10-17-2020, 10:25 AM
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#1
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Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 377
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 377
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Favorite driveability/comfort mods?
Hey everyone,
I wanted to know what some of your favorite mods are for driveability/comfort on your 3rd gen? Some people have said replacing the seats made a big difference, some suspension and tires...
What has brought your 3rd gen to the next level?
For me it has been my retro projector fit. It made a massive difference in night driving and general look!
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10-17-2020, 12:43 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,198
Real Name: Devan
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,198
Real Name: Devan
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The OEM suspension has MUCH to be desired. Half the reason you see so many lifted 4runners is because everybody wants to replace it, and most people use the opportunity to gain a little height while they're at it. My TRD lift in front eats up bumps and dips so much better than stock, there's basically no way to compare the two, like riding in a shopping cart vs an actual car.
New bushings all around makes a WORLD of difference too. Not really a mod, just a tedious task many car owners neglect (if they even realize it, at all).
Another good one is sound deadening material - some people add it in the roof and trunk and it supposedly cuts down the noise by a huge chunk (I'm sure you've noticed your 4runner have an excessive amount of wind/road noise.) Can be quite the weekend job to get it installed, though I've yet to see anybody go through with it end up regretting it, or having anything poor to say. I personally would like to get around to this one day, its pretty ridiculous at times.
Tires make a big difference too - as worn tires cannot trap sound, but too aggressive will cause harmonics on the highway.
__________________
Y2K Highlander Millennium Silver 3.4L auto @ 320k and climbing
Toytecs + 5100s / 7.5 wrap + OME spacers + Tokicos / JBA UCAs / Anonymous Fab. LBJs / Total Chaos Gussets / EimKeith PCK + LCAR / Extended Bump Stops; Brake Lines; Rear Diff Breather / True North Fab. Hybrid Bumper / CBI Hybrid Bumper + Tire Carrier / 4xInnovations Hybrid Sliders / Opt Offroad Trailing Arms / Lil Skip Gas Skid / BudBuilt Front Skid / ARB Rear Locker
Last edited by Devbot; 10-17-2020 at 08:55 PM.
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10-17-2020, 12:51 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: denver
Posts: 3,010
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Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: denver
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Tires.
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10-17-2020, 08:18 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Yukon
Posts: 1,317
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Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Yukon
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Hard not to love the 99+ center console upgrade. Only us 96 to 98 owners will truly appreciate this.
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-1996 4Runner. 3RZ 5-Spd. 4x4 Base model. OME2906/Toyota OEM rears with 2004 Tacoma Dual Rate Fronts on Bilstien 4600s.
-1993 Corolla Wagon 7AFE
-2001 Echo D.D.
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10-17-2020, 09:15 PM
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#5
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 709
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Join Date: Jan 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Devbot
New bushings all around makes a WORLD of difference too. Not really a mod, just a tedious task many car owners neglect (if they even realize it, at all).
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Which bushings did you replace?
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10-17-2020, 09:23 PM
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#6
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Bellevue, WA
Posts: 931
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Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Bellevue, WA
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1. Bluetooth Kenwood headunit, CarPlay, and new speakers. Nothing modernizes the 20 year old ride more in my opinion.
2. Back up camera. Saved my ass a few times... literally.
3. Projector LED retrofit headlights. As OP stated... night and day difference.
4. Sound deadening. Take a look behind the door panels. Something’s missing...
5. LED interior dome lights. Nice to see the floor of the vehicle when opening the doors and hatch.
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2002 Thundercloud | TRD Supercharger | TRD Headers | URD 2.2 Pulley | Toytec | Addicted Offroad | 4xinnovations | Icon | SCS | BRIDE
BUILD THREAD
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10-17-2020, 11:00 PM
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#7
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Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Age: 40
Posts: 358
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Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Age: 40
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New seat foam and sheepskin seat covers from ShearComfort, very cozy
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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1997 Limited 4x4 3.4l 199k E-locker Blue Wire Mod | 255/85 r16 Maxxis Bighorn MT - LX450 9 wrap + Tokico black rear | Front: 2.5" King Coilover set @ 2" lift | True North Fab Front Bumper + Warn m8000 + Baja Designs Squadron Sport | Custom Sliders | NguyenWorks Rear Bumper + Tire Swingout
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10-17-2020, 11:25 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,198
Real Name: Devan
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
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Real Name: Devan
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nobb
Which bushings did you replace?
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So far all trailing arms, panhard bar, and both swaybar bushings (and new links). So pretty much everything in the rear, and I'm soon going to replace UCAs and LCAs which will be damn near all of it. All of mine were totally shot with the exception of the swaybar bushings - I just replaced those trying to chase down a clunking sound which turned out to be just a loose sway link lol. Trailing arms were definitely the worst, with practically no visible rubber and made the rear sound like it was falling apart. None of these were hard to do, but the control arms are notorious for being a pain to swap bushings especially with age, and mine are well rusted anyways so why not get a new set and avoid the hassle?
