My 1997 SR5 5spd daily driver
- Thread starter flipty
- Start date
MN4runnerman
Senior Member
So when I looked at the pictures of your tools and the inside of your garage I thought to myself that they look eerily familiar. Went out to my garage to make sure that there your truck wasn't out there(plus I needed some beer from my beer fridge). We have like the same storage racks, same tools, same rusty vehicles(well different colors but you know what I'm getting at).
and we choose to live in the same winter/summer hellhole!
Tyler James Inc
Senior Member
I think that's a reasonable price for a new rear wheel bearing/seal job [emoji1360]
Update. Not a necessarily happy one.
They couldn't get the seals until Monday so the 4R is in the shop over the weekend.
That said, they gave me a completely baller totally loaded Explorer as a loaner car for the weekend so I guess I'm satisfied for now. My wife certainly loves it. When she asks when we can get one like it I'll say when we can afford an additional $700 a month in payments and insurance. AKA never.
They couldn't get the seals until Monday so the 4R is in the shop over the weekend.
That said, they gave me a completely baller totally loaded Explorer as a loaner car for the weekend so I guess I'm satisfied for now. My wife certainly loves it. When she asks when we can get one like it I'll say when we can afford an additional $700 a month in payments and insurance. AKA never.
sambishop
New member
did you seriously have to quote every photo...
Did my plugs and wires this morning. It all went pretty simple except for me being an idiot and accidentally wiring cyl 6 to coil 1. Once I figured that out it was a "relative" breeze. Nice morning for it too.
Here's the state of the NGK's that were in there.. single pole, and just a pin's width of electrode left, all 6 of them were this way, but I didn't see much fouling considering how long these things must have been in there (I'm guessing at least 100,000 miles, maybe 130-150?)
Here's the old fellers. You served well.
And then that fancy blue wire look with the NGK's, job done.
Here's the state of the NGK's that were in there.. single pole, and just a pin's width of electrode left, all 6 of them were this way, but I didn't see much fouling considering how long these things must have been in there (I'm guessing at least 100,000 miles, maybe 130-150?)
Here's the old fellers. You served well.
And then that fancy blue wire look with the NGK's, job done.
So I go get an oil change after driving around all day enjoying the seemingly noticeable boost in smoothness and performance from my new plugs and wires.....
and on the turn into the valvoline I hear/feel a clunk.
Drove around a little while after the change to try and nail it, and sure enough, sway bar bushing bit the dust. Good thing I have two spares and new brackets just waiting to go in.
Quick question: do I need to disconnect the bar from the links to replace the bushings?
and on the turn into the valvoline I hear/feel a clunk.
Drove around a little while after the change to try and nail it, and sure enough, sway bar bushing bit the dust. Good thing I have two spares and new brackets just waiting to go in.
Quick question: do I need to disconnect the bar from the links to replace the bushings?
Just a quick update
I haven't been on the forum lately... #1, haven't really had issues with the 4Runner, but #2 changed jobs (now 100% freelance) and busy as all hell.
Recently I paid the shop to toss a new tail pipe and muffler on it. She REALLY purrs. Sounds great, nice and quiet at freeway speed, which is where most of the road noise was coming from.
I recently ticked over 275,000 miles. Fantastic vehicle.
I haven't been on the forum lately... #1, haven't really had issues with the 4Runner, but #2 changed jobs (now 100% freelance) and busy as all hell.
Recently I paid the shop to toss a new tail pipe and muffler on it. She REALLY purrs. Sounds great, nice and quiet at freeway speed, which is where most of the road noise was coming from.
I recently ticked over 275,000 miles. Fantastic vehicle.
scrapper
New member
Great thread. Love the work you’re putting into this and
admire the determination on some of the more challenging
projects.
Someone early on in your thread mentioned the intrinsic value
of investing in these trucks, i.e., no car payment, responds to any TLC you give it, it’s a Toyota etc. and I couldn’t agree more.
