Mgizler's 99 4Runner build
- Thread starter Mgizler
- Start date
WenatcheeSkier
New member
looks Fantastic. :whoo: not just saying that because It looks exactly like the one I just bought :whoo:
WenatcheeSkier
New member
Started boxing in the sides this morning.*
Any guesses on the final weight of the Rear Bumper? looks *****'n
Thanks!!
Not sure on weight yet. Its heavy, But I can almost get it on myself from underneath pressing it up.
Hitting some Road blocks with the tire swingout.*
I ordered a Torsion style DOM bushing from Ruffstuff and although a great product, it failed miserably for holding the weight of the swingout. It's my own fault for wishful thinking that it would hold the weight when I knew in my head it would not.*
Here are a few pictures from where I started to realize I was in trouble.*
I needed a temporary hold for the swingout so I made this little T-handle and installed a sleeve in the swingout to accept it.*
Here is where its was left at before I Cut off the DOM bearing and decided to start over.*
I also scored some 285's on CL that had some dry rot cracking in the trad area of these Nittos. *Must be something with these tires. I had the exact same tire a few years ago, and they did the exact same thing these are doing. But...... They have 90% tread on them and I only paid 250$ *So I can live with the cracks for a while until I can save to buy what I want.*
Here is a before and after.*
Sooo..... Heres where things take a frustrating turn........ * * *I am trying to finish this bumper up and just be done with it. But the swingout dictates when that will happen. I made the mistake of ordering some parts from Comp4x4.com and have not heard anything in a week. Called about 30 times, left voicemails, Emails, nothing.......Silence.......No Idea if my swingout bearing has shipped, on backorder, is being made.....Who knows. * * I then start to investigate their reviews (something I typically always do first) but in my haste.......I ordered first. They took my money and now nothing....
I am very pressed for time with this bumper because the wife and I are moving soon and it needs to get done. I really hate to do this, but I might just toss the swingout idea for a later date and paint*the bumper and be done until I can get stuff figured out. **
Not sure what to do. I keep calling Comp4x4 to see when this stuff is going to ship but its like a ghost town over there.*
I ordered a Torsion style DOM bushing from Ruffstuff and although a great product, it failed miserably for holding the weight of the swingout. It's my own fault for wishful thinking that it would hold the weight when I knew in my head it would not.*
Here are a few pictures from where I started to realize I was in trouble.*
I needed a temporary hold for the swingout so I made this little T-handle and installed a sleeve in the swingout to accept it.*
Here is where its was left at before I Cut off the DOM bearing and decided to start over.*
I also scored some 285's on CL that had some dry rot cracking in the trad area of these Nittos. *Must be something with these tires. I had the exact same tire a few years ago, and they did the exact same thing these are doing. But...... They have 90% tread on them and I only paid 250$ *So I can live with the cracks for a while until I can save to buy what I want.*
Here is a before and after.*
Sooo..... Heres where things take a frustrating turn........ * * *I am trying to finish this bumper up and just be done with it. But the swingout dictates when that will happen. I made the mistake of ordering some parts from Comp4x4.com and have not heard anything in a week. Called about 30 times, left voicemails, Emails, nothing.......Silence.......No Idea if my swingout bearing has shipped, on backorder, is being made.....Who knows. * * I then start to investigate their reviews (something I typically always do first) but in my haste.......I ordered first. They took my money and now nothing....
I am very pressed for time with this bumper because the wife and I are moving soon and it needs to get done. I really hate to do this, but I might just toss the swingout idea for a later date and paint*the bumper and be done until I can get stuff figured out. **
Not sure what to do. I keep calling Comp4x4 to see when this stuff is going to ship but its like a ghost town over there.*
OK......... *So after not hearing anything from Comp4x4 for a 12 days, I received a shipping notification in my email saying the part was on its way!! * I am guessing that Comp4x4 is a one man show or something smaller scale and thats why the communication is bad.*
All I have to say is........It was worth the wait! * The part is very well made.*
I got it tacked on and mocked up to start the swingout rebuild.*
Like the last time, I started with the main bar and worked from there. I wanted to be able to use the 90 Degree latch instead of buying another one and waiting for its arrival.*
I was able to spend an hour and get the swingout all mocked up and welded.*
It holds the weight of the tire so much better now with this bearing. I cant even explain how well it works.*
All I have to say is........It was worth the wait! * The part is very well made.*
I got it tacked on and mocked up to start the swingout rebuild.*
Like the last time, I started with the main bar and worked from there. I wanted to be able to use the 90 Degree latch instead of buying another one and waiting for its arrival.*
I was able to spend an hour and get the swingout all mocked up and welded.*
It holds the weight of the tire so much better now with this bearing. I cant even explain how well it works.*
Could not decide what I wanted to do with the Plate, so I made a quick bracket that I can put in the Hitch portion of the bumper. I used the brake to make a 90 on the top to hold some lights that I can run off my trailer harness.*
So glad that this is done and functional. Now on to the front!!!!!
So glad that this is done and functional. Now on to the front!!!!!
AssBurns
New member
Glad to see you got it all taken care of. The swing out looks great as well. One thing though, are you worried at all about smashing the latch for the swing out. I know I hit those areas quite a bit and would be nervous to have such a key component getting destroyed on the trail. Also I bet it would look pretty good to mount your license plate to the swing out main rain by the spindle. That way you don't have to mess with removing the hitch or bending your license plate.
