[gh25_]

When I went off roading 2 weeks ago I think a rock got kicked up and just my luck it happened to hit one of the balancing weights on my driveshaft and bent it up. I didn't realize this had happened untill I was doing a fun line where I got really flexed out and all the sudden I hear this awful grinding scrapping slapping noise coming from the rear end. At first I had though I just blew my diff or something. Then I just blew it off and I was like eh it was prolly just my tires slipping out on the dirt. I was flexed out and diffing out. After something didn't sit right with me so I decided to take a look underneath to make sure everything was okay. Sure enough I saw it and I was like are you serious right now out of all the things that could happen THIS happens... haha. Like what are the chances a rock gets kicked up and just happens to hit the drive shaft weight. Unlucky I guess. Unfortunately for me since when my 4runner gets flexed out on that side it was banging into my gas tank and sliced and mangled a nice part out of my gas tank skid. Just my luck haha. I was honestly pretty pissed. Such a dumb thing to happen. Before this even happened I was looking at getting a whole new driveshaft anyways because I learned about the design of a 2WD and how it's a 2 piece design and the rubber insulator between the 2 pieces wears out over time and causes vibrations. I guess this was just the last straw to go ahead and replace the thing. Thankfully toyota had their 20% memorial day sale and I picked up a brand new OEM toyota unit for the sweet price of 380 bucks. Nice! I also wanted to replace the U-joints eventually on my driveshaft so I guess this was 3 in 1 fix. Put the new driveshaft on today took all of like 20 minutes lol. Super easy. 4 bolts off, 4 bolts back on. Done! Still need to bang that skid plate back and maybe weld it. Now hopefully that doesn't happen again. lol

[gh25_]

Ever since I put the OME 906 coils in the rear with the rear kings as well I could notice a lot more body roll and nervousness feeling in corners, it felt really dippy and swayey in the corners lol almost like I was decelerating more than normal. This was obviously due to the lift and now the panhard bar isn't level anymore. I remember a while back when I was trying to look for a guy in Orange County who could weld up my Eimkeith PCK bracket when I got it. I read on a fourm on here someone who had asked if there was any good welders around in OC to do the same welding I needed - the PCK haha. Everyone that responded said to go to Joe V. at Outgear solutions. That fourm was older so by now Joe V. isn't at outgear anymore and now he runs is own little shop where he does literally everything haha, installs sic mods, maintenance, welding projects, rebuilds shocks, everything. Has a legit 2 post lift and everything. Such a sweet setup. I only needed the axle side bracket welded that lifts the pan hard 2 in up which was perfect since I have a 2in lift. He did it for 100 bucks took maybe an hour I think less actually. The whole experience was pretty sick though. He only works on toyotas. He is a super cool guy and let's you know what is going on while he is doing it and even talked toyota stuff after. Seems like he did a good job on the welding too. I am definitely happy with the job. Now my panhard is back to level and cornering is much better. Also before I noticed my ride was really bouncy coming from the rear, it is now noticeably less bouncy on the little bumps. Anyways. Any of you OC folks out there need a welding job done on your Teeyota hit up Knotical Adventures aka Joe V. on Instagram.

[TracyNorton]

Originally Posted by gh25_

Everyone that responded said to go to Joe V. at Outgear solutions. That fourum was older so by now Joe V. isn't at outgear anymore and now he runs is own little shop where he does literally everything haha, installs sic mods, maintenance, welding projects, rebuilds shocks, everything. Has a legit 2 post lift and everything. Such a sweet setup. I only needed the axle side bracket welded that lifts the pan hard 2 in up which was perfect since I have a 2in lift. He did it for 100 bucks took maybe an hour I think less actually. The whole experience was pretty sick though. He only works on toyotas. He is a super cool guy and let's you know what is going on while he is doing it and even talked toyota stuff after. Seems like he did a good job on the welding too. I am definitely happy with the job. Now my panhard is back to level and cornering is much better. Also before I noticed my ride was really bouncy coming from the rear, it is now noticeably less bouncy on the little bumps. Anyways. Any of you OC folks out there need a welding job done on your Teeyota hit up Knotical Adventures aka Joe V. on Instagram.

Joe is the best. He did the PHK, limit strap tabs, sliders...etc on my 98. AND he did my clutch swap...the guy is a talented and valuable resource.

[gh25_]

Originally Posted by TracyNorton

Joe is the best. He did the PHK, limit strap tabs, sliders...etc on my 98. AND he did my clutch swap...the guy is a talented and valuable resource.

Totally agree. Stoked with just my little pck install. I've seen his instagram and the other stuff he's done he is definitely legit. Great that he is so local too his shop is about 20 mins from me. If I need anything else I can't do I know where to go. He's a great do it all guy

[gh25_]

Hey y'all. For the few that read my fourm here haha. Been a while since my last post on here. Haven't been doing to much to my 4runner. Still doing a little maintence few items i haven't done but nothing crazy. Replaced my water temp sensor and also did the 2000+ air box / maf / wiring swap. Followed @habanero s post on yota tech. Works beautifully and a great solution to us 96-99 4runner people who have the old bullet style maf that costs an arm and a leg. Also get more airflow from the new style maf too. Bonus!

I also recently left my old job I was at for a new one. A great opportunity came up and I took it. Been real busy working now. Full time real job haha. Before I left my last job I had to buy some tires. What tires? Well some Falken AT4W's in 265/75r16 to be exact. I hadn't bought anything while I was working there but I thought my last 2 weeks there was a good idea to haha.

[gh25_]

New tires look absolutely awesome. Still a little sad to ditch the white letter generals but oh well. I like the blacked out look. Sidewall is more aggressive too

[gh25_]

If yall have read some posts before this you know I added the gntx-177 chevy mirror w/ temp and compass to my truck but unfortunately like 3 weeks after I installed it the LED screen started going out I couldn't see the read out anymore. Decided it was time for a new mirror. Wasn't to disappointed haha. That gntx-177 is a 20+ year old unit by now. Bought a gntx-455/461 from ebay. Out of a nissan apparently. LED screen is way brighter and the auto dim function works even more wonderfully than the old one. It's super sensitive now. Dims from even a hundred feet behind me. The arm is also stiffer and I like the shape more than the old chevy unit. Only issue is I can't figure out what the right temp sensor is. I had the chevy one still hooked up and it reads way to low. Reading 16 degrees F when it's like 80 outside haha. besides that this new mirror is way better. Also finally got the proper toyota style switch for my fog lights. I had ordered another one to match my top one from toyota but they are one national back order now for some reason. Still haven't got the one I ordered. Found a identical ones being sold on amazon. Happy now I have a real switch instead of the one the harness came with ziptied to my dash haha.

Here's a link to the switch if any of you guys want one too. They have a few different color options too. They will work in all 3rd gen 4runner blank switch holes

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EX54RB0...roduct_details

[gh25_]

Learned about this mod a while back. Finally decided to buy a set. Suckers are expensive. 15 bucks a pop. They are worth it though. Got tired of the old oem sprayers that didn't even do anything. one of the spray holes on each one stopped spraying too. These honda ones are amazing. They release a perfect fan of washer fluid for your wipers to clean. Anyone who hasn't yet I highly recommend. Fun and easy mod. I also like how they are adjustable. But once you set them no need to after. Just nice to be able to

[gh25_]

So after I got the fender flares on I've always wanted to get some aftermarket wheels with a more aggressive offset to match them. Was always on the fence though. I really liked my 2nd gen snowflake tacoma wheels on my 4runner they just matched so well and look good and were cheap I got all four for 150. i wanted new wheels but also didn't. New wheels would be at least 1k. Problem also was that it was very hard trying to find wheels that were the style I wanted in the size and offset. I want a 16in zero offset machined simple style wheel. Like a method 315. Except method discontinued the machined 315 in 16in zero offset. Absolutely love those wheels. Great mix of the old school bullet hole style wheels with a more modern twist. The raceline rynos were also a good choice but they had too much going on for me. Too many spokes. I also wanted perfect perfect fitment with my fender flares and it's kind of hard to tell over computer specs and whatnot. I wanted the tires to be perfectly flush with my fender flares. I don't like tire poke so offset really is my enemy here lol. Most brands have quite a bit of offset on their wheels. too much. Also finding out that almost all aftermarket wheels from the big name brands are all made in china. Not necessarily a bad thing but I am trading my already free japan made oem quality wheels for aftermarkets made in china. Little backwards there IMO. One night started looking into wheel spacers. Then found out I could get so many options I wanted. Then I decided on it. I am buying wheel spacers. Gonna keep the stocker wheels. Which I love, but the wheel spacers will fill out the fender flares. Perfect.

[gh25_]

Searched around for some good brands to get wheel spacers. Decided that a 1in wheel spacer would be the perfect size. Also didn't want to cheap out on wheel spacer since I know that's a no no. I value my safety and my rig way more than saving a few bucks. I'll buy the quality spacers. Borne off road by mishimoto is what I went with. They seemed like really good quality. Made in china but oh well. what can you do. I trust they are good stuff though. I tried to measure from the tire to fender to see if 1in would be perfect and I still was guessing since I couldn't really get a measurement but I am glad I sent it because 1 in ended up being absolutely perfect. Tires are perfectly flush with the flares. Stoked. Made sure to follow proper procedures when installing too. Spent like at least 5 mins per hub making sure to buff the hub really well. Blue loctite on the studs and torqued to 85 ft lbs. Drove around with them for a handful of days then pulled the wheels off and torque checked the spacer nuts. None of them moved a but. Good to know I did it right haha. Along with the looks I feel a noticeable better performance driving. The added track width is super nice. Cornering is much better and when I hit bumps the suspension in the front is less nervous feeling, less disrupted than before. Feels smoother lol Some bumps before that were jarring are now smooth. Not sure why but I will take it. Just hope my wheel bearings don't die too soon now haha. Haven't replaced any of them before. Anyways. As of now I don't think I will ever buy aftermarket wheels. They sure are cool but I am really happy with my current setup and no need to. Trying to think what's next for the 4runner haha. Well I have an oil change in like 800 miles. Also, I think i am saving up for a supercharger. We'll see when I get that lol. Will be a fun day. Love my 4runner but the lack of power is the only thing I don't like. I want to be able to keep up with traffic now days. She struggles up hills to. The extra hp and torque will be very wecloming. Well see though, that's quite the chunk of change...