Thank you for the original post with pictures.
We have a 1998 4Runner SR5.
We had three generations working on this project. My daughter and granddaughter manned the radio controls:
Two items to note:
1. Comparing lengths of old/new antennas. My old antenna broke in such a way that the metal components did not retract. To compare old and new antennas, we "zeroed" out the tips of the new and old units and stretched the masts to their full lengths. (My first instinct had been to compare exposed geared white cable. Because some of it was sucked up in the old metal antenna, clearly this was not valid.)
2. Direction of gear teeth. I took photos of the old antenna. They clearly show the teeth facing the windshield. When we tried to feed the new antenna into the motor, it would not take. Finally, after my husband and I both attempted to feed the antenna in, my daughter (at the radio controls) suggested trying it with the teeth facing away from the windshield. It worked like a charm!
The entire repair took about 15 minutes.
Photodocumentation of the repair is up on my flickr page:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/155936...57688651984920