New 4Runner owner with questions for the connoisseurs. 1999 4Runner Ltd 4x4

[Cytronus]

I'm thrilled to finally join the 4Runner family with a used '99 Ltd 4x4, millenium silver, 136 K miles I'm using as a second car for recreational use (mountain biking, camping, snowboarding).

This is a vehicle I've dreamed about since the 3rd gen first launched and now I finally have one. I purchased it at a Toyota Dealer for a fair price, however, it does need some TLC and I'm hoping you old pros here can help me get started. I plan to share my "restoration" experience with detail and photos in order to help others out here too.

The rack and pinion is leaking and steering has a lot of play, especially at hwy speeds. When turning the wheel into a hwy curve, the wheel turns with hardly any reaction until suddenly, it catches and turns abruptly with oversteer, almost dangerously. The problem is more pronounced when turning to the right.

My first thought is to replace the rack and pinon. Any ideas on what's best there? All new rack, rebuilt rack or rebuild this one? What else, as far as front suspension and steering components, should I be replacing? Ball joints, etc.? It's all original so nothing has been done underneath, except for brakes and maybe shocks, so with 136 K on her, what's normal to replace from your experience at this age?

There's some slight body yawing when rolling over bumps on the hwy, which I'm guessing is normal for an SUV of this ride height but I did expect a straighter, truer ride.

I would hugely appreciate your recommendations on what else I should be replacing to avoid major problems down the road. I'm not concerned with the cost to get it in excellent mechanical condition so gimme whatcha got!

Going to replace immediately:

-Digital Climate Control head unit (lights are out, temp and fan speed knobs aren't functioning)
-Rack and Pinion
-Your recommendations on steering/suspension?
-Bushings
-Timing Belt
-Timing Belt tensioner
-Water pump
-Transmission fluid
-coolant flush and refill
-Shifter lights (dark)
-Drivers side sun viser (won't stay flipped up)
-Rear drums and pads
-Thinking new seat leather (front and rear) from Katskinz (recommendations/opinions?)
-Thinking new molded carpet and headliner (recommendtations?)
-New rear bumper black plastic step (where can I get this?)
-New front door seals

Thanks all and looking forward to becoming a true contributer to the forum.

 

[Cytronus]

Progress

In case anyone is interested in following my progress, I'll be documenting it here. Hopefully some of you might find some things out to help in your efforts as well.

Today I jacked up the front end and did the wheel wiggle test and found that the driver side wheel is pretty loose, to the tune of about an inch and a half of play, when grabbing it at 9 and 3 o'clock and pulling/pushing it back and forth. The looseness appears to be coming from the TRE. Everything else looks and feels good. I noticed that the rack and pinion has already been replaced with an aftermarket (the aftermarket is all black). I will soon be replacing the TREs to see if that makes a difference in the steering slop. I may add the Addco sway bar kit in front and rear, however, I'm apprehensive about the weaker, inferior bracket design to the OEM.

I removed and shipped the digital A/C climate control unit to David Ruberg, the "Speedometer Repair Guy" in Winona MN to fix the broken air temp/fan speed knobs and the burnt out lights. His price seems to be the best around at $125 not including shipping.

I removed both leather seat rows, the center console, arm rest, and all lower interior plastic trim pieces, including the side panels and floor trim. With the previous owner having kids and animals in the car, the plastic trim, seats and carpet are soiled with coke, coffee candy, hair, animal piss and normal build up of dirt and debris. Everything will be cleaned thoroughly this week.

I'll be removing the front and rear carpet tomorrow to have it steam cleaned this week. It's important NOT to steam clean the carpet while in the car in order to prevent moisture from rusting out the floor pan and to allow propper air drying of the carpet and its padding underneath. I've decided cleaning will be better than ordering the new aftermarket molded carpet as the OEM carpet has all the holes and it's the right size. I dread having to spend hours cutting every little hole and the outter edges of a new one just to fit it in.

While the interior is apart, I'll be sending the ripped and cracked leather seats to a local professional installer for a Katzkin recover. I'm still debating if I will go with single tone in the factory OEM style and color or 2 tone with same 2 colors as the OEM door paneling, which is a dark and light beige. I've done a Photoshop concept of the 2 tone here and would appreciate your vote. I'll likely add the seat heaters as well. I will definitely be taking detailed photos for all you 3rd genners out there so stay tuned.

Lastly for today, I pulled off the rear bumper stay, the black plastic step piece, which was sun bleached and faded as hell. I was able to pinch in about 5 or 6 of its clips just lying down on my back under the bumper, which greatly helped in pulling it off by pulling up on it from above. There are about 10 or 12 clips in all, most of which are not accessible from underneath if you have the lower bumper and tow hitch attached. I ordered a new bumper stay along with some other interior parts, like factory front and rear cup holders and trim clips, at Toyotapartseast.com.

