Dirtco's 1999 4Runner Build
- Thread starter Dirtco
- Start date
Dirtco
New member
Thanks Chris! Yes I'll be there, how about you?
As for the trailer, I dropped the price down to $7,500! And don't worry about the tires, I could have it on 255/85R16's for the same price!
Check it out... https://rockies.craigslist.org/rvs/5720053106.html
JWaldz
Moderator
Damn man, sounds like no matter how well you build these rear axles, they're better off at a junkyard lol. You beat me to finishing my axle, though. I still have to order all the outer components for both sides. Buying, remodeling, and furnishing a new house kind of set me back lol. I'm hoping to have it finished up end of next month.
I ended up buying those same Toytec links from a buddy of mine who totaled his 3rd gen, so got a good deal on them. Otherwise I would have went with FROR's link set.
Did you push the axle back at all or change where it sits or try to keep it in its stock position as much as possible?
I ended up buying those same Toytec links from a buddy of mine who totaled his 3rd gen, so got a good deal on them. Otherwise I would have went with FROR's link set.
Did you push the axle back at all or change where it sits or try to keep it in its stock position as much as possible?
Sean K.
New member
Hi Dirtco....
Really love the build up thread. You've done an outstanding job on your 3rd Gen.
I'm about to seriously get started on mine and I am wondering your opinion on trussing a rear Toyota axle considering what you found when you did yours.
Now, I've trussed 14B, D60, D70 rear axles with no issues....but the thin sheetmetal of my '04 Tundra rear axle has me a little concerned about warpage even if welding in short sections, alternating from side to side and letting it cool before continuing.
What I'm considering trying is buying some 3/8" plate roughly 12"x12" and drilling each plate (one for the driver, one for passenger side) for the axle flange bolt pattern in the center of the plates. Then I'd bolt the two plates to the housing (to avoid complicating the description, I'm leaving out the fact that there's a step that will have to be dealt with allow the housing ends to mate up flat to the plates).
Essentially, it would kinda look like a "Tie Fighter" from Star Wars at this point.
Next, I'd check the distances on the top, bottom, front and rear of the plates from side to side and cut the appropriate length tubing (likely 1.5x.120" wall) and weld 3 pieces of that tubing in between the plates so that when I weld on the top and rear truss, it hopefully will hold shape.
I currently have the third member removed, so if looking at the driver side plate from the axle side, the first tube would weld in at 3 o'clock and run to 9 o'clock on the inside of the passenger side plate.
In order to get full access to the rear of the housing to weld on that truss, I'd probably put the two other tubes at the upper and lower corner of the plates on each side. Or, alternately, if 3 tubes isn't enough, then I could do four by just welding one in between each of the 4 corners of the end plates.
Obviously, after the trusses are done, I'd just cut the tubing out and unbolt the 12x12" plates.
Do you think this would keep the housing from warping....provided I still use the same technique of alternating sides when welding and avoiding getting the whole assembly too hot?
I also thought about trying to place a straight piece of heavy wall or solid bar stock inside the housing and having it bolt to the housing ends....but I think there's still a lot of room for distortion doing it that way...unless you precision machined the ends to fit very snugly within the housing.
***EDIT****Hmmm....after reading a bit, I'm seeing a lot of folks saying to preload the housing the opposite way from which you'll be welding it. http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/Ford_9-inch_rear_ends
Really love the build up thread. You've done an outstanding job on your 3rd Gen.
I'm about to seriously get started on mine and I am wondering your opinion on trussing a rear Toyota axle considering what you found when you did yours.
Now, I've trussed 14B, D60, D70 rear axles with no issues....but the thin sheetmetal of my '04 Tundra rear axle has me a little concerned about warpage even if welding in short sections, alternating from side to side and letting it cool before continuing.
What I'm considering trying is buying some 3/8" plate roughly 12"x12" and drilling each plate (one for the driver, one for passenger side) for the axle flange bolt pattern in the center of the plates. Then I'd bolt the two plates to the housing (to avoid complicating the description, I'm leaving out the fact that there's a step that will have to be dealt with allow the housing ends to mate up flat to the plates).
Essentially, it would kinda look like a "Tie Fighter" from Star Wars at this point.
