So I bought my son a slightly beat up SR5, with 160,000 miles on it. I logged into the Toyota owners website and see that it had regular 3000 mile oil changes, new timing and water pump at 122k, and regular maintenance from a dealer for most of its life.
The issue is that it was also regularly thrashed, it seems. The rear bumper was replaced, the hatch repaired and repainted (poorly), the moon roof doesn't work, and it was pretty dirty inside. