Need Some Mechanical Assistance

[Algiers]

Hey guys. I'm pretty new to the forum and to 4Runners and recently picked up a ’97 SR5 4x4. It’s pretty clean but I want to check out the front suspension to make sure everything is up to par. I’m especially concerned about the LBJ’s since a failure there can be pretty serious.

I’ve called a couple of shops and dealerships but hate going in saying “tell how much needs to be fixed.” It seems like that might not go well for me financially so I started searching on the forum to check it out myself. There’s great info but I don’t trust my unskilled judgment. I can turn a wrench but I’m definitely no mechanic and have limited tools and an apartment parking garage that isn’t great for working in.

I wanted to check if anyone in my relative area (Sherman Oaks) with the tools, knowledge, and a proper garage would be able to give me some assistance in checking it out and if possible with some repairs. I'm fine with traveling a decent distance as needed.

So if any of you 3rd Gen people (or others too) are willing, I can gladly provide beer, food or any other agreeable compensation for your time. I’m not looking for someone to the do the hard work for me but to help, guide and keep me from making things worse.

 

[Drunner97]

Hey guys. I'm pretty new to the forum and to 4Runners and recently picked up a ’97 SR5 4x4. It’s pretty clean but I want to check out the front suspension to make sure everything is up to par. I’m especially concerned about the LBJ’s since a failure there can be pretty serious.

I’ve called a couple of shops and dealerships but hate going in saying “tell how much needs to be fixed.” It seems like that might not go well for me financially so I started searching on the forum to check it out myself. There’s great info but I don’t trust my unskilled judgment. I can turn a wrench but I’m definitely no mechanic and have limited tools and an apartment parking garage that isn’t great for working in.

I wanted to check if anyone in my relative area (Sherman Oaks) with the tools, knowledge, and a proper garage would be able to give me some assistance in checking it out and if possible with some repairs. I'm fine with traveling a decent distance as needed.

So if any of you 3rd Gen people (or others too) are willing, I can gladly provide beer, food or any other agreeable compensation for your time. I’m not looking for someone to the do the hard work for me but to help, guide and keep me from making things worse.

I'm not close enough to Sherman Oaks and I rarely get out that far, but if you take some pictures and post them up I'm sure most of us could at least give you some ideas of how things look. If the boots on the ball joints look good and they aren't leaking grease, I'd say you're likely okay.

 

[Algiers]

I'm not close enough to Sherman Oaks and I rarely get out that far, but if you take some pictures and post them up I'm sure most of us could at least give you some ideas of how things look. If the boots on the ball joints look good and they aren't leaking grease, I'd say you're likely okay.

Thanks. I've been posting pics and videos here and there on the Gen 3 forum but am really looking for a little hands on help if anyone is up for a project. I did some test on the LBJ's and talked to some folks and think I will change them out.

After looking at some tutorials and videos, I think it's something I could do but would love some help in case things don't go as planned. It would be best for me to go to you though since my apartment garage isn't a great place to work.

 

[Drunner97]

Thanks. I've been posting pics and videos here and there on the Gen 3 forum but am really looking for a little hands on help if anyone is up for a project. I did some test on the LBJ's and talked to some folks and think I will change them out.

After looking at some tutorials and videos, I think it's something I could do but would love some help in case things don't go as planned. It would be best for me to go to you though since my apartment garage isn't a great place to work.

I'm in Anaheim, bit of a drive for ya, plus I'm not going to have a free weekend until after January 10th. MAYBE the weekend of the 1st, but it depends on some variables beyond my control at this point. So not sure how quickly you need to get it done. I've never switched out ball joints either, but I'm sure I could figure it out easily enough with the right tools.

 

[Algiers]

I'm in Anaheim, bit of a drive for ya, plus I'm not going to have a free weekend until after January 10th. MAYBE the weekend of the 1st, but it depends on some variables beyond my control at this point. So not sure how quickly you need to get it done. I've never switched out ball joints either, but I'm sure I could figure it out easily enough with the right tools.

Thanks again. That's pretty close what my schedule looks like too since I'll be out of town visiting the folks next week. Maybe someone closer that's done it before will chime in but if not I have no problem with the drive. It seems fairly straightforward.

