I have a lot of little things to take care of on this thing. I swear I am cursed for getting rid of it. The valve cover is leaking, the engine runs a little rough upon first minute or so of starting up and there is a god awful rattle coming from my muffler. I think my muffler bearing may be loose, anyone have a spare? I should have never gotten rid of this runner, it seems like I have a lot of little things to take care of. I wouldn't think that the p/o abused the runner but maybe neglected it a bit. It's ok though... It's back in good hands and she will be healthy once again!
87 4 Runner Build
- Thread starter SV_Dude
- Start date
4Running Daily
New member
I have wondered the same thing.
I went in for an alignment today and was quickly told that they cannot touch it at this time. Just about every ball joint in the steering system had a TON of play in it. I don't know how I didn't feel any of that play in the steering wheel. The alignment didn't even feel that bad either. Either way, tomorrow I will be replacing both inner and outer tre's, pitman arm, idler arm, and I also have a seal kit on order for the steering gear box since that has a bit of a leak as well.
Busy maintenance weekend for me but it's good to be working on my original rig again!
Busy maintenance weekend for me but it's good to be working on my original rig again!
I spent today taking the steering arms apart, cleaning stuff up, putting the new steering arms together, cleaning and painting the main arm.
Pile of old yucky parts:
New pretty parts:
Painted arm:
I also grinded down the front bump stops. They were digging into the shocks for a while now when the suspension would cycle. I didn't notice it until after I put the lift on a few years ago. I just kept putting it off and figured that one day when I grind them off I'll replace the shocks at the same time.
Damage to the shock bodies:
And now the front of the runner as it sits. I did soak the whole thing in some degreaser and cleaned it up with a pressure washer after I took the pics.
Tomorrow I'll get the front end put back together minus the pitman arm. I have a seal kit coming in for the steering box since it's been leaking for a while too. I get to take that whole mess apart and replace all the seals in it.
Pile of old yucky parts:
New pretty parts:
Painted arm:
I also grinded down the front bump stops. They were digging into the shocks for a while now when the suspension would cycle. I didn't notice it until after I put the lift on a few years ago. I just kept putting it off and figured that one day when I grind them off I'll replace the shocks at the same time.
Damage to the shock bodies:
And now the front of the runner as it sits. I did soak the whole thing in some degreaser and cleaned it up with a pressure washer after I took the pics.
Tomorrow I'll get the front end put back together minus the pitman arm. I have a seal kit coming in for the steering box since it's been leaking for a while too. I get to take that whole mess apart and replace all the seals in it.
I got a little more done today. I took off the steering gear box, got it broken apart and cleaned. Right now it's hanging up with some high temp primer on it and waiting for a black top coat. It has had a leak for a while and it's about time I replace all the seals in it.
Parts, parts, parts... This is all the internals minus the 44 ball bearings. Those are safely tucked away in a bag.
And the housing parts in the process of becoming pretty:
For anyone wanting to do this I would recommend going through this write up:
SWDR4x4.com ? View topic - 1986 Toyota Steering Box Rebuild (Lots of Pics)
It's a very detailed write up on how to do it since even the FSM isn't very detailed on the ball bearing process or the multiple seals within the steering box.
I also picked up a new steering stabilizer since my old one was shot. New shocks are coming in and should be here in a day or two as well. I'm hoping to have the front end all done and buttoned up and ready for an alignment on Saturday.
Parts, parts, parts... This is all the internals minus the 44 ball bearings. Those are safely tucked away in a bag.
And the housing parts in the process of becoming pretty:
For anyone wanting to do this I would recommend going through this write up:
SWDR4x4.com ? View topic - 1986 Toyota Steering Box Rebuild (Lots of Pics)
It's a very detailed write up on how to do it since even the FSM isn't very detailed on the ball bearing process or the multiple seals within the steering box.
I also picked up a new steering stabilizer since my old one was shot. New shocks are coming in and should be here in a day or two as well. I'm hoping to have the front end all done and buttoned up and ready for an alignment on Saturday.
slowpoke99
New member
thanks for the link to that steering box write up! i've been meaning to do mine for a while. not a bad leak but enough to bug the hell out of me every time i look under my front end.
:cheers:
:cheers:
Here's another good link that is on the toyota bible from pirate:
http://web.archive.org/web/20050322011020/http://128.83.80.200/taco/box.html
slowpoke99
New member
good info! thanks again.
Yea, I read a few threads where guys were cursing at those bearings. I thought about not taking that section apart for a few minutes but figured I might as well. I may have to say a few magic words to get it right but it needs to be done.
EFF THAT MOTHER EFFIN STEERING BOX!!!!!
The teflon seals inside of the o-rings, the teflon seal on the outside of the piston, the 44 ball bearings in the piston, etc... it's a B!TCH!!!!
At least now I got all the hard stuff done and it's time to take a break to make a nice steak dinner!
Oh, and if I didn't say it yet... EFF THAT MOTHER EFFIN STEERING BOX!!!
