Recent content by TheGrasshopper

OP, I was in a situation very similar to yours. My trans fluid was very dark (and low) with 300k miles on the truck. I am not the original owner, and I had no idea when or if the fluid had been changed. I did a drain and fill, and got about 4 qts out. This noticeably smoothed out my shifts. I...

I was reading MotorTrend the other day and came across a comparison between the 1996 4runner, Pathfinder, and Rodeo. Very cool to read about the 3rd gen when it was new. Guess which one won... Enjoy: https://www.motortrend.com/cars/toyota/4runner/1996/suv-road-test

I might use 5100s in the rear, and 4600s in the front. Because the 4600s are non-adjustable, they will put the ride height at stock '99 level in the front, giving you a 1" rake with the back higher than the front, which is great for towing. However, someone has probably posted which perch to set...

Those temps are not too concerning. I ran 205 - 207 while cruising before I changed the T-stat jiggle valve to 6 o'clock (even with fresh coolant). I now run about 190-194. Can't hurt to change it though.

Kyngfish, most of your oil loss could very well be the VCGs. I had bad VCG leaks in my '97 for a couple of years. I had a lot of oil accumulation on the skid plates like you are describing, and had a lot of smoke coming off the exhaust collector. After I replaced the VCGs (and the spark...

This is awesome for the 3rd gen owners who miss the 2nd gen tailgate...

Very nice 4Runner, and low mileage to boot! If you ever consider trying another tire brand, I highly recommend Toyo Open Country All Terrain II. They are quiet on the pavement, work well in the rain, and are aggressive enough for light off-roading. I have about 40,000 miles on mine, and my...

Awesome write up! I used this to do my front brakes today. Instead of bungee cords, I used this wire tie (~2' long) that I use on my 4wheeler to hold down tools and whatnot to hold the caliper out of the way. Good call on using the anti seize on the pins and the face of the hub.

I would try to find a used one on ebay or from a junkyard. This one says it comes with all of the attached sensors...