Hey crew.
I bought my 2008 V8 SR5 T4R new off the lot and have loved it since day one.
It has lived in several states since purchase- namely Nevada, California, Minnesota and back to California- and I take it to my favored local SoCal Toyota dealer service where they regularly tell me it’s one of the “cleanest” in SoCal.
Unfortunately, as much as I trust that shop it’s still a Toy dealership out to make a buck and I don’t feel their recommended services after “Multipoint Inspections” with oil changes or other maintenance are totally unbiased.
Who do I go to for an unbiased assessment of what suspension, engine or vehicle system I should invest maintenance $$$ in?
Stuff I’m worried about being at risk:
- The brake rotors have been resurfaced twice + pads replaced but the calipers and rotors are factory (75% of total vehicle miles are highway)
- The power steering system & fluid is all original. The color of PS fluid is now beyond honey-dark but I’m unsure if that’s significant
- The brake system & fluid is all original. I’ve topped this off throughout the years if the level ever dropped below the max threshold but that’s it besides the rotor work/pad replacement.
- I changed fluid in both diff cases + the transfer case last year. Complete success.
- I changed the spark plugs 8-10K miles ago (@ ~100K vehicle miles). Complete success.
- Timing belt + water pump + serpentine belt were changed at ~98K miles by said favored dealer service center, no issues since
- No coolant change or flush has been done beyond the coolant replacement necessary with the water pump replacement
- At maybe 60-70K miles another SoCal dealer I used to take it to recommended a transmission fluid flush and exchange, which I reluctantly agreed to
- Wheel bearings? I’ve had Spidertrax spacers installed since maybe 8-10K original miles (so a while), but regularly jack the front and rear up to wiggle the wheels and don’t feel any wobble/play and there’s no noise coming from any corner of the vehicle while in motion. I also regularly check torque specs on the lug nuts.
- I clean the AFE permanent engine and cabin air filters per recommended intervals
- Suspension components. replaced all four corners recently with Bilstein 5100 shocks and FJ Springs but my last oil change paperwork came back with these recommendations:
Honestly I want this thing to live forever, or at least as long as it’s within my power to keep it healthy and alive.
What system maintenance, minor or major service should I ensure I do to avoid longevity problems?
Thanks in advance.