Absalom's Cookie Cutter 4runner Builds - New and Updated!

[absalom]

Killer thread! This is exactly what every new owner needs/wants to see.

Glad to hear you found it useful

 

[JayRolla]

glad to hear you found it useful

its a ghost!

 

[absalom]

its a ghost!

Boo!

 

[Road Bull]

Boo!

I thought that you mentioned something about getting another 4runner. Do you have any prospects, or have you decided to go another route?

 

[absalom]

I thought that you mentioned something about getting another 4runner. Do you have any prospects, or have you decided to go another route?

I did get another one! Locker, limited, etc. We take her out wheeling about once a week. Shocking what they can do stock.

As far as my plans for her, that's still undecided. Initially my plans were to change her method of motivation, if you catch my drift. However, a muddy response from a certain Denver tech inspection station has got me looking at other options.

I just recently discovered the newly legal 1992.5 HDJ81's come with a ECT transmission, so I may import one of those for my DD and utilize the 3rd gen as family fun machine.

So many fun decisions...

 

[Road Bull]

I did get another one! Locker, limited, etc. We take her out wheeling about once a week. Shocking what they can do stock.

As far as my plans for her, that's still undecided. Initially my plans were to change her method of motivation, if you catch my drift. However, a muddy response from a certain Denver tech inspection station has got me looking at other options.

I just recently discovered the newly legal 1992.5 HDJ81's come with a ECT transmission, so I may import one of those for my DD and utilize the 3rd gen as family fun machine.

So many fun decisions...

Ahhh... So you've been holding out on us! Congrats!

 

[Jwallace98]

This is Great! Thank you from a NooB 4runner guy.

 

[the walrus]

Great thread. Thanks for taking the time to put it together, particularly for us noobs.

Now to decide which "recipe" to build! I'm thinking budget trail crawler for my purposes. :thumb3:

Justin

 

[nwebb01]

I've created the following "4runner Recipe Book" in response to an increasing number of PM's I have received many questions asking for advice and input on building up a 1996-2002 Toyota 4runner. The question usually goes something like this: "I have saggy OEM coils, with spacers front and back. My 33" tires rub like crazy. What should I begin replacing??". I've developed a series of easily replicable cookie cutter builds. We'll cover build ups for all walks of life, all driving styles, and more importantly, all wallet sizes! Without further adieu, let's jump right in!

Budget OEM Refresh

This build path would suit someone who just bought their first 4runner used. This person might be unsure of the truck's maintenance history. It tackles important, simple upkeep items, before delving into the suspension and tires. The user will end up with a very smooth running, reliable, semi-capable truck. Lighter trails, long road trips, daily errands -- all tackled with ease, just as Toyota designed. ​

• New OEM lower ball joints
  ---> If play is detected in tie rod ends, than new aftermarket tie rods should be installed.
• New radiator - not brand specific
• Complete fluid change and timing belt inspection
  • Brake fluid
    
  • Engine oil
    
  • Power steering fluid
    
  • Differential fluid
    
  • Coolant flush
• New OEM-style rubber steering bushings
• New aftermarket sway bar links front and rear
• New aftermarket sway bar bushings front and rear
• Used 99 Tall Coils front and rear
• New OEM Shocks/Struts
• New 265/70/16 highway terrain or all-terrain tires (Mounted with road-force balancing machine)

Daily Driver/Weekend Warrior - Pavement Bias

The DD/WW build is aimed at folks who spend the majority of their time on pavement, but frequently take their trucks off-roading on the weekends. Great for a family that enjoys camping, a traveling salesperson, or a hunter. Using premium OEM components where applicable, drivers can rest assured they're getting the best quality on road.​

• New OEM lower ball joints
• New OEM radiator
• New OEM inner and outer tie rods
• New OEM upper and lower control arm bushings
• Complete fluid change and timing belt inspection
  • Brake fluid
    