Next, I'd check the distances on the top, bottom, front and rear of the plates from side to side and cut the appropriate length tubing (likely 1.5x.120" wall) and weld 3 pieces of that tubing in between the plates so that when I weld on the top and rear truss, it hopefully will hold shape.
I currently have the third member removed, so if looking at the driver side plate from the axle side, the first tube would weld in at 3 o'clock and run to 9 o'clock on the inside of the passenger side plate.
In order to get full access to the rear of the housing to weld on that truss, I'd probably put the two other tubes at the upper and lower corner of the plates on each side. Or, alternately, if 3 tubes isn't enough, then I could do four by just welding one in between each of the 4 corners of the end plates.
Obviously, after the trusses are done, I'd just cut the tubing out and unbolt the 12x12" plates.
Do you think this would keep the housing from warping....provided I still use the same technique of alternating sides when welding and avoiding getting the whole assembly too hot?
I also thought about trying to place a straight piece of heavy wall or solid bar stock inside the housing and having it bolt to the housing ends....but I think there's still a lot of room for distortion doing it that way...unless you precision machined the ends to fit very snugly within the housing.
***EDIT****Hmmm....after reading a bit, I'm seeing a lot of folks saying to preload the housing the opposite way from which you'll be welding it. http://www.crankshaftcoalition.com/wiki/Ford_9-inch_rear_ends
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fightman80
New member
Nice updates man! Still love this rig!
Volcom
New member
You had other options :snacker::50cal::hat::biggrin2::wow2::rockon:
I'll keep your secret safe, hopefully [MENTION=121121]Mr.Rick[/MENTION] and [MENTION=94888]EatonKyleH[/MENTION] can keep it too! LMAO!!!!!
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Dirtco
New member
Thank you, it seems that you have really thought the process out! I guess it depends if you plan on driving it on the street, but I wouldn't truss another one without an axle bar and pucks, along with a jig to pre load the housing.
Dirtco
New member
Pretty much, l'm looking forward to the progress on your axle.
I actually moved the lower links forward a little bit to get the tires to stuff a little better, and help with the pinion angle. It might take a little fine tuning though.
Dirtco
New member
Sean K.
New member
Thanks for the input. I'm planning to be able to drive on the street.....bought some of the steel for the jig Friday.
Dirtco
New member
It's been an interesting couple weeks...
The weekend before the Colorado Toyota Jamboree I went through the process of getting the trailer hooked up and ready to go for the trip. The event started Thursday the 11th, and I had to work up to then. There had been no interest in selling it and I was really looking forward to using it. Monday I get a call from a guy who wants to look at it that night, long story short it sold, and I had two days to start from scratch.
The plan was to run Holy Cross Thursday morning, it's one of my favorite trails, but we also have a love / hate relationship. It was a little risky running it on the first day, but I thought I had the lines figured out after my last time up there.
Here's the video from October: https://youtu.be/TPg4h9IbTMM
I was running late Thursday morning (since I was still trying to piece together some camping gear), so I told the group to go ahead without me and I would catch up. I met up with a couple Jeeps at the first obstacle and my group was just in front of them. At the second obstacle I was able to get out and walk up to my group. I watched a few rigs that were at the tail end go up, and then I proceeded being last in line. I wanted to take my normal line, but it wasn't going to be easy since it was wet form all the other rigs going up. My first try I slid off the side and got pretty tippy, and I decided to give it one more try. I got the front end all the way up but the rear didn't want to follow, I gave it a little bump and the rear shifted over. I backed down and Aaron noticed I was leaking something, we looked under the 4Runner and saw that one of the steering rack lines had broke. We were all confused as to how it broke, but that didn't matter at the time. I cut the belt to the p/s steering pump and proceeded to limp it home (not fun with 36's!
).
A couple pictures before it broke
Backing off
The weekend before the Colorado Toyota Jamboree I went through the process of getting the trailer hooked up and ready to go for the trip. The event started Thursday the 11th, and I had to work up to then. There had been no interest in selling it and I was really looking forward to using it. Monday I get a call from a guy who wants to look at it that night, long story short it sold, and I had two days to start from scratch.
The plan was to run Holy Cross Thursday morning, it's one of my favorite trails, but we also have a love / hate relationship. It was a little risky running it on the first day, but I thought I had the lines figured out after my last time up there.
