Alex’s Golden Pearl OEM+ 3rd Gen Build
- Thread starter Alex3rdT4R
- Start date
Alex3rdT4R
Member
Indeed I am, lol. The racing designation would not be good for the poor 3.4l!
Alex3rdT4R
Member
Thank you, I sure love tinkering with it! Cant wait for the new tires!
TejasRunner01
New member
Beautiful rig! I think if you could find some factory 5 star wheels, it would set it off perfectly. There is one of these Golden Pearl's driving around locally with factory 5 star's and it is a great combo!
Alex3rdT4R
Member
I'll have to look up how they look. I'm actually digging the current coke bottle wheels it has on now though!
Alex3rdT4R
Member
A little maintenance update:
I had the car up on a lift this weekend and was able to identify where my drivetrain hum was coming from. The rear diff pinion bearing, and then the front transfer case output shaft bearing.
Now I have to figure out the best plan of attack. What do you all think is the easiest method to repair these? Also, will I be able to drive the truck like this in the meantime without issue (is it only a noise issue)?
I had the car up on a lift this weekend and was able to identify where my drivetrain hum was coming from. The rear diff pinion bearing, and then the front transfer case output shaft bearing.
Now I have to figure out the best plan of attack. What do you all think is the easiest method to repair these? Also, will I be able to drive the truck like this in the meantime without issue (is it only a noise issue)?
Alex3rdT4R
Member
Anyone?
TCMach
New member
If the noise is just starting it should be fine to drive. The two pinion bearings will hold together based on the angles of the bearings as long as the pinion gear stays in place. The bearings can fail in extreme circumstances which obviously means no driving. Unfortunately you're going to have to pull the whole diff out and reset the pinion gear. Press out the old bearings and races, press new in, reset pinion depth etc. On the upside its a good time to regear! Here is a good writeup from ZUK showing the process of bearing diagnosis and replacement 2000 Tacoma Bearing Rebuild
Cheapest and fastest option may be to find a diff from a junkyard with the same gear ratio and swap it in.
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ToyotaBrah
Member
This color is intoxicating. I would literally wax it weekly to see the pearls flex. Very nice find.
By the way, I am planning to install a 4.10 locked rear end in August, at which point I will have no further use for my open 4.10 rear end. It has 250K and runs quiet as a church mouse. Fluid changes done by the book. Let me know if you're interested. Willing to make a fair deal.
By the way, I noticed you're missing the Weathertech decals. Give them a call and they will send you replacements!
By the way, I am planning to install a 4.10 locked rear end in August, at which point I will have no further use for my open 4.10 rear end. It has 250K and runs quiet as a church mouse. Fluid changes done by the book. Let me know if you're interested. Willing to make a fair deal.
By the way, I noticed you're missing the Weathertech decals. Give them a call and they will send you replacements!
Alex3rdT4R
Member
Thanks for the reply. I'll take a look at the thread you mentioned. Also, I agree about the cost effective method being swapping a new diff in. I think I am going to hold off until I can find a locking rear axle to throw on with the matching front diff.
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Alex3rdT4R
Member
Thanks! Yeah the color is really cool, its such a nice pearl, and they're not that common too! I'm planning on doing a full paint correction soon so I'll post up some before and after shots/
Unfortunately I bought the mats second hand and thats the way the passenger side came. Would weathertech still offer a replacement even if I am not the original owner of the mats?
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Alex3rdT4R
Member
I installed Bilstein 5100's, 99 tall coils, and 265/75/16 Duratracs today and the truck looks amazing now. Its the perfect amount of lift and I am thinking I'm about "done" in the mod book for a long time. I like the clean look of the truck now and want to keep it looking moderately stock.
Before the tires... lets get those Michelins off shall we
Having the Duratracs installed
Duratracs installed and looking amazing!
Installing the new suspension
BEFORE
AFTER!
New suspension installed, boy does that look good. Not bad for 250,000 miles, huh?
BUT, and theres always a but. I think I may have installed the springs on the front struts wrong. The truck is making noise over bumps in the front. Its not the sway bar links as those are tight and brand new. Here is a pic of the top of the strut, both sides look the same. Does the nut, and then that bushing look okay to you guys? Or is that orientation wrong? The Bilstein instructions weren't that great, and the front strut kit for the Bilsteins only included the new top nut and the spring retainer on the bottom of the strut. They were purchased from Rock Auto. Thanks guys.
Before the tires... lets get those Michelins off shall we
Having the Duratracs installed
Duratracs installed and looking amazing!
Installing the new suspension
BEFORE
AFTER!
New suspension installed, boy does that look good. Not bad for 250,000 miles, huh?
BUT, and theres always a but. I think I may have installed the springs on the front struts wrong. The truck is making noise over bumps in the front. Its not the sway bar links as those are tight and brand new. Here is a pic of the top of the strut, both sides look the same. Does the nut, and then that bushing look okay to you guys? Or is that orientation wrong? The Bilstein instructions weren't that great, and the front strut kit for the Bilsteins only included the new top nut and the spring retainer on the bottom of the strut. They were purchased from Rock Auto. Thanks guys.
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Smog-guy707
New member
Looks okay to me as long as you put the same thing on the bottom I believe. Isnt there another bushing and washer on the bottom of the plate? Just upside down? I thought so. I could be wrong.
I’d check the bolt at the bottom of the strut and make sure that it is tight.
Also did you reuse your bushings or did you get new ones? I thought the bilsteins didn’t come with them so you have to get them separate
The 4Runner looks amazing. That color is something else
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I’d check the bolt at the bottom of the strut and make sure that it is tight.
Also did you reuse your bushings or did you get new ones? I thought the bilsteins didn’t come with them so you have to get them separate
The 4Runner looks amazing. That color is something else
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Alex3rdT4R
Member
Yeah the color is the biggest reason I bought it, it really glows in the light. As far as the bushings, the Bilsteins didnt come with anything aside from the spring retainer and nut on top. I reused my old hardware, but I'm thinking I may have left the bottom bushings and washers off. I'm going back to the shop on Thursday to remove the front struts and reinstall again to see if that fixes it.
Alex3rdT4R
Member
Figured out the rattling over bumps. I forgot to put the bushings on the bottom of the top hats. I uninstalled the struts put the bushings in and now shes back to driving like new!
Probably going to tackle the idler pulley, new plugs and wires, and a new seat bottom for the drivers seat soon and then this little truck will be set for a long time!
Probably going to tackle the idler pulley, new plugs and wires, and a new seat bottom for the drivers seat soon and then this little truck will be set for a long time!
Alex3rdT4R
Member
Yeah I have a thing for unique colored cars. I have a Laguna Seca Blue BMW E46 M3 as a summer car and then this 4runner as a daily/winter warrior. They're both rare and really cool cars in their own ways. I first saw this color a couple of years ago, they're out there if you look but pretty uncommon, and they go quick once for sale!
UnderFire
New member
The color matched rear license plate trim is what made me figure it wasn't factory. I don't know of any other paint codes that were ever built that way. 96-01 had plain unpainted trim across all trim levels, then in 2002 they made it chrome.
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Alex3rdT4R
Member
Thanks dude! I love it too!
Update:
In terms of upcoming mods I think I am going to go OME for springs coupled with my current 5100's as the 99 tall's sag a bunch with the smallest load. Then going to get a supercharger hopefully :dancin:
