2004 4runner V8 limited maintenance

S

shahsmerdis

New member
Hi everyone,

New here, my dad has been a little busy to take proper care of our 4runner, and since ever since we had a sized caliber which caused brake fluid to be completely empty. I have come to take over giving it the tender love care it needs. I've done my research to my best ability, hopefully more experienced people than me shine some light for a better outcome or lower cost :)

list of repairs:

  1. Timing belt.
  2. Tune up
  3. Brake rotors
  4. noise when turning wheel all the way left or all the way right.

1. Timing belt and tune up

the car is at 93k miles and 11 years old and still no timing belt change. my search here on 4runner forums, talking with dealer, and mechanic have lead me to the list attached.

If you guys have any objections, or comments concerns, or anything i should add to this list, I would greatly appropriate it. I would love to change everything that the mechanic can see when he opens up the timing belt, that should be changed.

I pretty much went with Toyota parts, but unless you guys know that Toyota part A is relabeled company B. or that company B is better than toyota, I think oem is safe choice.

a little hard to find parts for V8 since most searches automatically bring up v6. so please correct if anything is wrong.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/maint...timing-belt-change-parts-list.html#post516557

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1sjKIjhMu9XN1Fn8rWEtK-zU7AuBk-SL_YINdtTrdlf8/edit?usp=sharing (Parts I am lead to believe that should be changed while it is opened)

Brakes

the brakes were pretty weak, my mom is the daily driver of this car, and she unfortunately doesn't notice things like I do. so we went a very long time before I noticed the brakes were week. one of the calibers sized on us, and all the brake fluid leaked. I noticed when my brake petal sank in. good thing i was driving that day and pulled over immediately. Or else my mom would have crashed it! anyway. new refurb was put in, new brake pads, and lines were bleed twice. parking brakes were adjusted. local mechanic took apart the brakes 3-4 times before we were both satisfiied with the results. 2 mechanics said the rest of the brakes are fine.

After putting in the new brake pads, we noticed the brakes were vibrating. The mechanic that replaced the brake pads, forgot to put in the anti vibration clip. he claimed they were never there, but I think one way or another you should know that they are missing....

now that the vibration clips are back in, unfortunately on the high way a notice slight vibration which has incline me to believe the rotors are slightly warped. I think the car was only driven with 10-20 miles before we noticed they were missing. Could this have caused rotor damage? I am not sure which brakes were put in as replacements, dad did it without consulting me...

Shall i resurface them or just go with new ones? They are original ones that came with the car.

Shall i do anything about the brake calibers seizing on me again? I am about to replace them all, but 2 mechanics swore to me they are okay, and i shouldn't waste money.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/maintenance-detailing/63934-my-4th-gen-front-brakes-walkthrough.html I found this

Noise while turning the wheel.
I feel a vibration or sound when I turn the wheel all the way right or left. I found a post here, that said I should grease this area. I will try that this weekend, but I figure put a place holder here.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-g...e-turning-left-right-2008-toyota-4runner.html

Long post but I Tried to do my research first guys :) What do you think of my thought process?

Thanks so much in advance

By the way, if there is a reference for NYC mechanics here, please let me know. Most of the reasons why this has been neglected is toyota dealerships here are crooks and competently messed up our 2002 4runner with some unethical stuff. So we don't know a good mechanic to do the repair. The one we thought was good, forgot the anti vibration clip, i think he lost his credibility. Though he is okay with us bringing our own parts and him installing it.

Thanks again.
 
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That's quite the list of things to do! You'll have a pretty full weekend ahead of you once parts arrive, but nothing should be too difficult. Just a few notes:

Timing Belt and Tuneup
Toyota parts are great quality, I can't recommend any other vendors more than OEM.

Consider adding differential and transmission fluid service to your list, the fluid in those is 11 years and 93k old too. You'll also need coolant, I forget of 2004 uses Toyota's special SLLC.

You have an ignition coil as the last line item of your spreadsheet; why? Those typically don't need replacement unless they're failing (we also have 8 of them, it's a coil on plug setup).

Brakes
I don't think running a few miles without the anti-vibe plates has damaged anything. A slight vibration can be warped rotors or seized calipers. Make sure (absolutely sure) that ALL of the pistons on ALL of the calipers slide smoothly in their bores; the lower pistons on the front calipers are usually the first to start sticking.

Turning the rotors will be cheaper than buying new ones, and it might fix your issue. I'd get them turned first if there's enough thickness, then replace them if the problem doesn't go away. Either way, make sure to properly bed in the pads to the new rotor surface.

Only way to prevent the calipers from seizing is to upgrade to the newer 5th gen calipers (I think you need to swap for the larger 13.3" rotors though) or regularly flush your brake fluid every year.

Noise when turning wheel
Does it only make noise when you're holding the wheel at the edge of it's travel, or when you're actively turning it to the left/right? If the former, that's pretty normal but a power steering flush could help quiet it down (and should probably be done at this age anyway). If the latter, definitely try a flush first but the pump might be on its way out.

Hope that helps!
 
Here is the kit I went with when I changed the timing belt - More Information for AISIN TKT021

Also, Blackworksinc did a good writeup on how to change the timing belt, tranny fluid swap and everything else you'll need -

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/130732-2uz-fe-r-r-t-belt-water-pump.html

I would suggest reading to the end of the thread to get the timing thing figured out though. I had to tear into the engine a 2nd time because I followed the writeup exactly and it turned out it was improperly timed.