Here's the video from October: https://youtu.be/TPg4h9IbTMM
I was running late Thursday morning (since I was still trying to piece together some camping gear), so I told the group to go ahead without me and I would catch up. I met up with a couple Jeeps at the first obstacle and my group was just in front of them. At the second obstacle I was able to get out and walk up to my group. I watched a few rigs that were at the tail end go up, and then I proceeded being last in line. I wanted to take my normal line, but it wasn't going to be easy since it was wet form all the other rigs going up. My first try I slid off the side and got pretty tippy, and I decided to give it one more try. I got the front end all the way up but the rear didn't want to follow, I gave it a little bump and the rear shifted over. I backed down and Aaron noticed I was leaking something, we looked under the 4Runner and saw that one of the steering rack lines had broke. We were all confused as to how it broke, but that didn't matter at the time. I cut the belt to the p/s steering pump and proceeded to limp it home (not fun with 36's!
).A couple pictures before it broke
Backing off
Dirtco
New member
Now here is where things go from bad to worse...
I crawl under the 4Runner to replace the line and I find that the whole steering rack is broken in half! That's what broke the line, if you look close at the bushing you can see how far the broken piece would move. The only thing keeping it together are the two line fittings.
I crawl under the 4Runner to replace the line and I find that the whole steering rack is broken in half! That's what broke the line, if you look close at the bushing you can see how far the broken piece would move. The only thing keeping it together are the two line fittings.
Dirtco
New member
It's a Safari LTD steering rack, so it should be under warranty. I didn't have time to deal with it, so I loaded up my camping gear in the Tacoma and headed down to the Jamboree for the weekend. I still had a great time hanging out with everyone, and I even ran a couple easy trails in the Tacoma with [MENTION=63986]Volcom[/MENTION].
Dirtco
New member
After returning home and getting unpacked I attempted to contact Safari LTD, I pulled up their website and looked up the warranty details, 2 years unlimited mileage. Sweet, it should be covered, so I try to call them and I find out they went out of business!
So that leaves me with two options; a genuine Toyota rack, or a cheap parts store rack. Luckily I had the money from selling the trailer, otherwise the 4Runner would be setting for a while. So I went ahead and ordered a rack from Toyota at an obscured price; I don't see a parts store rack holding up, and I'm sick of replacing the same parts all the time.
So that leaves me with two options; a genuine Toyota rack, or a cheap parts store rack. Luckily I had the money from selling the trailer, otherwise the 4Runner would be setting for a while. So I went ahead and ordered a rack from Toyota at an obscured price; I don't see a parts store rack holding up, and I'm sick of replacing the same parts all the time.
URBAN ASSAULT
New member
I was thinking about your situation the other day, and it seems you have come to the same conclusion I did. Since this is a break that nobody has even heard of before, then swap in a new rack and carry on. Sucks about Safari. Surely that sleeve wasn't held together with just that dimple/ding indentation? Was it? From the pics, I do not see any welds, or other means of attachment.
If you built the taco, in 2 years, you would be at the same crossroads you are right now.
SAS'ing the 4runner is a money pit, believe me. But I would love to see your spin on it. We all know you would change the game. But then, I would have to re-do mine; further deepening said money pit.
Building a buggy seems like a rabbit hole. Basically, corners you into a select list of trails, uncomfortable many months of the year, and isolates the family from the activity. But, I can't say I haven't sketched out a few U4 drawings and build lists.
Great seeing you at the Jambo! I'm so glad [MENTION=63986]Volcom[/MENTION] talked you down from the building ledge, and you didn't donate your truck to the Jambo raffle. It was a great week/weekend! Will see you again on my next Western trip.
If you built the taco, in 2 years, you would be at the same crossroads you are right now.
SAS'ing the 4runner is a money pit, believe me. But I would love to see your spin on it. We all know you would change the game. But then, I would have to re-do mine; further deepening said money pit.
Building a buggy seems like a rabbit hole. Basically, corners you into a select list of trails, uncomfortable many months of the year, and isolates the family from the activity. But, I can't say I haven't sketched out a few U4 drawings and build lists.
Great seeing you at the Jambo! I'm so glad [MENTION=63986]Volcom[/MENTION] talked you down from the building ledge, and you didn't donate your truck to the Jambo raffle. It was a great week/weekend! Will see you again on my next Western trip.
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