 

[OffRoadGuy]

Well its good that you're concern, but it all depends on how well the previous owner or owners took care of it. If never off road, you're in good shape. If over 150k, for piece of mind go ahead and change it. Its pretty simple if you're somewhat mechanically incline. Lots of write ups on this forum. For a 97, I would also change the inner and outer tie rod. I changed my 98 at 220k

 

[Algiers]

Well its good that you're concern, but it all depends on how well the previous owner or owners took care of it. If never off road, you're in good shape. If over 150k, for piece of mind go ahead and change it. Its pretty simple if you're somewhat mechanically incline. Lots of write ups on this forum. For a 97, I would also change the inner and outer tie rod. I changed my 98 at 220k

I figure it's the safest idea to switch them out since I have 222K on it. Did you go OEM for the tie rods? The inners are pretty pricey so I'm debating on going aftermarket for those.

 

[BrianSD_42]

Thanks. I've been posting pics and videos here and there on the Gen 3 forum but am really looking for a little hands on help if anyone is up for a project. I did some test on the LBJ's and talked to some folks and think I will change them out.

After looking at some tutorials and videos, I think it's something I could do but would love some help in case things don't go as planned. It would be best for me to go to you though since my apartment garage isn't a great place to work.

What threads have you posted in? (so we can see the pics)

People here are pretty helpful so hopefully it can all work out.

Good luck!

 

[Algiers]

What threads have you posted in? (so we can see the pics)

People here are pretty helpful so hopefully it can all work out.

Good luck!

Thanks. Here are a couple of videos showing a popping sound that went away after a couple of days.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/210933-popping-sound-front.html

Here's the thread for the LBJs. I'm definitley going to replace them and likely the tie rods too.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/149467-official-lower-ball-joint-write-up-thread-5.html

I'm out of town right now but could post some more pics and do additional tests when I get back. I think I could probably do it myself but I'm mainly concerned with my lack of tools and experience if I can't get something to break loose. Plus everthing seems easy when you're watching a tutorial but always turns out a little different in reality.

 

[Algiers]

So I decided to jump in and start doing stuff myself (with the assistance of this forum and several phone calls to my dad) and I've been fairly successful. I replaced my lower ball joints, painted my rims, and have everything ready to replace the inner and outer tie rod ends as well as the bushings for the sway bar and end links. My tool collection has greatly increased.

My most recent maintenance project has hit a snag though. I replaced the gear oil in the rear diff, manual transmission and transfer case. The drain plug on the front diff will not budge though. I have sprayed it with PB everyday for a week and given it little taps etc. I have jacked it up as high as I can and put everything I have into it with a 15 in. breaker bar and it isn't moving. The fill plug came off with very little effort.

I've been reading as much as possible but can't find a solution short of maybe getting it on a lift for extra leverage or using an impact. It's a 3rd Gen and has the 12mm Allen head on the plug. It's has a little bit of rounding in it but is by no means stripped. Anyone have any ideas or able to lend a hand/tool or maybe suggest a shop in SFV or nearby that might be able to help get it off for me without charging me to change out the oil?

 

[JBurt]

Be careful with that drain plug. I stripped mine, then had to weld an Allen socket into it to get it out.

You could use your gear oil pump through the fill hole to pump out a lot of the old fluid. It wouldn't get it all but it's easy and safe.

 

[Algiers]

Be careful with that drain plug. I stripped mine, then had to weld an Allen socket into it to get it out.

You could use your gear oil pump through the fill hole to pump out a lot of the old fluid. It wouldn't get it all but it's easy and safe.

That's what I'm afraid of. I think I can only do harm if I keep messing with it at this point. Good call on the pump idea. I'll try that out if I can't get it off.

 

[Drunner97]

So I decided to jump in and start doing stuff myself (with the assistance of this forum and several phone calls to my dad) and I've been fairly successful. I replaced my lower ball joints, painted my rims, and have everything ready to replace the inner and outer tie rod ends as well as the bushings for the sway bar and end links. My tool collection has greatly increased.

My most recent maintenance project has hit a snag though. I replaced the gear oil in the rear diff, manual transmission and transfer case. The drain plug on the front diff will not budge though. I have sprayed it with PB everyday for a week and given it little taps etc. I have jacked it up as high as I can and put everything I have into it with a 15 in. breaker bar and it isn't moving. The fill plug came off with very little effort.

