I used to have those same wheels!

Good luck with the rebuild. Subscribed.

I like those new headlights. from whence did you obtain them?

thanks! previous owner put them on. can you tell me what kind of wheels they are? I cant seem to find anything written on them besides the main brand name....

I got em here! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

it says "these will not fit your 1996 4runner..." but they fit fine.

there was a little squeeze with the small trim piece screw under the headlight. but it fits, and looks SO much better. just makes the rest of the car look like dirt haha

managed to get the upper ball joints installed yesterday. the press/cup kit really makes a difference. used a portable hydraulic press that made it with no issue. Was able to get one new rack bushing in, but didnt have time to remove the diff drop spacers in order to fully remove the long horizontal bolt.

next week I plan to finish the rack bushings, tie rod end links (maybe, they are rusted badly) and the rear suspension. then finally my new suspension will be completed. I can already feel the front end is far better that before.

anyone know where I can find the Tie-Rod end link lock nuts???

Installed my Energy Suspension steering rack bushings this morning. much easier than expected. I did have to remove the driver's side diff drop spacer to get the large bolt out. and in doing so I watched how much the CV axle actually moved. the spacer gives between 0.5" - 0.75" of drop to the axle itself.

BRAKES: whenever I am cruising along, and press the brakes for the first time, I hear something. its a squeak/squish sound like someone squeezing a wooden handle too tightly while wearing a leather glove. Ill try to record the sound and get it on here.

it only happens the fist time I press the brakes, after I have accelerated. (I accelerate from a stop, press the brakes, hear the sound, let off brakes, and press brakes again, I do not hear it. I hear it every time after I accelerate.)

anyone have any ideas?

One is for the washer fluid sprayer hose. The other is a clamp for that wire harness underneath, there's another missing further down the intake hose. You can use zip ties. And there should be a cap on the hose fitting.

dude, thanks. very helpful with the pics too.

And If you didn't know. The cap missing is off your A/C line. I can't remember but I think its the Low pressure side. you can follow the line and look for the other cap, I think its by the radiator. I believe it has a H-for high and L- for low pressure.

finally installed my rear OME 890 springs and B-5100 struts.

the old stuff was completely gone. struts were rusting away, and wouldn't extend on their own and the top bushing assembly was done incorrectly by the previous owner. The springs, when compressed had about 1/2" gap between each ring.

CUt the old stuff out, saved a bunch of time. but man it was a pain getting the lower strut mounts to line up. had to disconnect the upper control arms and roll the axle back, then use a c clamp to press them on. my goodness that was a pain.



Can already feel the back end is much tighter. very happy. but I can definitely tell that something is clinking in the front end. every speed bump in my parking garage shifts something around. not sure what, maybe wheel bearing? (just installed new UBJ and LBJ and rack bushings.) I have new tie rod end links and brake lines which need to be installed. I'm thinking go to alignment/brake shop and have them check it out, along with install everything.

much happier with the stance, will have to get some 1/4" or 1/2" spacers after it settles. im still a little low on the drivers side.

looking good, cant believe you bought it with 250k! thats awesome

nice rig looking good

thanks! my first 4runner was a 2001 i bought with 278K miles, ran like a champ.

thanks, very happy with how it turned out

after reading through another build thread, I came to realize that the OME 890 springs may have been marked "A" and "B" to identify which one goes on the drivers side....this I did not know. and I bet that is why my drivers side sits about 1/2" lower... gonna have to switch them out tomorrow, or at least remove them to compare height.

bought myself some inner tie rods, and the steering rack guide replacement parts. hopefully this tightens up everything up front. the ride is beyond improved now. cant get enough of it.

for now riding with sway bars off, its soo wobbly, I love it!

I didn't realize how dirty this thing really was till i sprayed a little simple green....can actually see the blue NKG wires now (before I had to wipe them clean to read "NKG" just to ocnfirm they were NKG!!)

no before shots of the engine bay, but here is after. after


its not quick to notice, but I discovered that the battery tie-down was non-existent. Upon closer inspection the previous owner used a shoelace to pull the battery towards the driver's side fender. gonna need a new one stat. maybe that was my mystery speed-bump clunk!

and all my door jams were disgusting. it was like this is every door. all better now!