  • Engine oil
    
  • Power steering fluid
    
  • Differential fluid
    
  • Coolant flush
• Energy Suspension poly steering bushings
• New OEM sway bar links front and rear
• New OEM sway bar bushings front and rear
• New OEM 99 Tall Coils front and rear
• New OEM Shocks/Struts
• New 265/70/16 highway terrain or all-terrain tires (Mounted with road-force balancing machine)

Daily Driver/Weekend Warrior - Trail Bias

This variant of the DD/WW build is geared towards drivers who desire a slightly more aggressive look and the extra traction of off-road tires. Great for the guy who loves bombing fire roads, medium difficulty trails, or towing a small boat. Using premium OEM components where applicable, drivers can rest assured this build will outlast most any other on this list.​

• New OEM lower ball joints
• New OEM radiator
• New OEM inner and outer tie rods
• New OEM upper and lower control arm bushings
• Complete fluid change and timing belt replacement
  • Brake fluid
    
  • Engine oil
    
  • Power steering fluid
    
  • Differential fluid
    
  • Coolant flush
• Energy Suspension poly steering bushings
• New OEM sway bar links front and rear
• New OEM sway bar bushings front and rear
• New OEM 99 Tall Coils front and rear
• New OEM Shocks/Struts
• New 265/75/16 all-terrain or mud-terrain tires (Mounted with road-force balancing machine)
• 1/2" Body lift

Budget Trail Crawler

The 4runner is an astonishingly capable truck in stock form. Bolting on a well sorted, moderate lift only serves to enhance it's technical trail prowess. This build is a more affordable version of the bread and butter lift for the 3rd gen, as seen below. Repeated 1000's of times, it rarely disappoints and is guaranteed to get it's owner through all but the most technical trails. It's also a build with some trade-offs. The truck's center of gravity will be raised, it's acceleration reduced, it's braking power diminished, and it's on road comfort affected. Long distance driving tends to become more tedious and fuel stops more common. Take the truck off-road and it all starts to make sense. Rear articulation is nearly unlimited and obstacles seem less intimidating than before.​

• New OEM lower ball joints
  ---> If play is detected in tie rod ends, than new aftermarket tie rods should be installed.
• New radiator - not brand specific
• Complete fluid change and timing belt inspection
  • Brake fluid
    
  • Engine oil
    
  • Power steering fluid
    
  • Differential fluid
    
  • Coolant flush
• New Energy Suspension poly steering bushings
• New aftermarket sway bar links - front
• DIY Extended rear sway bar links - rear
• New aftermarket sway bar bushings front and rear
• Used 2002-2004 Toyota Tundra TRD front springs (paint color code - yellow yellow, yellow blue)
• New Bilstein 5100's for Toyota Tundra (set to 2nd perch)
• Used 1991-1996 Toyota Land Cruiser front springs
• New Monroe Sens-a-Trac 91-96 Land Cruiser rear shocks
• DIY Adjustable panhard bar
• New 285/75/16 mud-terrain or all-terrain tires
  • Avoid E load rating tires if possible
    
  • Always mount with Road Force balancing machine
    
  • Choose All-Terrains for snowy, icy, and sandy terrain
    
  • Choose Mud-Terrains for rocky, muddy, and loose snow terrain
• 1" Body lift

Bread and Butter Build

In this build, we open up the purse strings a little more to create the true 4runner Bread and Butter Build. Copied a million times over, this build will provide many years of reliable service. Sure, there are more civilized directions to take (we'll touch on those next) but few other builds provide the capability that this does for this price.​

• New OEM lower ball joints
• New OEM radiator
• New OEM inner and outer tie rods
• New OEM lower control arm bushings
• Complete fluid change and timing belt replacement
  • Brake fluid
    