More updates coming soon!

 

[tbst]

Wheelers Offroad sells a bushing kit for the rack. May as well do that too.

Mine is still sitting in the box.

4Runner Steering Rack Bushing Kit - Wheeler's Off-Road, Inc

 

[BrianSD_42]

Welcome!

More pics. We like pics dude.

 

[A.Wilson013]

I think the 2-tone is a bit much for our 4Runners... I vote to keep it simple.

Glad to hear your wallet is open, you'll be needing it! haha

 

[ryhi]

katzkin is awesome. i have nothing but good things to say about them as i used them when i did the interior of my mercedes. the quality is comparable to OEM if not better, but be prepared to drop some heavy cash on the set and install. i've been thinking of doing 2 tone black/grey katzkin leather on my sport seats when they start showing wear but they seem to be indestructible.

 

[TheDurk]

Wheelers Offroad sells a bushing kit for the rack. May as well do that too.

Mine is still sitting in the box.

4Runner Steering Rack Bushing Kit - Wheeler's Off-Road, Inc

Agree, but you would hope they swapped the bushings when they swapped the rack. Just get under the truck and watch the rack while you (with a long arm) or assistant of at least five years of age) turns the wheel. If rack moves at all, they need swapped.

I like the two-tone. Factory is dull, I have the same one.

 

[Mr. Neptune]

If your pulling the seat covers put in some aftermarket seat heaters as well.....That is my plan

 

[the great him]

as far as your front end goes, id replace the lower and upper ball joints(lowers can fail leading to disastrous results -search lower ball joint failure), and new inner and outer tie-rod ends. id also put in new steering rack bushings as well as sway bar bushings all around. shocks in the rear and new struts up front will help with the swaying and body roll too.

and for the coolant flush and trans fluid change, id also recommend getting a new rad, and or external trans cooler, and eliminating the factory cooler in the radiator all together.

good luck with things

 

[AZ4FNER]

Welcome, and I vote two tone. Looks nice and good to be different in my opinion.

 

[T4R_Finally]

Agree with "the kid". As long as your wallet is open and you are doing all that other work, replace the radiator and/or reroute your transmission cooling to an external cooler. If you don't know why, search here for "pink milkshake" and read up.

Congrats on the new project. You got the fastest color!!! LOL

Forgot to add, yes definitely check and even consider replacing LBJ's if you are going to pull your front suspension all apart anyway.

 

[Drcoffee]

Consider the taco LBJT & OTREs. A quick search will give you a lot of info. Did mine with no regrets.

 

[Cytronus]

Thanks everyone! I think I will wait a month or so to do the new radiator and love the idea of the external transmission cooler.

I called up a local Katzkin installer this morning, Coach Auto Restyling, and scheduled an appointment for Thursday morning. Really nice guy.

I voiced concern about the looseness and angled incorrect pleats I see on some of the Toyota trucks with Katzkin. It turns out it's the result of compressed, aged seat foam. The leather kits are cut to OEM spec, so when the new leather goes on to worn out, squished, shrunk foam, it looks loose and pleats appear where you don't want them. Some installers add new foam on top of the aging foam to tighten up the look, but it's not perfect, and some are just lazy and simply recover the old flat seats, leaving the leather looking baggy and loose.

In the spirit of doing it right without any regret, I ordered brand new factory seat foam for both front seats from a local Toyota dealer so the Katzkins will fit tightly.

With my interior gutted and dash pieces removed, the installer mentioned it would be easier to install the seat heaters so I will move forward with that option. The install will add new wiring from the dash to the seat and will add a factory looking switch to the seat plastic sort of near the power seat controls.

I have the carpet out and COIT is coming on Wednesday morning to steam clean the whole set. Can't wait. I'll take some good before and after shots of the carpet and seats for you guys so stay tuned.

MORE PICS COMING SOON!

 

[Cytronus]

Hey guys, here are some shots of my progress from a couple of days ago. Has anyone used the aftermarket molded carpet with mass backing in their 3rd gen? I'm curious how it looks and fits and how much time it takes to cut the holes and trim the sides, just in case my carpet cleaning doesn't come out great tomorrow.

 

[Cytronus]

Update!

Well, the old mule is in the shop getting her new Katzkin leathers.

I decided against the two-tone as I thought it might look too sporty, busy and just a tad too much style for a truck. I opted for the single tone Katzkin in the flat Adobe color. I held the swatch up to the door panel, OEM seat leather and seat side plastic and determined this color looked the best as it very closely matches the OEM but with a slightly brighter tone, less taupe and more beige than the OEM. IMHO, the OEM color of the oak interior has too much red in the taupe color. I prefer more of a biege/tan hue. To me it just hints more at the earthy colors of the outdoors.