The teflon seals inside of the o-rings, the teflon seal on the outside of the piston, the 44 ball bearings in the piston, etc... it's a B!TCH!!!!
At least now I got all the hard stuff done and it's time to take a break to make a nice steak dinner!
Oh, and if I didn't say it yet... EFF THAT MOTHER EFFIN STEERING BOX!!!
KidVermicious
New member
Don't hold back so much. Tell us how you really feel.
I don't know why Toyota designed it the way they did. It's NOT mechanic friendly! It seemed like every step of the way the steering box was fighting me. You ever notice that screw that's on top of the box? People say it's to adjust the play in the steering box... well... it's not. I cannot see any mechanical purpose for it unless it's to adjust the preload on the vertical shaft. Oh well, the steering box is in, bolted up and painted pretty.
I am really hoping that I didn't pinch any o-rings when reassembling the box. If it leaks again I'm taking it back out and going to turn it into a steel target at the range!
Now to install the rest of the steering goodies.
Got everything buttoned back up. So within the last week it has had the following replaced:
Both inner and outer tie rod ends
Connecting links
Idler Arm
Pitman Arm
Steering Stabilizer
Both front shocks
Steering gear box seals replaced
Also cut out the bump stops on the front of the control arms. The rears are still there but with the front lift I have never hit them and tires don't really rub much at full stuff with full turn. I haven't really seen the need for adding front bump stops.
I took it for a quick drive after bleeding the steering system and so far there are no leaks from the gear box. It does however need an alignment pretty bad but that will be taken care of Saturday morning.
Both inner and outer tie rod ends
Connecting links
Idler Arm
Pitman Arm
Steering Stabilizer
Both front shocks
Steering gear box seals replaced
Also cut out the bump stops on the front of the control arms. The rears are still there but with the front lift I have never hit them and tires don't really rub much at full stuff with full turn. I haven't really seen the need for adding front bump stops.
I took it for a quick drive after bleeding the steering system and so far there are no leaks from the gear box. It does however need an alignment pretty bad but that will be taken care of Saturday morning.
Interesting story today... I replace all of my steering links, get an alignment and have a total of about 10-15 miles on the new links. I went for a drive with [MENTION=75090]Footofgod[/MENTION] in creek bed near my neighborhood. I made a right hand turn at about 2-3mph and realize that I have lost my steering. My front right wheel was pointing right and my front left wheel was pointing left.
Here's why:
The brand new tie rod end snapped. All the steering linkage parts were made by Driveworks. Footofgod immediately said that they are garbage parts. Yes, they were the cheaper parts that the parts store had and I wasn't expecting super high end parts. I was however expecting the 1/2" steel to hold up better than that. I'm glad this happened during a SLOW turn instead of at 40-50mph driving down the road.
After a trip to the parts store the guy there said that he will recommend to the GM that they replace ALL driveworks parts with the higher end moog parts 1 for 1 swap and talk to the district office and comp me for another alignment. Hopefully this is how it works out but we'll see. Needless to say I'm pretty frustrated with driveworks and either way I am pulling off ALL driveworks parts off of my 4runner and getting rid of them.
Anyone else who buys their parts I would think twice. I would understand if after a while the joints fail but I wouldn't have expected the 1/2" steel rod to shear like that.
On the positive side, it was good to drive my runner again and do a little off-roading. The front locker did very well pulling me up a rock ledge in the sand and now makes me want to lock the rear end that much more!
Here's why:
The brand new tie rod end snapped. All the steering linkage parts were made by Driveworks. Footofgod immediately said that they are garbage parts. Yes, they were the cheaper parts that the parts store had and I wasn't expecting super high end parts. I was however expecting the 1/2" steel to hold up better than that. I'm glad this happened during a SLOW turn instead of at 40-50mph driving down the road.
After a trip to the parts store the guy there said that he will recommend to the GM that they replace ALL driveworks parts with the higher end moog parts 1 for 1 swap and talk to the district office and comp me for another alignment. Hopefully this is how it works out but we'll see. Needless to say I'm pretty frustrated with driveworks and either way I am pulling off ALL driveworks parts off of my 4runner and getting rid of them.
Anyone else who buys their parts I would think twice. I would understand if after a while the joints fail but I wouldn't have expected the 1/2" steel rod to shear like that.
On the positive side, it was good to drive my runner again and do a little off-roading. The front locker did very well pulling me up a rock ledge in the sand and now makes me want to lock the rear end that much more!
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We didn't really do a whole lot of off-roading. There's only so much that we can do in a creek bed. There were some cool little rock areas that we played on. The first time I went on one I slipped the driver side wheel off of a rock and it almost felt like I was going to tip the runner over. It wasn't anything crazy but still a little fun for a quick run to the creek bed.
Of course, pics:
And some guy ( [MENTION=75090]Footofgod[/MENTION] ) got stuck. Good thing there was a really sweet 4runner to pull him out.
Of course, pics:
And some guy ( [MENTION=75090]Footofgod[/MENTION] ) got stuck. Good thing there was a really sweet 4runner to pull him out.
