4WD What is the purpose of this part underneath?

[T4RME]

Saw this last evening inspecting underneath the 4WD. Looks like a weight of some kind -

look under the magenta arrow. Not at the fill port but the black thing underneath...

 

[T4RME]

82 views so far and no one knows...? My guess is it is a jack point

 

[JB.]

Did you buy the 4runner new? I doubt it's a factory part.

 

[ecrew16]

Ya I definitely don't have anything like that under mine

 

[Will_4R]

Isn't that the 4wd actuater?

That isn't a pic of his truck I don't think. I think is it snowbizx's truck, from this thread.

I am pretty sure the component I am looking at is under my truck as well.

Edit: from looking at the sevice manual, I don't think it is the actuater. But I am curious to know what it is.

Edit again:

Is this what we are talking about (circled in yellow)?

 

[T4RME]

Yes exactly! I hijacked/recycled another photo from another thread...

Thank you for circling it for clarity. It is definitely on my 2008 4WD.

What the heck is that thing?

 

[JB.]

The thick plottens.

I'd still like to know whether T4RME bought the truck new or not.

 

[chip4]

That is just a ballast for the transfer case, my 07 SR5 4wd has the same thing.

 

[Caveva]

Haven't checked under my 4Runner yet but my 2002 Tacoma (V6) has the same part I ask about it years ago I believe I was told that it is a harmonic balancer.

 

[T4RME]

Ok ballast would suggest that it is a weight. And harmonic balancer makes more sense. But a harmonic balancer is active and spinning usually and this thing is a passive mounted weight or something.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Ok ballast would suggest that it is a weight. And harmonic balancer makes more sense. But a harmonic balancer is active and spinning usually and this thing is a passive mounted weight or something.

Yes, a passive vibration dampener. It's designed to 'absorb' resonance and cancel out a hum or whine.