__________________
Y2K Highlander Millennium Silver 3.4L auto @ 320k and climbing
Toytecs + 5100s / 7.5 wrap + OME spacers + Tokicos / JBA UCAs / Anonymous Fab. LBJs / Total Chaos Gussets / EimKeith PCK + LCAR / Extended Bump Stops; Brake Lines; Rear Diff Breather / True North Fab. Hybrid Bumper / CBI Hybrid Bumper + Tire Carrier / 4xInnovations Hybrid Sliders / Opt Offroad Trailing Arms / Lil Skip Gas Skid / BudBuilt Front Skid / ARB Rear Locker
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10-18-2020, 05:07 AM
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#9
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Member
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Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 377
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 377
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Thank you for everyone's replies so far! I really would like to know if anyone would change the way they did sounds deadening after living with it? Would you concentrate harder on certain areas?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Devbot
The OEM suspension has MUCH to be desired. Half the reason you see so many lifted 4runners is because everybody wants to replace it, and most people use the opportunity to gain a little height while they're at it. My TRD lift in front eats up bumps and dips so much better than stock, there's basically no way to compare the two, like riding in a shopping cart vs an actual car.
New bushings all around makes a WORLD of difference too. Not really a mod, just a tedious task many car owners neglect (if they even realize it, at all).
Another good one is sound deadening material - some people add it in the roof and trunk and it supposedly cuts down the noise by a huge chunk (I'm sure you've noticed your 4runner have an excessive amount of wind/road noise.) Can be quite the weekend job to get it installed, though I've yet to see anybody go through with it end up regretting it, or having anything poor to say. I personally would like to get around to this one day, its pretty ridiculous at times.
Tires make a big difference too - as worn tires cannot trap sound, but too aggressive will cause harmonics on the highway.
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Yes I completely agree! When I changed out the suspension I redid the bushings and man that really helped!
Sent from my Mi MIX 2S using Tapatalk
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10-18-2020, 05:08 AM
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#10
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Join Date: Jan 2017
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
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Quote:
Originally Posted by spartacus
Tires.
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Yep most people don't realize the difference until they get a nice new set!
Sent from my Mi MIX 2S using Tapatalk
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10-18-2020, 11:10 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,198
Real Name: Devan
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Monroe, WA
Posts: 2,198
Real Name: Devan
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Spiker's hood struts are worth their weight in gold and are very easy to install if you have a pop-riveter, another idea
Honestly some of the best money ever spent, ****in hate that kickstand!
__________________
Y2K Highlander Millennium Silver 3.4L auto @ 320k and climbing
Toytecs + 5100s / 7.5 wrap + OME spacers + Tokicos / JBA UCAs / Anonymous Fab. LBJs / Total Chaos Gussets / EimKeith PCK + LCAR / Extended Bump Stops; Brake Lines; Rear Diff Breather / True North Fab. Hybrid Bumper / CBI Hybrid Bumper + Tire Carrier / 4xInnovations Hybrid Sliders / Opt Offroad Trailing Arms / Lil Skip Gas Skid / BudBuilt Front Skid / ARB Rear Locker
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10-18-2020, 11:55 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Hot Springs, AR
Posts: 4,410
Real Name: Patrick
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2019
Location: Hot Springs, AR
Posts: 4,410
Real Name: Patrick
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Spiker hood strut, spiker ultra gauge mount, accessory power hot at all times mod, Bluetooth head unit, and replacing all my wood grain out for black trim
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2000 SR5 V6 Manual 4WD https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...biography.html
2000 Limited V6 Auto E-Locker Sold 3/2022
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10-18-2020, 08:08 PM
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#13
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Member
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Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Southwest PA
Posts: 623
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Southwest PA
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I got a scratch and dent Bluetooth head unit from crutchfield for like $35, sound quality is so much better than the oem radio and an adaptor, I liked it so much it was one of the first mods I did to my Miata when I got it
Next would probably be a good alignment and tires especially for a lifted vehicle, after many miles driving on crappy alignments from shops that don’t care I found a shop that would let me come in and tell the guy what specs I wanted and only cost me $45 but the improvement in handling and drivability over the toe only firestone alignments is amazing
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10-18-2020, 10:07 PM
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#14
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Member
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 709
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Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Devbot
So far all trailing arms, panhard bar, and both swaybar bushings (and new links). So pretty much everything in the rear, and I'm soon going to replace UCAs and LCAs which will be damn near all of it. All of mine were totally shot with the exception of the swaybar bushings - I just replaced those trying to chase down a clunking sound which turned out to be just a loose sway link lol. Trailing arms were definitely the worst, with practically no visible rubber and made the rear sound like it was falling apart. None of these were hard to do, but the control arms are notorious for being a pain to swap bushings especially with age, and mine are well rusted anyways so why not get a new set and avoid the hassle?
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Oh man, I do wonder what these trucks would ride like with brand new bushings. Are you sure they weren't hard to do? The LCA seems like a b*tch to do after all these years. Definitely would need to get torched out, and possibly a hydraulic press. I hate suspension work in general.
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10-18-2020, 11:30 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
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Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: MS
Posts: 2,508
Real Name: Mark
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: MS
Posts: 2,508
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Sound deadening and insulating interior.
Less road noise, sound system sounds better, cooler in summer, warmer when it gets to 37*f like it did Friday night was at Expo slept in Runner.
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