4x4 on a dry road & bumper damage question

[hani1400]

Hi I have 2 Questions
I have a 2001 SR5 and was wondering if i can use my 4x4 on dry roads for a couple of miles every month to keep it lubed but i heard that its a no no on a dry road with certain years/models does that apply on a 2001??

I bought it a couple of months ago, the body is perfect except as you can see on the corner of the bumper i have a small dent, i feel it's not worth paying $100+ to replace that part for this small dent. at the same time it is realy pissing me of every time i look at it
Do you think a Body Filler (plus sanding and spray painting) will do the job? Or what's the cheapest method?

 

[KellyJ]

I'll sell you my brand new bumper that was just repainted a few months ago? Haha.

You can definitely run it in 4x4 every now and then, and its not a problem.

 

[hani1400]

So is it the older models that you cant run on dry surfaces?
What do you think about the body filler idea? Just to make it less noticable, not perfect.

 

[Mr. Dabadina]

I was always told that engaging 4hi is fine as long as its a straight road. You encounter problems on a dry road when you drive it in 4wheel and make turns.

Try calling up some junk yards to see if you can get lucky and find a bumper in the same color for cheap.

 

[JB.]

Hi I have 2 Questions
I have a 2001 SR5 and was wondering if i can use my 4x4 on dry roads for a couple of miles every month to keep it lubed but i heard that its a no no on a dry road with certain years/models does that apply on a 2001??

If that's a part-time system, and I'm pretty sure it is, you can do it but just avoid turning too much. (You can tell if it's part-time by putting it in 4wd and turning a little. If the steering gets unusually hard, it's part-time) A wide sweep around a mild curve wont' hurt (I'd do it on a slow, light traffic road) but any unusual resistance you feel in the steering is stress on your driveline from the wheels all trying to turn at different speeds but being unable to slip to relieve the bind. Easiest thing, though, is to just do it on a dirt road (or wet or snowy) and not worry about it.

 

[gzkrutoy]

Try this on the bymper

I had a similar looking dent on my plastic bumper on an Acura I used to own. See if you can get to it on the inside, I used a back end of a hockey stick, and push it out. SInce my did not have any paint damage, and yours appears the same, the result will be narely noticeable unevenness on the surface of the bumper, which is better than a large ugly dent. Try it, see if it works and let's see before and after pix.

Good Luck

 

[RonMAIDEN]

That dent is on the steel bumper and probably could barely be beaten out from the back. Your best bet is too replace the bumper but just be patient and alert and you might find one real cheap.

 

[Thai]

Hi I have 2 Questions
I have a 2001 SR5 and was wondering if i can use my 4x4 on dry roads for a couple of miles every month to keep it lubed but i heard that its a no no on a dry road with certain years/models does that apply on a 2001??

You should...as recommended in the owner's manual. Your '01 4wd system is a real good one...it is NOT part-time...it is called "Multi-Mode 4WD system." Therefore, you can run your 4runner in 4wd on dry surface as long as you do NOT lock your center differential. Thus, you can leave it in 4wd (center diff UNLOCK) forever and not worry about anything.

See this thread: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?threadid=12

This thread is more general info about your '01 4runner...similar to '02 4runner: http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?threadid=410

(BTW, the links in the above thread does not work anymore.)

Hope this helps.

 

[hani1400]

Thanx alot for all the replies
What do you guys think of the body filler? you think that stuff will hold in that dent or break off in automatic carwashes for example?

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Give me a day to chat with my friend who's a body man and see what he thinks about the bumper.

 

[4runny]

Body fillers are not meant to use to fill that big of a dent. It will be hard to shape it to match the bumper line. Plus, it looks like the top of the dent has a slope.

If you plan to use the filler, at least take the bumper off and pound the dent back then use the filler to touch it up and paint it.

If you plan to just fill the dent, depending where you live, it will crack and fall off.

 

[hani1400]

Body fillers are not meant to use to fill that big of a dent. It will be hard to shape it to match the bumper line. Plus, it looks like the top of the dent has a slope.

If you plan to use the filler, at least take the bumper off and pound the dent back then use the filler to touch it up and paint it.

If you plan to just fill the dent, depending where you live, it will crack and fall off.

That makes sense, i live in Chicago (extreme weather)

You guys are telling me to take the bumper off? Isn't there a foam behind the bumper? and are there any guides for taking the bumper off?
I know it's made of three parts so can i just take that middle damaged part off (and how) or do i have to take the whole damn thing off?

Sorry for all the body repair questions, i really appreciate all your help :biggrin2:

 

[maine runner]

That dent does not appear to be on a metal piece, rather the plastic facia.

I would leave it. Don't do filler. It will not last and be more work in the end.

I think you can get it to pop from the opposite side. It is a good DIY. Not hard, just need to take several parts off to get to the piece you want.

Get on your back and look under the bumper, up above the fogs on the inside. Is there room for a flat bar or a hockey stick?

You could also do the coat hanger trick. Drill a small hole, insert bent coat hanger, bend the end and then PULL. cut the hanger and push it through to the inside and remove. Patch the hole.

 

[hani1400]

That dent does not appear to be on a metal piece, rather the plastic facia.

I'm 90% sure its a metal part.
thanx for the idea i wonder if it wil work on metal (not with a coat hanger of course) i have a dremel handy

 

[4runny]

Before you try to take off the bumper, try to take off only the bottom turn signal and try to see if you can squeeze your hand under there and push it out.

 

[gapboi210]

Before you try to take off the bumper, try to take off only the bottom turn signal and try to see if you can squeeze your hand under there and push it out.

there is no way you are going to be able to push that dent out on the corner of the bumper with your hand. Very simple, body filler will look like shit and is the half assed way to do it. Either replace it, cover it with a sticker, or get used to it.

 

[hani1400]

there is no way you are going to be able to push that dent out on the corner of the bumper with your hand. Very simple, body filler will look like shit and is the half assed way to do it. Either replace it, cover it with a sticker, or get used to it.

lol i did think of a sticker but it will be in a weird place
how about drilling a tiny hole and screwing in and puling out?

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Use you hand and squeeze out the dent???:bash:

That is the actual real bumper made of steel,you could barely beat it out with a hammer. It isn't a plastic cover.

 

[hani1400]

That is the actual real bumper made of steel,you could barely beat it out with a hammer. It isn't a plastic cover.

dude thats what i exactly did right now and it didn't even move!
now that i know how hard this thing is ill forget about fixing it, even if it got pulled out it will be hard to shape