I specifically asked for the new seats NOT to have the cheesy, luxury sedan-like OEM pleats in the center section but instead, a tight and flat look throughout. The finish will also be flat, as in not shiny or glossy. I think these two characteristics will add a subtle touch of "truck" and masculinity.

The center console lid will also be wrapped in the same leather as the seats without any stitching. The OEM stitching and seams are prone to show wear from excess contact on the edges. The new look will be more practical, smooth and create continuity of color across the front row.

While at the shop, Steve at Coach Automotive Restyling suggested other modifications, one of which caught my attention - the rear view mirror mod with built in back up camera via a 4" backlit LCD inside which turns on automatically when in reverse. Two camera options were available; a small camera pod which mounts under the exterior license plate trim piece to either the right or left of the license plate light OR option 2, a steel license plate frame with camera on top directly in the center. I opted for the hidden camera which won't be as subject to theft or weathering as the frame. With its 170 degree viewing angle, I'm not worried about the camera angle being off center slightly and it'll be hidden from view, preserving the stock look.


I was already in the market for a larger rear view mirror which would capture a field of view extending into the rear cargo windows and as a bonus, this rig, the Advent LCMD40, has just such a mirror. The upgrade will add greater visibility for driving and a terrific aid for those tight parallels or garage back-ins. I'm stoked!

I also received shipment of the brighter LED lights for the gauge cluster, the rear bumper stay and the digital A/C climate control unit back from Dave Ruberg, the "Speedometer Repair Guy", which I'll promptly install when I get the car back with its new skins.

A note for everyone here, I'll be selling the OEM front seat foam for both front seat backs and bottoms, which are in very good condition and the original leather, which is also in great shape, particularly the rear seat and front passenger. If anyone is interested in buying, make me an offer.

I should be getting the truck back on Tuesday or Wednesday so more to come this week all! Stay tuned!

 

[Hepar]

Welcome! That rig is going to feel brand new inside after all that work!

 

[Cytronus]

Toyota Parts East = worst service ever

I'm not one to complain but I feel inclined to warn you guys; Toyota Parts East (toyotapartseast.com) stinks. They shipped me 2 incorrect products and transfered me to 4 different people who could care less about their jobs, let alone their customers. After an hour of holding, transfers and repeating my case 4 times, I finally received confirmation I'd get an RMA to ship back the Tacoma parts I received instead of 4Runner parts.

Watch out for these guys, the service is terrible and competence runs low.

 

[Cytronus]

Ash tray mod, cigarette lighter panel and cup holder restoration

While waiting for the return of the 4Runner, I thought I'd tinker around with a few dash and panel pieces.

Ash Tray Mod: With the OEM ash tray's dim green light, I wanted to brighten it up with warm white light and a hint of green so I could see its contents better but preserve a somewhat factory look. I simply drilled a hole in the green plastic filter to let in more light.

Cigarette Lighter Restore: I noticed the paint coating on the metal frame around the lighter was coroded and spotted in white so I took it apart and gave the metal a quick sand, prime and paint in flat black. It came out great.

Cup Holder Restore: This is tough stuff to restore indeed but a dry polish wheel and moderate pressure with quick movements, ensuring not to build up too much heat in one area and thus melt the plastic, removes light surface scratches and some of the whitish dry, UV damaged surface molecules. Here's how it looks. I also finished the piece off with MeGuiars Trim Restore to get it looking even more black. It came out great.

 

[Duhockey]

Wow! nice build! Great attention to detail.

I have a 96 and have been thinking about redoing alot of my interior, I had never considered an aftermarket interior, now you got me thinking a bit.

 

[Cytronus]

I got my truck back yesterday evening with the new Katzkin leather and it looks and feels INCREDIBLE! It's a tad bit thicker and softer than the factory skins. They added a thicker padding layer between the leather and seat foam which makes it feel more soft and comfortable. I will say the leather looks a tiny bit loose in a few areas compared to the factory but negligibly so. I have 3 months to bring it back to have it tightended if needed. I'll give it some seat time and see how it holds up over the next few weeks before making that call. If it stays as is, I'm happy. Photos coming soon but as a teaser, I've attached a shot of the center console lid covered in the same skins as the new seats. It looks great!

The installers stuck with the original passenger seat foam bottom because it had an embedded airbag sensor which would've been too risky or time consuming to mess with. I'll be returning the brand new passenger seat foam bottom today.

I have the rear seat leather in great shape and driver side seat foam plus the passenger side seat foam back if anyone's interested. I already have someone interested in the factory passenger seat leather. Any dibs for the remainder are welcomed.

I also had the back up camera installed with the Advent rear view mirror, however, the ball joints in the mirror arm were so tight that when I went to adjust the mirror, it broke free of the windshield and chipped the glass. Bummer. The guys at Coach Auto Restyling sent someone out this morning and its being worked on now.