Average lifespan of various components

X

xStePheNyz

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Hey everyone....as my T4R is about to hit 120,000 miles i started thinking of what's down the road and wondering if folks with more miles could give some insight as to part failures and at about what miles to expect them.

I'm thinking things like starter, alternator, AC system, tie rods, front suspension parts (bearings, joints, etc). Also what about our shocks? Mine are still original and seem to be working just fine.

Any other parts or common problems etc with our 4runners as the mileage starts to add up?
 
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Well, you've been here long enough with enough posts to pretty much know what is up with our trucks....

Rear axle seals
Pink milkshake of death
Timing belt past due at 90K ( but most let it go much longer )
Shocks are past due. Change 'em out. You will be amazed at the difference!
Upgrade to at least the '99 tall coils.

I'm sure there are lots more, but this is all I could think of at the moment....
 
I've got 162k miles on my truck right now and here's my rundown of what has been replaced besides obvious things like brakes,battery,etc.

Axle seals went out at around 100k which is pretty common. (on my '97 98k,mom's 99 lasted til 102k)

I didn't change my timing belt and water pump til 138k miles and the WP was still working fine but of course replaced it anyway.
Starter lasted til 154k.

With tie rod ends that can vary depending on alot of factors with off roading being a biggie but at 120k your's a probably a bit worn along with your shocks and coils and steering rack and sway bar bushing probably need replacing.
also remember it's not always miles that wear out parts but time itself takes it's toll.

I've been pretty fortunate with my 4Runner as it's been a pretty solid performer since I bought it 6 years and 66,000 miles ago and the only unexpected thing to fail was a coil pack which ironically happened to my mom's 4Runner at about 95k along with a failed injector.

I will be doing a new radiator or maybe the external oil cooler to ward off the "pink milkshake" issue soon.
 
How (in?)frequently have people had the pink milkshake problem? I have 123k on my '97 runner now, and its age is starting to show in terms of surface rust on much of the undercarraige. So this particular problem is scary to me.
About how much is a new radiator and aftermarket transmition cooler?
 
i actually bought rear axle seals based on everyone else's problems with them but at 119 and change mine are still ok. i keep the spare seals in the storage compartment in the back for when mine eventually go. from what i've read on the board in the past those seals blow because the "breather" gets all clogged up. i use mine as a daily driver and not off road so i think this is more of an issue if you use the T4R off road, but i'm not 100% sure. When i had it in at 100K i had my mechanic check the breather and he said it was totally clean.
at 90K i did the timing belt and water pump. i also did the cam and crank seals, changed the brakes for the first time (originals lasted 90K), and all the hoses. at 100K i did the spark plugs and wires and the supercharger oil and changed all the belts. so i have tried to do the recommended services. i was mostly wondering at around what miles things like the starter, etc., usually go.
 
xStePheNyz said:
i actually bought rear axle seals based on everyone else's problems with them but at 119 and change mine are still ok. i keep the spare seals in the storage compartment in the back for when mine eventually go. from what i've read on the board in the past those seals blow because the "breather" gets all clogged up. i use mine as a daily driver and not off road so i think this is more of an issue if you use the T4R off road, but i'm not 100% sure. When i had it in at 100K i had my mechanic check the breather and he said it was totally clean.
at 90K i did the timing belt and water pump. i also did the cam and crank seals, changed the brakes for the first time (originals lasted 90K), and all the hoses. at 100K i did the spark plugs and wires and the supercharger oil and changed all the belts. so i have tried to do the recommended services. i was mostly wondering at around what miles things like the starter, etc., usually go.
Click to expand...

looks like you have most of the big stuff covered :trophy:

You can keep the original radiator if you want, and bypass the internal tranny cooler for about $80 for a good one.
Be sure to loop a section of hose from the inlet to the outlet of the factory tranny cooler just in case it does let go internally. You don't want to loose all your radiator fluid out the open tranny lines.
My '99 just had the tranny replaced because of the pink milkshake right before I bought it at 112K miles.

Things like starter, etc... tend to last a looooooong time. As to them quitting, it is a hit or miss thing as to miles. I wouldn't start replacing them randomly as a PM type thing. Just fix what breaks and drive it for ever! :frog:
 
topdown4runner said:
Well, you've been here long enough with enough posts to pretty much know what is up with our trucks....

