough for bolt onto the engine? yea this guy uses it for his intakes.

https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3683261-post336.html

front bracket was a little more involved

because the front bracket also holds the starter wire it was a little more complicated.
<a href="https://imgur.com/SEimCSM"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/SEimCSMl.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

worked out well and with zip tie-o-rama
<a href="https://imgur.com/fN9fV2j"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/fN9fV2jl.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

more TBU failure

I'm not a huge fan of the TBU, unless your running bigger tires I think it's way overrated. But I did on this truck back in 2017 and since then I have had both calipers develop a stuck piston. This is the second one I have replaced, both of the calipers I used originally were from a Toyota dealer.

not a hard job so now I'm running re-man from napa on both sides. see how long they last. the pads, rotors have tons of life left in them otherwise I would have downsized to the stock rotors and calipers.

stuck mofo
<a href="https://imgur.com/3Y4L2DD"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/3Y4L2DDl.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

reman mofo
<a href="https://imgur.com/IYnQkMV"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/IYnQkMVl.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

You didn't rebuild your own? I just bought a rebuild kit from rock auto and redid mine.

I was at first against the TBU. Then I realized their were 2 types of replacement calipers and rotor.

The smaller of the 2 options fit the stock oem rims as well as use the exact same size brake pad.

Plus no change of pedal performance and feel.

I think I have the comparisons on my build thread between stock and the smaller tundra brake caliper if your interested.


Glad you got them replaced.

Napa remfg calipers seem to be decent. I ran a set of stock size calipers for a year or 2 with zero issues.



Sent from my SM-A505U using Tapatalk

Awesome build and great work! Subbed to see what happens next.

Moon mist from a 1998 is super hard to come by - I've been able to find it in 1996-1998 but the texture on the side seams of the seats is different. I'm slowly trying to gather the parts to redo my interior but have had absolutely no luck finding decent seats for it!

These Tundra calipers seize up as often as 4th gen 4Runner calipers. No idea why they suck so bad; I don't see a drastic design difference in the pistons compared to 3rd gen calipers.

sleepydad said:

these are really nice covers, they are thick and make the seats nice and firm. the install was much more difficult because the leather is full grain and it's a battle for everything.

the head rests were actually pretty easy, you take a zip loc bag and put the old cover in. use a shop vac to create a crunch zone and you can then compress the old headrest and get the new covers on. lemon squeezy really.

They are made in Pakistan, that is where the shipment source was marked.
Toyota 4Runner SR5 (Gen 3) 1996-2002 Leather Replacement Seat Covers | Ridies.com
<a href="https://imgur.com/ZHH7JxC"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/ZHH7JxCl.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>
</a>

<a href="https://imgur.com/jGJosrZ"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/jGJosrZl.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>

Click to expand...

Glad I found your post. I've been looking for a set of front & rear leather seat covers for a while that was a decent balance between price & quality. Out of the several companies I looked into, including what was available on ebay & local places, leatherseats.com was who I was going to go with if I didn't find anything better but Ridies.com seems like a better option. I like that the entire cover is made from leather instead of having sections of vinyl sewn in.

Did you go with their genuine/real leather option which they state comes from buffalo, has texture & longer lasting or their more expensive nappa/full grain leather which they state comes from cow, is softer with no texture but doesn't last as long as their genuine leather?

Did you remove the cloth seat bottom & seat back cover before installing Ridies leather seat cover or did you install the leather seat cover over the existing oem cloth cover?

Did you leave the ziploc bag in place after installing the headrest cover?

How have they held up so far?

fourfive said:

Glad I found your post. I've been looking for a set of front & rear leather seat covers for a while that was a decent balance between price & quality. Out of the several companies I looked into, including what was available on ebay & local places, leatherseats.com was who I was going to go with if I didn't find anything better but Ridies.com seems like a better option. I like that the entire cover is made from leather instead of having sections of vinyl sewn in.

Did you go with their genuine/real leather option which they state comes from buffalo, has texture & longer lasting or their more expensive nappa/full grain leather which they state comes from cow, is softer with no texture but doesn't last as long as their genuine leather?

Did you remove the cloth seat bottom & seat back cover before installing Ridies leather seat cover or did you install the leather seat cover over the existing oem cloth cover?

Did you leave the ziploc bag in place after installing the headrest cover?

How have they held up so far?

Click to expand...

nappa full grain - it's awesome. it's high quality and I'm not worried about it wearing out.

I removed the cloth seat covers, both bottom and back. it's how these covers work, you will need to use new hog rings to attach the cover to metal frame in the seat pad.

yes you leave the zip loc inside the headrest, you cannot tell whatsoever that it's still in there.

just like this guy here
How to Reupholster a Headrest - Car Upholstery - YouTube

only had them a short time but they are fine, I did a 750 mile road trip a couple of weeks ago and they are a very comfortable seat cover. way better than the cloth covers.

I have a 2011 range rover and these covers are pretty close to that kind of quality feel. not quite as nice as the rover but close. These are easily nicer than the OEM seat covers from Toyota.

sleepydad said:

nappa full grain - it's awesome. it's high quality and I'm not worried about it wearing out.

Click to expand...

Was there anything in particular that stood out to you more to get nappa over their genuine leather? Just curious because there are features I like about both.

...Also from you pictures, it looks like you installed the leather headrest cover over the existing cloth cover?

fourfive said:

Was there anything in particular that stood out to you more to get nappa over their genuine leather? Just curious because there are features I like about both.

Click to expand...

fourfive said:

...Also from you pictures, it looks like you installed the leather headrest cover over the existing cloth cover?

Click to expand...

I have the genuine leather in the rover, it's much stiffer. from "the google" One of the major differences between leather and Nappa leather seats is that Nappa leather is a softer and smoother leather, offering drivers a buttery soft seating surface. This notable difference stems from the way in which Nappa leather is tanned.

this is a good description of the difference I think?

and Yes I left the old headrest cloth on because it's glued onto the foam, good luck getting it off. if you use a vac like the link I gave you can smoosh it down enough to make it work.

overall, yes it's a bit more challenging to install these seat covers but it's not impossible. heck I'm a rank armature and it went ok for me.

how’d you go about cutting the vinyl for the door handles, thinking about doing this on my truck.