LBJ Failure... My turn.

[amalik]

I have had my 4runner for about 14 yrs with ~175k miles with no issues but reading this thread makes me want to replace the LBJ before it fails. In addition to replacing these with OEM replacements, are there other area of failure I should be concerned about? Or parts that should be replaces like the tie rods or UBJs?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

There's a trillion threads about it.

It's a good time to do ITRE and OTRE, UBJ's are not really related here.

use ONLY OEM LBJ's and get new OEM bolts too. There are a ton of write-ups on here.

BTW, what's your T4R year? Some years are under recall for the LBJ and Toyota will do it for you.

 

[BrownDog40]

There's a trillion threads about it.

It's a good time to do ITRE and OTRE, UBJ's are not really related here.

use ONLY OEM LBJ's and get new OEM bolts too. There are a ton of write-ups on here.

BTW, what's your T4R year? Some years are under recall for the LBJ and Toyota will do it for you.

Most of the thread I read were about the steps to replace which I am going to have a shop do the work as I do not want to risk doing it incorrectly. I will do another search and read through more .

My 4runner is a 2000, I do not think it qualifies under the recall issued by Toyota.

Thanks for the information.

 

[JayRolla]

I have had my 4runner for about 14 yrs with ~175k miles with no issues but reading this thread makes me want to replace the LBJ before it fails. In addition to replacing these with OEM replacements, are there other area of failure I should be concerned about? Or parts that should be replaces like the tie rods or UBJs?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

The two major failures on our rigs are the LBJ failures and radiator failures resulting in "pink milkshake". Its more prominent on radiators that were abused with non distilled water and wrong radiator fluids as they would corrode inside were the auto transmission cooler resides. Resulting in trans fluid mixing with radiator fluid, washing the trans and killing it.

I would also have your radiator replaced with a quality unit like OEM, denso, koyo. Then have it flushed completely and filled with Toyota red fluid or Zerex Asian Red.

You can also have the trans cooler bypassed but should not be needed if you replaced radiator. Good to keep it not bypassed if towing or mountain driving IMO.

 

[amalik]

Most of the thread I read were about the steps to replace which I am going to have a shop do the work as I do not want to risk doing it incorrectly. I will do another search and read through more .

My 4runner is a 2000, I do not think it qualifies under the recall issued by Toyota.

Thanks for the information.

Damn. You missed it by a year. The recall was official for 2001 and 2002 years.

Anyway, does the shop allow you to give your parts in? I repeat, the LBJ's *MUST* be OEM. If not, I'd find another shop.

You are risking your life if the shop is going to use the cheapest they get because they are probably using garbage Moog LBJ's.

When you find a shop that lets you bring parts; bring new OEM LBJ's and OEM LBJ bolts.

 

[amalik]

The two major failures on our rigs are the LBJ failures and radiator failures resulting in "pink milkshake". Its more prominent on radiators that were abused with non distilled water and wrong radiator fluids as they would corrode inside were the auto transmission cooler resides. Resulting in trans fluid mixing with radiator fluid, washing the trans and killing it.

I would also have your radiator replaced with a quality unit like OEM, denso, koyo. Then have it flushed completely and filled with Toyota red fluid or Zerex Asian Red.

You can also have the trans cooler bypassed but should not be needed if you replaced radiator. Good to keep it not bypassed if towing or mountain driving IMO.

It's debatable how he can "flush" coolant anyway. In a different thread we went back and forth about it once.

I.e. is tap water OK to do the flush with or not. Really, the only other choice is paying Toyota for the flush and they do it with Toyota red (Supposedly).

 

[Mark_BC]

I've learned to NOT let the shop do it if j want it done right. I gotta do it myself. If you have the tight tools replacing the lbj's is a pretty easy job especially in California with no rust. I wouldn't worry about screwing it up if you follow mtbtim's video on it.