  • Engine oil
    
  • Power steering fluid
    
  • Differential fluid
    
  • Coolant flush
• Energy Suspension poly steering bushings
• New Light Racing (SPC) upper control arms
• New MDT extended sway bar links front
• New OEM sway bar bushings front and rear
• DIY Extended rear sway bar links - rear
• New or Used 2002-2004 Toyota Tundra TRD front springs (paint color code - yellow yellow, yellow blue)
• New Bilstein 5100's for Toyota Tundra (set to 2nd perch)
• New Toytec Superflex rear springs
• New Toytec Bilsteins matched to above springs - rear
• Sonoran Steel or Toytec or DIY Adjustable panhard bar
• New 285/75/16 mud-terrain or all-terrain tires
• New 1-1.5" wheel spacers
• New 285/75/16 mud-terrain or all-terrain tires
  • Avoid E load rating tires if possible
    
  • Always mount with Road Force balancing machine
    
  • Choose All-Terrains for snowy, icy, and sandy terrain
    
  • Choose Mud-Terrains for rocky, muddy, and loose snow terrain
• 1" Body lift

The Ultimate

The name of this build is something of a misnomer. The build itself will not leave you with a class leading trophy truck, nor will it give Ferrari a run for it's money. I call it the ultimate because I believe it represents what these trucks should be. Simply put; completely capable in all categories - no more, no less. I set out to create a truck that would be equally at home bombing down a desert trail at 80 mph, as it would be escorting your teenage daughter to her first prom. A truck that creates lasting memories and takes us to places we never thought possible, with those closest to us. These trucks represent so much more than just four chunks of rubber and a heap of metal. Let's give them the respect they deserve and build them to their fullest potential.​

• New OEM lower ball joints
• New OEM radiator
• New OEM inner and outer tie rods
• New OEM lower control arm bushings
• Complete fluid change and timing belt replacement
  • Brake fluid
    
  • Engine oil
    
  • Power steering fluid
    
  • Differential fluid
    
  • Coolant flush
• New/used TRD Supercharger with supporting mods
• Energy Suspension poly steering bushings
• New Light Racing (SPC) upper control arms
• New MDT extended sway bar links front
• New OEM sway bar bushings front and rear
• DIY Extended rear sway bar links - rear
• New King or Icon or FOA or Fox 2.5" Shocks
• New King or Icon or FOA or Fox 2.5" Coilovers w/ springs
• New King or Icon or FOA or Fox bumpstops - front/rear
• New Toytec Superflex rear springs
• Sonoran Steel or Toytec or DIY Adjustable panhard bar
• Rebuilt 4.88 3rd member/clamshell from ECGS - front and rear
• New 285/75/16 mud-terrain or all-terrain tires
• New 1-1.5" wheel spacers
• New 285/75/16 mud-terrain or all-terrain tires
  • Avoid E load rating tires if possible
    
  • Always mount with Road Force balancing machine
    
  • Choose All-Terrains for snowy, icy, and sandy terrain
    
  • Choose Mud-Terrains for rocky, muddy, and loose snow terrain
• 1" Body lift

Thanks for this post. As a new owner and constant reader of T4R.org, I really appreciate this a ton!

 

[nc-grayson]

I did get another one! Locker, limited, etc. We take her out wheeling about once a week. Shocking what they can do stock.

As far as my plans for her, that's still undecided. Initially my plans were to change her method of motivation, if you catch my drift. However, a muddy response from a certain Denver tech inspection station has got me looking at other options.

I just recently discovered the newly legal 1992.5 HDJ81's come with a ECT transmission, so I may import one of those for my DD and utilize the 3rd gen as family fun machine.

So many fun decisions...

didnt you offload your first HDJ81 very shortly after throwing a ton of money into it for the specific reason that it wasn't a good DD for you

 

[absalom]

didnt you offload your first HDJ81 very shortly after throwing a ton of money into it for the specific reason that it wasn't a good DD for you

The key difference now being I've made a career change, and am no longer working in a position that requires clients to ride in my personal vehicle.