I'm looking forward to seeing what you have planned for the front. I'm actually in the process of building my front bumper right now. I'm hoping to find time to finish it this weekend.
I'm looking forward to seeing what you have planned for the front. I'm actually in the process of building my front bumper right now. I'm hoping to find time to finish it this weekend.
Thanks for the compliments man!
I am very concerned about smashing the latch in that area. The only reason I chose to use it was because I already had it in hand and did not want to wait to order another one.
Im probably going to sleeve the tube and make another T-handle bolt to hold it closed. That way if the latch gets thrashed, it will still hold the swingout closed.
Take lots of pictures on your front bumper build! I love getting Ideas from others.
I am going to wait until I can purchase a winch to start my front. So I can use it as a guide to start from.
The one thing that pains me is having to take my vehicle somewhere to get an alignment done. I used to me an alignment Tech back in the early 2000's before I started teaching, So I have a hard time just letting anyone twist onmy front end.
And.......An alignment machine is the one piece of equipment that I do not have at the school shop. So....I have to outsource this to someone who understands that I have a lift and the measurements may need to be fudged a little to make things jive.
I ended up finding a decent place thats not far from my work who were willing to do what I wanted.
I was rolling with a lot of Positive camber after the lift that was putting quite a bit of extra strain on the drivers side CV.
I actually had to replace the Side bearing because it was growling so much.
I decided to go with the ECGS Bushing. Pretty easy install. Here are some pictures for you guys.
Here you can see the old seal removed and the old needle bearing still in the diff, Then the removal tool setup, bearing pulled out, and the new bushing in my hand.
Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures of the after with the bushing in and new seal installed. My kids were needing my attention so I skipped that part.
If you are attempting to do this repair, all you have to do is loosen the 4 LBJ bolts to give yourself room to swing the spindle out of the way after you remove the brakes and CV.
Here you go.
And.......An alignment machine is the one piece of equipment that I do not have at the school shop. So....I have to outsource this to someone who understands that I have a lift and the measurements may need to be fudged a little to make things jive.
I ended up finding a decent place thats not far from my work who were willing to do what I wanted.
I was rolling with a lot of Positive camber after the lift that was putting quite a bit of extra strain on the drivers side CV.
I actually had to replace the Side bearing because it was growling so much.
I decided to go with the ECGS Bushing. Pretty easy install. Here are some pictures for you guys.
Here you can see the old seal removed and the old needle bearing still in the diff, Then the removal tool setup, bearing pulled out, and the new bushing in my hand.
Unfortunately, I did not take any pictures of the after with the bushing in and new seal installed. My kids were needing my attention so I skipped that part.
If you are attempting to do this repair, all you have to do is loosen the 4 LBJ bolts to give yourself room to swing the spindle out of the way after you remove the brakes and CV.
Here you go.
AssBurns
New member
Having parts laying around are definitely easier to use than buying new parts. Even when we know we should just buy the right part the first time. Been there plenty of times.
I will try to take plenty of pictures for you. I love seeing other builds and taking ideas them too. That's why I post pictures, to help others with ideas. I don't have a winch yet either but I just took some measurements from my dads winch and looked up the measurements of the few winches I'll be likely to buy and went from there. I probably won't have a winch for a while though.
I will try to take plenty of pictures for you. I love seeing other builds and taking ideas them too. That's why I post pictures, to help others with ideas. I don't have a winch yet either but I just took some measurements from my dads winch and looked up the measurements of the few winches I'll be likely to buy and went from there. I probably won't have a winch for a while though.
I've been absent for awhile. But I have certainly been busy. Finished up the rear bumper, and Moved my family 1000 miles back to wheee we are from. Good old Pennsylvania!!
I had my runner packed down. Loaded to the max and it averaged 20 mpg's!! Can't believe it.
Since we have been here, my boys and I have been able to find trails and take them until they turn into a goat path.
Very pleased with this thing so far.
http://imgur.com/NF2ByOI
http://imgur.com/Cpo3XCa
http://imgur.com/FP7NqaJ
http://imgur.com/r3tnqa8
http://imgur.com/7598QYB
http://imgur.com/hc8LsAS
http://imgur.com/jj6i6kc
One thing I am a little surprised by is the IFS. Maybe I'm just used to the solid front end in my old 1st gen, but in the last two days, I have managed to destroy two inner CV boots, and break a sway bar end.
I'm hoping that it's just the 18 year old parts giving up the ghost.
But if this is going to happen with this mild ifs lift, I will be building and planning an SAS sooner than later.
Anyone else have the same issues with the front end?
I had my runner packed down. Loaded to the max and it averaged 20 mpg's!! Can't believe it.
Since we have been here, my boys and I have been able to find trails and take them until they turn into a goat path.
Very pleased with this thing so far.
http://imgur.com/NF2ByOI
http://imgur.com/Cpo3XCa
http://imgur.com/FP7NqaJ
http://imgur.com/r3tnqa8
http://imgur.com/7598QYB
http://imgur.com/hc8LsAS
http://imgur.com/jj6i6kc
One thing I am a little surprised by is the IFS. Maybe I'm just used to the solid front end in my old 1st gen, but in the last two days, I have managed to destroy two inner CV boots, and break a sway bar end.
I'm hoping that it's just the 18 year old parts giving up the ghost.
But if this is going to happen with this mild ifs lift, I will be building and planning an SAS sooner than later.
Anyone else have the same issues with the front end?
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