I've been reading as much as possible but can't find a solution short of maybe getting it on a lift for extra leverage or using an impact. It's a 3rd Gen and has the 12mm Allen head on the plug. It's has a little bit of rounding in it but is by no means stripped. Anyone have any ideas or able to lend a hand/tool or maybe suggest a shop in SFV or nearby that might be able to help get it off for me without charging me to change out the oil?

If you haven't completely stripped it yet, get a ball peen hammer and smack the plug dead center 3 or 4 good times, then try it again. If it's already stripped, do the ball peen hammer, get a chisel and a heavier hammer and start smacking.

Took a few tries but I finally get mine to turn (it was completely stripped)

 

[amalik]

Be careful with that drain plug. I stripped mine, then had to weld an Allen socket into it to get it out.

You could use your gear oil pump through the fill hole to pump out a lot of the old fluid. It wouldn't get it all but it's easy and safe.

A stripped allen bolt.

Is there anything worse in life? :bat:

 

[Algiers]

If you haven't completely stripped it yet, get a ball peen hammer and smack the plug dead center 3 or 4 good times, then try it again. If it's already stripped, do the ball peen hammer, get a chisel and a heavier hammer and start smacking.

Took a few tries but I finally get mine to turn (it was completely stripped)

Thanks. I've given quite a few taps with a ball peen hammer after PB'ing it but never really hit it hard. It's not stripped but there is a little give in it when I first push on the breaker bar. I think I might just do the pump for now and come back later once I have a new plug down the road.

Do you just get them from the dealership normally? I don't care for most of the dealerships in my area for parts so I've been ordering everything from Camelback Toyota in AZ. It's just a little pricey on shipping for such a small part.

 

[Drunner97]

Thanks. I've given quite a few taps with a ball peen hammer after PB'ing it but never really hit it hard. It's not stripped but there is a little give in it when I first push on the breaker bar. I think I might just do the pump for now and come back later once I have a new plug down the road.

Do you just get them from the dealership normally? I don't care for most of the dealerships in my area for parts so I've been ordering everything from Camelback Toyota in AZ. It's just a little pricey on shipping for such a small part.

Smack it harder, it's the only thing that got mine to start budging. Before that the chisel was just digging in and not doing anything. I bought my plug from the dealership, think it was like 10 or 12 bucks and they had to order it.

 

[Algiers]

Smack it harder, it's the only thing that got mine to start budging. Before that the chisel was just digging in and not doing anything. I bought my plug from the dealership, think it was like 10 or 12 bucks and they had to order it.

I did the pump method for a quick fix but have a new plug on the way on will re-attack this since I no longer care how bad I destroy the plug. I replaced my inner and outer tie rod ends and my sway bar bushings and end link bushings yesterday as well. It went fairly smooth but I had some oil on the old ones that's causing me some concern. For now I'm just going to keep an eye on it and hope it's not coming from the rack.

Also does anyone have a good alignment place in the valley, preferably North Hollywood? There are several high yelp rated smaller shops but I always prefer some first hand info.

 

[Drunner97]

I did the pump method for a quick fix but have a new plug on the way on will re-attack this since I no longer care how bad I destroy the plug. I replaced my inner and outer tie rod ends and my sway bar bushings and end link bushings yesterday as well. It went fairly smooth but I had some oil on the old ones that's causing me some concern. For now I'm just going to keep an eye on it and hope it's not coming from the rack.

Also does anyone have a good alignment place in the valley, preferably North Hollywood? There are several high yelp rated smaller shops but I always prefer some first hand info.

Check Simpson Frame and Alignment, he's in Hollywood off Santa Monica and Gower by Paramount Studio. Not sure if he's still doing alignments because I know he's been doing more custom work, but can't hurt to call. If you get in there, and he does it (will be the best alignment you can ask for if he does it) let me know because I'll have a bone to pick with him about working on my 4runner. In fact, if you go there, tell him Danny sent you.

 

[Algiers]

Check Simpson Frame and Alignment, he's in Hollywood off Santa Monica and Gower by Paramount Studio. Not sure if he's still doing alignments because I know he's been doing more custom work, but can't hurt to call. If you get in there, and he does it (will be the best alignment you can ask for if he does it) let me know because I'll have a bone to pick with him about working on my 4runner. In fact, if you go there, tell him Danny sent you.

Thanks for the tip. I'll check it out.