As far as the clunk, I used to have a clunk over bumps and I changed the sway bar bushings and end links. That solved the problem.

More Information for MOOG K80820
More Information for MEVOTECH MK90677
More Information for MEVOTECH MK90683
 
Did you replace and/or turn the rotors when replacing the seized caliper? If not, I'd bet at least that rotor is warped and possible others too.
 
Thanks mrpurplepenguin and black4vcobra !



Noise when turning wheel


the first, this happens, at the when the wheel is turned all the way, at the end. not turning the wheel normally.

That makes perfect sense. Agree, power steering flush sounds like a great start. do you suggest a full flush by opening up the return hose? or swaping the fluid with a turkey baster a few times just to see if the problem goes away? Edit spoke with my dad, PS fluid has not been changed. I can do the turkey baster method on my own this weekend, while the other will have to require going to the shop.

Is there a recommend PS fluid choice here? Or just go a high rated one on amazon/walmart?

brakes
rotors were never turned. especially after seized caliber, it would make sense that would do some bad and as a start that wheel should be surfaced !
I don't mind doing a flush every year. not sure if its in the budget to upgrade the calibers to 5th gen I assume all the pistons were removed when the brake pads were changed. I sure hope they inspected to make sure they are not damaged and lubed up. I will have to confirm with dad to see if he ask them to do that. Ill Update post on this when I speak to my dad tonight !

belt/tuneup

Not sure why my dad threw the ignition coil in there. they are working, so I think 80*8$ we will save that for when they actually go bad! Thanks good catch.

Thank you for the list you used for your timing belt. Ill compare it with my notes, and post back tonight! :)
 
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FLUSH - the great thing about the real Toyota SLLC is the service interval is quite a bit more than a year !

There are quite a few discussions here concerning the timing belt going well past the 60 or 90K interval!

I would focus on those fluids !
 
rooost said:
FLUSH - the great thing about the real Toyota SLLC is the service interval is quite a bit more than a year !

There are quite a few discussions here concerning the timing belt going well past the 60 or 90K interval!

I would focus on those fluids !
Click to expand...

We are suppose to flush the coolant every year???

Isn't timing belt also a function of time?

Thanks
 
M1911 said:
No.



Yes. Time and mileage. I suggest that you follow the manufacturer recommendations. The V8 is an interference engine, so it will get damaged if the timing belt brakes.
Click to expand...

Yep! lack of a good mechanic and $ has brought my dad from giving it its tender loving care it needs, hence this post :)


spoke with dad last night, looks like all fluids in the car have replaced 1-2 years ago except power steering. that will be replaced shortly. i have to look at his recipes hopefully they used the correct fluids...
 
The recommended specs for that belt replacement are very conservative, quite a few guys here have gone well over 100k

That being said, most failures are a result of water pump leaks or failures...and not knowing what coolants or when they were changed might lessen the life of that WP.
Folks put some crazy stuff in for coolant....like scale filled corroding tap water !
 
mrpurplepenguin said:
That's quite the list of things to do! You'll have a pretty full weekend ahead of you once parts arrive, but nothing should be too difficult. Just a few notes:

Timing Belt and Tuneup
Toyota parts are great quality, I can't recommend any other vendors more than OEM.

Consider adding differential and transmission fluid service to your list, the fluid in those is 11 years and 93k old too. You'll also need coolant, I forget of 2004 uses Toyota's special SLLC.

You have an ignition coil as the last line item of your spreadsheet; why? Those typically don't need replacement unless they're failing (we also have 8 of them, it's a coil on plug setup).

Brakes
I don't think running a few miles without the anti-vibe plates has damaged anything. A slight vibration can be warped rotors or seized calipers. Make sure (absolutely sure) that ALL of the pistons on ALL of the calipers slide smoothly in their bores; the lower pistons on the front calipers are usually the first to start sticking.

Turning the rotors will be cheaper than buying new ones, and it might fix your issue. I'd get them turned first if there's enough thickness, then replace them if the problem doesn't go away. Either way, make sure to properly bed in the pads to the new rotor surface.

Only way to prevent the calipers from seizing is to upgrade to the newer 5th gen calipers (I think you need to swap for the larger 13.3" rotors though) or regularly flush your brake fluid every year.

Noise when turning wheel
Does it only make noise when you're holding the wheel at the edge of it's travel, or when you're actively turning it to the left/right? If the former, that's pretty normal but a power steering flush could help quiet it down (and should probably be done at this age anyway). If the latter, definitely try a flush first but the pump might be on its way out.

Hope that helps!
Click to expand...

found out the noise is coming from the rear wheels . when removing brake pedal and applying it slowly... Maybe the new brake pads, that are not oem are too hard for the rotors? I guess best way is to bring it back to the mechanic and ask him to fix it?

Checked this weekend, power steering fluid is nasty, I hear the pump working extra hard when the wheel is turned all the way to the left and right. but clunking sound seems not to be there anymore, strange!. time to replace power steering fluid. What do you guys suggest I replace it with? based on my research, I was thinking this.

http://www.amazon.com/Toyota-Genuine-00718-ATF00-Dexron-Transmission/dp/B004SL5FM0/

Is there any additive or flush, or anything I should replace while doing the flush?
 
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