Hello, Bout to be a new 4runner owner, and had a few questions!

[Crewchief]

Hello everybody!

Well I just sold my moded 05 Subaru STi to downsize a little so I take care of some credit card debt and buy a house. I've been lurking for a few months now reading and searching about the 3rd gen 4runner. Well on may 2nd I will be picking up a 99 silver 4runner limited 4WD (with the rear locker :biggrin2: ) with 97k miles. I'm buying it from a little old lady that sold it to me for $9500. Did I get a decent deal? Well she hasent done much maintence on it other then tires, oil, and brakes. I was thinking of doing this when I get it for the maitence.

- Replacing front and rear diff fluid
- Flushing the transmission
- Replacing the timing belt
- Replacing the water pump
- Replacing the other 3 drive belts
- Flushing Radiator
- Replacing spark plugs

Shortly after these are done I plan on adding a few modifications to my new off road toy :biggrin2:

OME 2.5" suspension lift
285/75/16 Firestone M/T

I know I will rub, but I am prepared to hammer and cut what needs to be done, lol.


Now I had a few questions,

1. What gearing do I have in my 4runner? I thought I had 4.10's but I read that the one's with lockers have 4.30's. Can anyone clarify? I plan on doing a 4.70 or in that area.

2. What other maintence besides what I listed do you guys recomend?

3. Should I use a spacer or something else to help rubbing issues with such a large tire?

4. Any other advice would be greatly apreciated!

Ryan (Crewchief)

 

[T4RBoarder]

I would not recommend a tranny flush, just get the fluid drained and re-filled and then do it agin a few thousand miles later. Flushes can absolutely destroy a transmission.

 

[XJeepguy]

At that mileage the Timing belt should not need replacing . I agree with the other poster ,skip the tranny flush . Just change the fluids .
Mine has way more miles than yours and my water pump is fine

Get a competent mechanic to give it a once over !

Sounds like a nice Runner so dont be doing any of this

I am prepared to hammer and cut what needs to be done

 

[Ron Helmuth]

Service interval is 90K on your timing belt

Congrats on your new to you to be-

The timing belt interval is 90K on the 3.4 motor of that year-check with a dealership to be sure.

Have the VIN number run by a Yota dealership and be sure it has been in for all the Tech Service Bulletins or recalls.

Most folks do the water pump at same time as the belt-I am no mechanic but it is my understanding the bulk of the job is already covered while doing the belt change.

Even if your water pump may not need replaced-you probably will in the next 50-75K miles, or not....You can probably find threads on here of people going 200K miles before doing either belt or pump.

Should have had new spark plugs by now-I would really look over the records and check them over well. If the interval between oil changes is infrequent I would be a little leery.

Rear axle seals seem to crop up somewhat frequently so look over the inner rear wheels for leakage. Can really mess up the rear drums.

Welcome to the forum!

 

[RonMAIDEN]

With the OME lift you should be fine clearing the 285s and you might just need minimal hammering.

I do the research on the gearing but was is the reasoning you want to regear,I rarely see a regear on 3rd gens even with bigger tires.

 

[Crewchief]

Thanks for the replies! Any other advice you guys can offer?

Ryan (Crewchief)

 

[Ron Helmuth]

the stock replies

"Dump the running boards!"

or "Where's the pictures?"

Curious which old man emus you are leaning towards?

I am in the market myself with my windfall of economic stimulus money! a haaaaaa

 

[Sloan]

if you are worried about rubbing why don't you just go ahead and get the OME 3 inch lift instead of the 2.5? overall it sounds like you got you one sweet 4runner

 

[Crewchief]

Pictures will be coming. Unfortuantly I had to post pone picking it up till next week because of the Air Force. Were doing this stupid excerise right now, and I have no days off till next week. I will be picking it up now on the 10th of May.

I like the 3 inch lift, BUT its only a coil lift and I would like to replace the struts too and for the price they were asking, I thought it would be the best deal.

 

[004Gunner]

Crewchief on what? Just curious. . . The tranny flush is a matter of opinion on this site and personally I'm all for it. The rest of your maintenance plans look right on to me since i'm a big pm guy. And yes your rear is 4.30. The only thing I might suggest is hitting those u joints with grease and while your under there definitely take Ron's suggesting in inspecting the rear axle seals (they are the reason I found out what the rear diff ratio really is).

 

[farmdog]

thank you, i was geting nervous, i just got a flush and fill with full synthetic. my mechanic old he he recomenf=ds it and he drive a 99 4runner with 220,000.
mine is a 99 with 135,000, everyone on here made me feel like i made a mistake and i was waiting for something bad to happen now.

 

[Crewchief]

Crewchief on what? Just curious. . . The tranny flush is a matter of opinion on this site and personally I'm all for it. The rest of your maintenance plans look right on to me since i'm a big pm guy. And yes your rear is 4.30. The only thing I might suggest is hitting those u joints with grease and while your under there definitely take Ron's suggesting in inspecting the rear axle seals (they are the reason I found out what the rear diff ratio really is).

Thanks for answering on the gear question. Well I'll consider the flush, but either way the fluid will be changed. I'll also inspect the rear axle seals, thanks for the advice! :bigok:

Oh and I'm a Crewchief on the C-17 down here in Charleston, SC.