New comer. Got some questions.

[Hellraiser465]

Hey guys. I just bought a 91 4 runner sr5 yesterday. Its a v6 auto. Its a pretty full load model, has power locks, windows, sunroof. It has some rust but its deffinety not out of control. My goal for this truck is to get me around the city with all my tools. So with that said, i don't really plan to modify it at this point. Also if i can get it running good, it would be a nice truck for road trips.

I have some questions. I put about 300 km on it yesterday and noticed a few things. First and formost, when im turning left hard (near lock) i hear a loud clunking noise. I really wanna say its the cv. Does this make sense? Only happens when i am turning really sharp

Second is the rear window. It rattles around and its kind of annoying. Is there a fix to this?

The suspension needs doing. The struts are pretty shot. Got any favourites? Probably needs rear springs too. so may as well do everything.

Also i want a trailer hitch. They easy to install? Looking under the vehicle, it doesn't look hard at all.

Anyways that's about all i got for now. Thanks in advance.

 

[OTTERYOTA]

As for hitches their easy you might even be able to find a used factory hitch around. as for the window im not sure my womans 95 is quiet i know the panels is not hard to take off!! and yeah the clunking is probably a cv axel but make sure and jack up each wheel and check your ball joints any ways!!

 

[OTTERYOTA]

Oh and as for springs all second gens need new springs they suffer from saggy butt early in life

 

[Bad_Vision]

i built my hitch from a old rusty factory one and just copied it. works great

 

[BucknutBob]

Hello and welcome to the forum, HR465! You are most likely correct on the CV axle--that's their standard near-death warning sound. On the rear window, the 2nd Gen's tended to rust badly inside the tailgate, eventually messing with the glass's mounting rail and the regulator arms. You probably need to swap out the regulator, or at least clean up the old one and re-seat the glass. Like OTTER said, the rear springs go mushy early on with those, so you'll need new springs to make that right. The front uses simple shocks, not struts, in association with torsion bars. If you're going with shocks all around and new rear springs, my suggestion would be to get an Old Man Emu 2" lift instead--you get all new stuff, and you gain a couple inches underneath. The trailer hitch simply slips inside the frame rail ends and bolts through. I found a factory one at a local salvage yard--cheap and easy. Best of luck with your new rig!

 

[Hellraiser465]

alright. Thanks for the replies. Im pretty sure it is a cv joint. i think there is a quieter hum coming from that side of the vehicle to(front right).

The rattling in the rear isn't the rear window, its actually the spare tire holder. the rubber bumpers are pretty soft. I'll get those replaced.

Another issue that seems to be coming up is the transmission will stick in third when it should switch to 4th. it only seems to do it when the tranny is cold. it will eventually shift and once it does it won't stick anymore. Im going to get the fluid changed this week. Could there be another problem?

EDIT: i am trying to find this lift kit. What exactly do i need to do it properly, i see a few bits and pieces but not a complete kit. I would assume i need the higher springs for the back and the longer shocks for both the rear and the front. How do i lift the front? Sorry if this sounds stupid, im not really into trucks, more of a car guy.

 

[BucknutBob]

Rocky-Road and 4by4Connection are two places where you can get the complete OME lift kit. Everything is matched, with correct length shocks, etc.. The only choice is whether you want heavy-duty rear springs, if you carry a lot of stuff, or intend to add things that will increase the weight to the rear. The front will be lifted with new torsion bars. The auto tranny in these can be susceptible to balking when cold, but mostly when going into OD. You may have a shifter solenoid going out, which others on here have dealt with (my one auto, a '94, didn't have this problem). Nice to hear you have one of the rare factory spare carriers--those are hard to come by.

 

[Hellraiser465]

by balking do you mean it just refuses to shift? It shifts well and it is when shifting into od (i assume this is fourth). Its good solid shifts with no shuddering or slipping

That humm i was talking about. It seems to be getting slightly louder. Its still kinda hard to hear and it pulsates almost. Kinda like a vibration, it will get loud and then quiet. Doesn't seem to matter if its hot or cold, wet or dry. Im thinking its just tire noise and maybe an unbalanced tire, but its hard to say. Could i get some suggestions? I sounds like it is coming from the front end, and is only there when the vehicle is moving. Doesn't seem to have much to do with speed. Maybe im just being paranoid? it does have 300 000kms on the odo.

Thanks for the info on the lift kit. i will need the rear hd springs as she is sagging pretty good with all my work stuff.

And just out of curiosity, where does the spare tire go if you don't have the rear tire holder?

 

[BucknutBob]

by balking do you mean it just refuses to shift? It shifts well and it is when shifting into od (i assume this is fourth). Its good solid shifts with no shuddering or slipping



And just out of curiosity, where does the spare tire go if you don't have the rear tire holder?

On the shifting comment, the semi-common problem is a refusal to go into OD (yes, that's 4th) until everything is warmed up. When it hesitates on the other gears, that's when the solenoids may be acting up. On the spare, all those without the rear rack store the spare under the rear of the truck (in other words, all but two years when they offered the optional carrier).

 

[Vancouver93SR5-BLK]

Those transmission problems sound like a nightmare. Just make sure it gets regular oil changes and sees a professional if that shifting problem persists. This is why i will rock standard trans in my truck forever thing is strong as.
Oh and with your spare tire question. I assume you mean after you lift it and you under the tail tire carrier is removed? You can either get a swinging tailgate that olds it. or go baja style and mount this: