Hey guys,

Looking at a 08 4Runner 2WD with 80k miles later today and when I looked at Toyota service history, I found the following issues about leaking struts. The owner did mention the issues and I'm trying to find out estimated cost to fix the issue. Below is what I saw on Toyota service history details:

C/S DURING HIS LAST VISIT SOMETH INGWAS RECOMMENDED FOR HIS SUSPE NSION HE WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS W ITH SOMEONE WHAT NEEDS TO BE DON E. CHECK FRONT END PARTS FOR DAM AGE. ~|~ ~|~67401 ALL STRUTS ARE LEAKI NG REC TOREPLACE ALL STRUTS. CUS TOMER WAS ADVISED THATWE COULD C ONVERT STRUT SUSPENSION LAYOUTWH ICH WOULD SAVE MONEY WITHOUT AFF ECTING THEVEHICLES OVERALL RIDE. PRICE FOR THIS SWITCHOVER WOULD BE AROUND 1200.00


This was from over 1 year and 3k miles ago. Would not repairing this leaking strut issue possibly damage other parts?

Does it have xreas?

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Spend the extra and get a lift right off the bat!

Some aftermarket shocks are cheaper than new oem ones!

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Guys,

Thanks for the replies (Sorry I didn't know I had replies to my post until today).

The 4Runner looked clean overall except for a front bumper where paint is peeling off almost entire bumper area - will need to have it sanded and repainted. Also, headlight housings are fogged.

The body and everything was in pretty good condition cosmetically other than tear/rips on the side of driver side leather seat.

As far as the leaking struts go, I noticed some kind of wet area where the struts are in both sides. To me, it did not look too bad but I'm not a mechanic. Not sure if it has xreas or not (how can I tell??) How much should I expect to spend if the struts (what's shocks vs struts?) indeed need replaced? OEM or aftermarket options? I'd

When I test drove it, I noticed front end shaking/rattling at 70+ MPH - Could be tires out of balance or from the leaking struts?

Also noticed front end shaking while braking hard. I think it could be due to warped rotors (my Lexus IS350 did something very similar and replacing rotors fixed it completely).. But I read frozen caliper issue is very common in 4Runners so I'm not sure what's causing it.

It's a North Carolina truck with 4 previous owners!

08 Limited 71k miles, 2WD, silver with beige leather, No rust and no accidents. I guess tires have about 10~15k mile life left

Is $15k fair price with all the issues listed above? KBB private party value is right at $15k for "Good" condition

Thanks guys for your input!

Personally, I'd talk him down. I spent $15k 2 years ago for a 4wd V8 Limited w/ 75k and in better condition. A couple grand off, and I might bite.

According to KBB: http://auto.howstuffworks.com/buying...blue-book4.htm

Good condition means that the vehicle is free of any major defects. This vehicle has a clean Title History, the paint, body and interior have only minor (if any) blemishes, and there are no major mechanical problems. There should be little or no rust on this vehicle. The tires match and have substantial tread wear left. A "good" vehicle will need some reconditioning to be sold at retail. Most consumer owned vehicles fall into this category.

Fair condition means that the vehicle has some mechanical or cosmetic defects and needs servicing but is still in reasonable running condition. This vehicle has a clean Title History, the paint, body and/or interior need work performed by a professional. The tires may need to be replaced. There may be some repairable rust damage.

From what you described, you are looking at a fair (at least) vehicle. I would offer somewhere between poor-fair range. To me with 4 owners and the list of problems you listed I wonder if it's lemony.

Yeah, I was in the process of talking him down with repairs needed, but one of his neighbors offered him $14.8k (according to him) so needed him to offer little more.

I'm sure it's nearly impossible to find 4WD V8 Limited for $15k these days!

I was going to negotiate the price down to $13.5~$13.7 range but he got an offer close to $15k so I have to go little higher to get it.

By the way, I actually bought a 06 V8 Sport 4WD w/ 99k miles in fair to good condition two months ago but sold it because it had a lot of rust underbody and I didn't feel comfortable keeping it with rusted underbody and timing belt service had to be done, too. Sold it for about $2k above KBB private party value good condition to a someone who came from a dealer (posted on CL and sold it in about a week for $13.3k).

And yes, 4 previous owners are definitely not a good sign.. but the vehicle looked pretty clean in and out... Hard to make a decision..

It may be low mileage & newer, but 15k sounds high for what it needs. If the calipers are frozen you'll probably end up spending at least $200 + your time or over $300 for brakes, new tires will be $500-800+ (depending on what you want), new suspension another grand or more (depending on what you want), and it's a 2WD.

V6 or V8? If it's a V8 it will a need a timing belt in 20-30k miles (another grand if you don't do it yourself)

Price would be good if it needed nothing and was immaculate. The sellers playing you with the neighbor wants it spiel.

That's also a lot of owners for a low mileage vehicle. There are lots of 1 & 2 owner 4runners on the market in that price range, yes probably with higher mileage, but a 70k 4runner should be in better shape than what you're describing.

Have you done a vehicle history search/Carfax to determine if the mileage stated is the actual mileage?
I ask this because when I was shopping for a 4 Runner I found one with around 120,000 on the odometer and the price was well below book value so I was suspicious, but after doing my research on the Vin number I found a service history report on the vehicle from 14 months prior that showed the 4 Runner had 174,000 miles at that time, I also found out it was sold to an auction company 7 months prior and then the auction company sold to the person that owned it when I looked at it, so it is apparent that the auction company alter the mileage by 50,000 to 60,000 miles and then titled it as "Not Actual mileage" so they could sell it easier and for more money than a 180,000 mile vehicle, this is something that some unscrupulous auction companies do quite often because most people wouldn't think that even though the title says "Not Actual mileage" that the actual mileage would be 1/3 to 1/2 or more than what is shown on the odometer.

Now-a-days it is very easy to alter the mileage on newer vehicles via the onboard CPU just using a phone app, I did research on this subject after seeing this 4 Runner and it can be done in less than 5 minutes using the correct phone app and OBD dongle, it can also be done by any unscrupulous Tech/mechanic with the proper SST, for Toyotas A.K.A. Techstream!!