Rear axle seals
Pink milkshake of death
Timing belt past due at 90K ( but most let it go much longer )
Shocks are past due. Change 'em out. You will be amazed at the difference!
Upgrade to at least the '99 tall coils.

I'm sure there are lots more, but this is all I could think of at the moment....
Click to expand...

Hey i have a few questions for ya. How did you know when the rear axle seals were going bad? And how do the upgraded springs make the vehicle drive? Stiffer? More bouncy?
 
RonMAIDEN said:
I've got 162k miles on my truck right now and here's my rundown of what has been replaced besides obvious things like brakes,battery,etc.

Axle seals went out at around 100k which is pretty common. (on my '97 98k,mom's 99 lasted til 102k)

I didn't change my timing belt and water pump til 138k miles and the WP was still working fine but of course replaced it anyway.
Starter lasted til 154k.

With tie rod ends that can vary depending on alot of factors with off roading being a biggie but at 120k your's a probably a bit worn along with your shocks and coils and steering rack and sway bar bushing probably need replacing.
also remember it's not always miles that wear out parts but time itself takes it's toll.

I've been pretty fortunate with my 4Runner as it's been a pretty solid performer since I bought it 6 years and 66,000 miles ago and the only unexpected thing to fail was a coil pack which ironically happened to my mom's 4Runner at about 95k along with a failed injector.

I will be doing a new radiator or maybe the external oil cooler to ward off the "pink milkshake" issue soon.
Click to expand...

Hey you mentioned a failed coil pack and injector . . . thats something I think im dealing with right now. Do you know how much that injector costs? And how difficult it is to do the work yourself? Thanks
 
topdown4runner said:
looks like you have most of the big stuff covered :trophy:

You can keep the original radiator if you want, and bypass the internal tranny cooler for about $80 for a good one.
Be sure to loop a section of hose from the inlet to the outlet of the factory tranny cooler just in case it does let go internally. You don't want to loose all your radiator fluid out the open tranny lines.
My '99 just had the tranny replaced because of the pink milkshake right before I bought it at 112K miles.

Things like starter, etc... tend to last a looooooong time. As to them quitting, it is a hit or miss thing as to miles. I wouldn't start replacing them randomly as a PM type thing. Just fix what breaks and drive it for ever! :frog:
Click to expand...

Isn't the pink milkshake problem caused by the own radiator corroding? Without getting a new own radiator, it seems silly to get the tr anny on a dedicated circuit. Also, do u need to somehow cap the barbs on the old tranny cooler part of the tad?

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk
 
1985taylor1925 said:
Hey i have a few questions for ya. How did you know when the rear axle seals were going bad? And how do the upgraded springs make the vehicle drive? Stiffer? More bouncy?
Click to expand...

that's the problem with the axle seals.
There is no warning. One day no leak. Next day a leak that progressively gets worse.
You will notice it when you have an oily residue on the inside edge of the tire ( facing the center of the truck ) Pull the tire & drum. You will see oil everywhere.
That is when you will know you have a bad axle seal.

As to the ride with the lift, yes it is stiffer ( I actually prefer it that way )
If I wanted a boat ride, I would drive a cadillac.
I do not think it is bouncy, just stiffer.


As to the radiator with the built in tranny cooler.
If you have not had a leak between the rad. & cooler yet, and you are still running the OEM radiator, you have a chance of failure, thus killing your automatic tranny.
When you put in an aftermarket cooler, and bypass the in-radiator one, it will not matter if there is an internal leak between systems. As long as you cap off the two nipples so you do not drain your radiator.
That is the cheapest route to go.
From what I have read, if you have an aftermarket radiator with the internal tranny cooler, it is not as much of an issue. The problem is with the OEM 4Runner radiator.
 
Like xStePheNyz mentioned, often the rear axle seals blow because the diff breather gets clogged and the diff builds up pressure with the heat so it blows a seal. Do the extended diff breather mod and you won't have to worry about it near as much. IMO the clogged breather is the most common reason why these seals go. More common than a damaged axle housing or rubber wearing out too fast anyway.
 
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