Little help with the Taco Whip Mod

[DogtorM]

Hi all, I've been having some trouble with my antenna for some time now, and I was hoping for some help from the Taco Whip Mod veterans.

If you care about the history behind the problem, read on. Otherwise, skip down...

History:
When I bought my T4R a few months ago, the antenna didn't go up or down, it just made a grinding sound. After a little research, figured out that the typical problem had occurred, and the plastic "tail" on the antenna had broken off. I managed to get into the antenna assembly and take out the broken part. I ordered a replacement mast from ebay for $15, and installed it. It worked beautifully at first, but then the "tail" pulled off the mast. Contacted the seller and got a replacement. Same thing. Took the mast apart, and crimped the "tail" on with a pair of pliers. It help up for a while, but then the grinding came back. I went to take it all out as I'd done at least a dozen times now, but this time, the "tail" stayed down in the motor. I gently explained my frustration to the POS antenna, and decided that I was ready for a different approach. So that's how I got the the TWM.

Problem:
My plan was to get the parts as described in <a href="http://www.4runners.org/writeups/whip/index.html">the usual writeup</a href>, but I quickly found out that the part numbers have changed. I called the stealer for quotes on parts, but the part #'s have changed. For the taco whip, he gave me 86309-AA042, and for the non-motorized T4R antenna assembly, he gave me 86300-35090. I also asked for the tacoma non-motorized assembly, and it was 86300-04050.

For the T4R assembly and the Taco whip, it came to about $90.

So here are my questions:
1) I need the non-motorized T4R assembly, and taco whip mast, correct?
2) If so, can anyone verify that those are the correct update #'s for this DIY?
3) I searched online and the best price I could find was around $70 + shipping. Has anyone found better recently?
4) Given that 9 years have passed since the mod was written, has anyone found another more cost-effective, permanent, no BS solution to the antenna problem?

Thanks for your help, and sorry this got so long-winded. This is the ONLY things wrong with her, but it's driving me crazy!

 

[brian4t]

Hi all, I've been having some trouble with my antenna for some time now, and I was hoping for some help from the Taco Whip Mod veterans.

If you care about the history behind the problem, read on. Otherwise, skip down...

History:
When I bought my T4R a few months ago, the antenna didn't go up or down, it just made a grinding sound. After a little research, figured out that the typical problem had occurred, and the plastic "tail" on the antenna had broken off. I managed to get into the antenna assembly and take out the broken part. I ordered a replacement mast from ebay for $15, and installed it. It worked beautifully at first, but then the "tail" pulled off the mast. Contacted the seller and got a replacement. Same thing. Took the mast apart, and crimped the "tail" on with a pair of pliers. It help up for a while, but then the grinding came back. I went to take it all out as I'd done at least a dozen times now, but this time, the "tail" stayed down in the motor. I gently explained my frustration to the POS antenna, and decided that I was ready for a different approach. So that's how I got the the TWM.

Problem:
My plan was to get the parts as described in <a href="http://www.4runners.org/writeups/whip/index.html">the usual writeup</a href>, but I quickly found out that the part numbers have changed. I called the stealer for quotes on parts, but the part #'s have changed. For the taco whip, he gave me 86309-AA042, and for the non-motorized T4R antenna assembly, he gave me 86300-35090. I also asked for the tacoma non-motorized assembly, and it was 86300-04050.

For the T4R assembly and the Taco whip, it came to about $90.

So here are my questions:
1) I need the non-motorized T4R assembly, and taco whip mast, correct?
2) If so, can anyone verify that those are the correct update #'s for this DIY?
3) I searched online and the best price I could find was around $70 + shipping. Has anyone found better recently?
4) Given that 9 years have passed since the mod was written, has anyone found another more cost-effective, permanent, no BS solution to the antenna problem?

Thanks for your help, and sorry this got so long-winded. This is the ONLY things wrong with her, but it's driving me crazy!

Never did the Whip but if you have the heart to try the stock route one more time here it is.

Buy the OEM antenna from the Toyota dealer and it will last. I got mine on amazon from a dealer in CA. You can pull the motor extract the broken pieces and in theory should last as long as the original did.

 

[DogtorM]

I appreciate the input, but I'm afraid that the gears in the antenna assembly may have started to strip, so to really do it right, I'd have to get the whole assembly and mast replaced... and I think that would cost a lot. I'm looking for the most cost-effective/permanent fix possible.

 

[the great him]

i just did this for the second time, first antenna got snapped off. anyhow i think i paid like $30 for the mast with silver antenna from the dealer. now my father inlaw works for toyota so i get parts at cost, but i know there is not a 120% mark up on the antenna so keep looking at other dealers

 

[IanB]

I appreciate the input, but I'm afraid that the gears in the antenna assembly may have started to strip, so to really do it right, I'd have to get the whole assembly and mast replaced... and I think that would cost a lot. I'm looking for the most cost-effective/permanent fix possible.

Cost effective/permanent fix is the taco whip mod, if you don't want the black mast, then it's pretty cheap.

 

[4-Ripcord]

Quoted from the write-up in my build..

OEM Tacoma Antenna Assembly: 86300-35090 - $36.94 from dealer
(above comes with a silver antenna also.)
OEM Black Tacoma Antenna: 86309-AA040 - $27.38 from dealer
-I didn't buy the extra Black antenna, I just painted the silver one black to save 30 bucks.

 

[DogtorM]

Quoted from the write-up in my build..

Thanks, your write-up led me to the Y-adapter for the antenna that I needed! Concerning the part #'s though, 8630035090 gives me the T4R antenna assembly, not the Tacoma assembly, but obviously it fits, which is all I care about. Also, is the included antenna rigid or uh... whip-like? I'm a little paranoid that it will rip off if I hit some low branches or something.

BTW, nice ride!

 

[the great him]

the antenna that ripcord quoted you is for a tacoma, i just ordered that one last week! if somewhere it is telling you that is for a t4r, they are wrong, its a taco antenna, yes it will work on our 4runners cause other than bumpers head lights and grill and some different style lines on the fenders tacomas and 4runners are the same. just 4runners were considered nicer so they got the power antenna as standard. you wont break that antenna off by hitting trees ect. the only reason i did this mod "again" is yes cause my antenna snapped off but it was an old rusty base that had seen better days and i went through a car wash and it stopped with my half way though and that big damn blanket that they drag over your car was ontop of the antenna when the car wash stopped for like 30 sec. then once it started again my antenna was bent, and when i tryed to straighten it, it snapped.

 

[DogtorM]

Thanks again for all the help, guys! It seems that I wasn't the only one with these questions, so I got it all done yesterday, and helped someone else with the answers today.