I'm also going back to school, so I'm not sure just how much my new schedule will allow for any sort of restoration.

 

[JayRolla]

The key difference now being I've made a career change, and am no longer working in a position that requires clients to ride in my personal vehicle.

I'm also going back to school, so I'm not sure just how much my new schedule will allow for any sort of restoration.

Biggest "D" tease we have. HAHA!

 

[stever1000]

Great thread!
Do upper ball joints not need to be replaced? I don't see them anywhere

 

[JayRolla]

Great thread!
Do upper ball joints not need to be replaced? I don't see them anywhere

Only if they are loose. They stay pretty tight for a long time until you lift and start to flex the front end out.

 

[stever1000]

Only if they are loose. They stay pretty tight for a long time until you lift and start to flex the front end out.

I have 181k miles and I'm not sure of the history... Does the same test of the LBJ work for the upper ball joint?

 

[sambishop]

Haven't gone through all the replies, but I just want to say that rarely do we use the road force feature on our tire machine and I don't know many shops that do. It's overkill. Actually, the only time we use it is to make sure the wheel isn't out of round.

 

[sportscarfan]

Nice work Ab! I'll add my build version...bought 7 years ago @170k, configured as listed for the past 5, now at 210k
Your lists are a nice reminder of what might need looking after..

TJ's SuperCheapSkate Occasional Driver/Weekend Warrior - Trail Bias


This variant of the DD/WW build is geared towards drivers who desire a slightly more aggressive look and the extra traction of off-road tires. Great for the guy who loves bombing fire roads, medium difficulty trails, or taking the kid to the bus stop. Using craigslist or homebuilt components where applicable, drivers can rest assured this build will outlast most any other on this list....because you might also have 5 other vehicles.

<s>New OEM lower ball joints</s> I've been meaning to have a look at these for a few years now...
<s>New OEM radiator</s> 5-speed FTW
<s>New OEM inner and outer tie rods</s>
<s>New OEM upper and lower control arm bushings</s>
Complete fluid change <s>and timing belt replacement</s> ...but I've had the parts and the special tool for a couple years now...for sure later this spring!
Spark Plugs
Brake fluid
Clutch fluid
Engine oil
Power steering fluid
Differential fluid
Redline Transmission Fluid
Fuel Filter
New/Extended diff breathers
<s>Coolant flush</s>
<s>Energy Suspension poly steering bushings</s>
<s>New OEM sway bar links front and rear</s>
<s>New OEM sway bar bushings front and rear</s>
<s>New</s> OEM 99 Tall Coils front and rear Craigslist $60
<s>New</s> OEM Shocks/Struts on the front still...rears replaced last fall with Gabriel 49387 Hijackers Air Shocks
New 285/75-16 E load Duratrac's, no complaints on the ride quality
1" Body lift I made myself after seeing the details on 4crawler
Stubbs HD-SKO sliders

 

[absalom]

Haven't gone through all the replies, but I just want to say that rarely do we use the road force feature on our tire machine and I don't know many shops that do. It's overkill. Actually, the only time we use it is to make sure the wheel isn't out of round.

From what I understand, as long as the machine has a Haweka adapter, they should be fine with Toyota wheels. Is that correct?

 

[sdwaltz]

Thank you OH so much for posting this. Good stuff. What's unfortunate is that I never had a chance to drive one of these when new (or even fairly new) so I don't know what it's SUPPOSED to drive like. My 200k rig probably needs all this done but it seems to drive fine despite it.

It's just nice to have a list like this!

 

[Colorado buff]

Thank you OH so much for posting this. Good stuff. What's unfortunate is that I never had a chance to drive one of these when new (or even fairly new) so I don't know what it's SUPPOSED to drive like. My 200k rig probably needs all this done but it seems to drive fine despite it.

It's just nice to have a list like this!

My 2000 drives better than the 98 that I bought new ever did with all these repairs that were recommended.