So I had assumed that I should replace my body bushings because they're 24 years old, and that life in the hot and dry SW/SoCal had made them brittle, and my truck squeaks like crazy (I'm planning to replace loads of bushings in January). But when I crawled underneath and poked around, I have to say they look and feel quite good.
The tops are harder to see but maybe they're ok too? I don't have much experience to reference so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@sleepydad
, do you think it makes sense to just replace the top bushing and reuse the lower bushings and hardware? Or do you think I'm wasting my time and money replacing any of the body bushings, despite their age?
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1997 3.4L 4WD auto SR5, nearly 200k miles, pretty much all stock
Thank you! I'm going out now to try to figure out how much of the hardware I can reuse. I'm lucky that my truck has spent all its time in AZ and CA so hoping I can reuse most if not all of it.
One question about the bolt for the #2 mount: you linked 52217-35100. However, in your link it's -35110. And when I search by my VIN, it tells me it's -35050. Should I just assume it's the last one since that's what my VIN brings up, or is there a specific reason you believe it's -35100?
I'm using this vin from my old 1997
JT3HN86ROVO128999
it tells me the part 52217-35100 superseded the old part number
Substitutions Toyota 5221735050
I also ran both VIN's thru (Toyota Parts - Genuine OEM Toyota Parts and Accessories Online) to see what they said and they indicate 5221735050 does not fit and to use 52217-35100. so it just means they replaced the old part number. if you can find either you should be good.
So I had assumed that I should replace my body bushings because they're 24 years old, and that life in the hot and dry SW/SoCal had made them brittle, and my truck squeaks like crazy (I'm planning to replace loads of bushings in January). But when I crawled underneath and poked around, I have to say they look and feel quite good.
The tops are harder to see but maybe they're ok too? I don't have much experience to reference so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
@sleepydad
, do you think it makes sense to just replace the top bushing and reuse the lower bushings and hardware? Or do you think I'm wasting my time and money replacing any of the body bushings, despite their age?
I will re-use anything that is in good condition. it seems fine to me to just replace the top bushing. the top one takes all the abuse. if your truck is squeaky it might have compressed those top mounts enough so your body is moving around more than normal. a tiny bit of movement is totally normal.
one of my 4runners came from TX, Kansas. it had no rust but every piece of rubber bushing on the entire truck was hard as a rock. nothing was cracked or broken just baked hard.
I will re-use anything that is in good condition. it seems fine to me to just replace the top bushing. the top one takes all the abuse. if your truck is squeaky it might have compressed those top mounts enough so your body is moving around more than normal. a tiny bit of movement is totally normal.
one of my 4runners came from TX, Kansas. it had no rust but every piece of rubber bushing on the entire truck was hard as a rock. nothing was cracked or broken just baked hard.
I'm just going to replace the top bushings and reuse the lower ones and hardware. Priced out all new bushings and hardware using the lowest-cost options between Partsouq and McGeorge and it's $434 before taxes or shipping. Too much when it seems like the lower bushings and hardware are fine.
Thanks again for your help.
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1997 3.4L 4WD auto SR5, nearly 200k miles, pretty much all stock
I will re-use anything that is in good condition. it seems fine to me to just replace the top bushing. the top one takes all the abuse. if your truck is squeaky it might have compressed those top mounts enough so your body is moving around more than normal. a tiny bit of movement is totally normal.
one of my 4runners came from TX, Kansas. it had no rust but every piece of rubber bushing on the entire truck was hard as a rock. nothing was cracked or broken just baked hard.
Does this look correct for upper bushings/mounts? Going from front to back on the truck:
#1: 52201-35090
#2: 52203-35200
#3: 52213-35011 (replaces the discontinued -35010, I think)
#4: 52207-35040
#5: 52209-35010
For #3, TPD says that 4 are required. Is that wrong, and only 2 are needed?
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1997 3.4L 4WD auto SR5, nearly 200k miles, pretty much all stock
I replaced mine with poly and have zero complaints. If you are lifted or plan on lifting I’d consider doing a 1” body lift while you are already in there. It adds a considerable amount of clearance.
@sleepydad
has used both poly and OEM and below freezing OEM is better. Although I'm in SoCal I expect to see quite a bit of cold, so I think it's worth it to stick with OEM, which will only be slightly more costly than poly if I reuse hardware and lower bushings.
I'll only have 31.5" tires (265/75/16) so my understanding is that a body lift probably isn't necessary to accommodate them.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cblock406
I replaced mine with poly and have zero complaints. If you are lifted or plan on lifting I’d consider doing a 1” body lift while you are already in there. It adds a considerable amount of clearance.
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1997 3.4L 4WD auto SR5, nearly 200k miles, pretty much all stock
Slightly OT, but sorta not... would worn body bushings lead to a feeling like the ride is slightly disconnected from the road? By that, I mean I feel like I, as the driver, am sometimes traveling in a Slightly different direction than the vehicle is traveling. This is especially prominent when hitting a sharp corner, where the vehicle turns but I feel like what I'm feeling is slightly delayed. Absolutely EVERY other bushing on the vehicle has been replaced. I didn't realize there were upper/lower till this thread and the lower on my '99 look great, feel soft/pliable and I saw no reason to replace them. But the disconnected feeling (reminds me of being in a helicopter, for those who've had that experience) irks me and I'd love to address it.
yep that looks correct to me, not sure where your seeing 4 required? everything on the Qty Required shows 2 for me?
guessing your saying TPD toyota parts deal = TPD?
Yes, when I put my VIN in at Toyota Parts Deal, it shows 4 required for the discontinued part number for top bushing #3. Figured that was wrong, thanks for confirming... think I'm finally done asking questions now.
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1997 3.4L 4WD auto SR5, nearly 200k miles, pretty much all stock
if you look @ the same diagram for a 2000 you will see the updated parts. I don't know why they show the parts for a different VIN but restrict the parts to your VIN, they just do it that way. it's stupid and confusing.
Is that why PartSouq and Amayama aren't linking these part numbers for my '96?
Japan-Parts specifically shows these 2 bushings as "not applicable" for my VIN.
for $190 all the way around if your hardware is still in good shape is a good deal.
just be careful different years have different body/frame mounts
96 is unique
97,98 same
99-02 same
these trucks are old so... you will have to mix and match if your hell bent on OEM. with a combo of Partsouq, Amazon, toyota parts deal, McGeorge Toyota in VA and my local place I can usually find it. your lucky you live in a place where pick'n pull have non rusty parts. anything going to pick'n pull here in the salt belt is so rusted now it's almost always worthless.
Actually, there was also a change at end of MY 99 on the second pair of mounts. I swapped my MY99 frame for a MY01 frame so I consider myself an expert on this.
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'99 4Runner SR5 5spd 3.4L V6 4WD(U.S), original '99 Talls in front, OME 906s in back, Hella fogs, Trekmaster shocks in front, Billy in back, no running boards, FIAMM horns, Alpine sound, Michelin LTX M/S2's, owned since new.
'97 HiLux SW4 5spd 4WD(Japan model bought in Brazil assembled in Argentina, very close to a 3.0 4Runner/Surf)
'71 FordWillys Jeep CJ5 (with straight six Ford Maverick 3.0 liter engine--lives in the mountains north of Sao Paulo Brazil) My Backyard Frame Swap