Keep up the good work!
Finally got photographic evidence of a rare event: My HVAC lights were working for almost a half hour!
They have worked for about 35 minutes the entire nearly year I've owned this vehicle. They are usually off, and every now and then they will just.... go on, usually for a very short time, and with no rhyme or reason. It's happened twice now.
Anyone have any idea how this can happen SO intermittently?
They have worked for about 35 minutes the entire nearly year I've owned this vehicle. They are usually off, and every now and then they will just.... go on, usually for a very short time, and with no rhyme or reason. It's happened twice now.
Anyone have any idea how this can happen SO intermittently?
Been a while since I've done anything on the 4Runner. This weekend I dropped her off at a fabricator/welder to shore up the remaining frame rust. Ordered a pint of POR-15 to seal the deal.
Also have a set of front shocks to install, and finally do the front sway bar bushings that have been in the garage since I got it.
Looking forward to a smooth, reduced clunk/noise ride!
Also have a set of front shocks to install, and finally do the front sway bar bushings that have been in the garage since I got it.
Looking forward to a smooth, reduced clunk/noise ride!
Picked up my beast from the welder yesterday. $600 got every single rusted area of my frame cleaned, replaced, and bed-liner'd. I've got a date with a resperator and a pint of POR-15 which arrived via Amazon two days ago to paint as much of the frame as it'll cover.
Ride feels smoother than ever. No more concerning creaks and crunks while driving in the morning or at different acceleration levels with the 5spd. Even helped deaden a knock that i know is coming from a shot sway bar bushing, which will be replaced soon (as well as the front struts).
Tally ho!
Ride feels smoother than ever. No more concerning creaks and crunks while driving in the morning or at different acceleration levels with the 5spd. Even helped deaden a knock that i know is coming from a shot sway bar bushing, which will be replaced soon (as well as the front struts).
Tally ho!
MN4runnerman
Senior Member
Are you spraying the por15 or brushing it on? If you’re spraying go get one of those cheap harbor freight siphon feed guns. It makes it a whole lot easier and less messy.
I figured I'd brush. But if spraying it will be easy and cheap I don't see why I wouldn't pick that up. I anticipate doing it this upcoming weekend.
MN4runnerman
Senior Member
Spraying it is so much easier, like I don’t think I’ll brush that stuff on ever again easier. Go get the cheap siphon feed gun from harbor freight. You’ll need the reducer for por15(it’s specific to por15). I know chassis saver is reduced 8 to 1 for spraying but not sure on the ratio for por15. Spraying it just doesn’t make as big a mess. When I brushed it on it dripped everywhere. When I sprayed it I had no drips. You still need to wait at least 2 hours to apply the second coat. Then you just throw the spray gun away cuz once that stuff starts to cure there is no cleaning it.
To be honest, damned near everything.
I've shored up my frame completely, and replaced all of the following parts related to stability and steering:
Rear shocks
Rear sway bar links and bushings
Rear upper and lower control arms
Front sway bar links
Front upper and lower ball joints
Inner and outer tie rods (x2)
However....the thing that made the biggest difference... BY FAR... was tires. Get good tires. I had tires that were manufactured in 2010. They looked great, the tread was totally fine... but they were wobbly as hell. I got some Michelin Defenders, and on the drive home from Discount Tire I couldn't believe the difference it made, and that was after I'd already replaced all of the rear components.
Keep in mind that 'on rails' is very relative. I'm talking about having a feel for the road, driving at any speed and on any road condition feels safe and predictable. If you want to more literally be on rails, obviously you have to be in a low sports car not a wobbly-even-when-new tall SUV
Now all that said, when I got my most recent frame repairs done, there was a noticeable decrease in the slight wobble/swerve I would get while shifting gears (mine is a 5-speed), especially the freeway shift from 4th to 5th.
I know I stated earlier in the thread that the control arms were the reason it felt stable. It DID help, but nothing helped as much as new tires.
Last edited:
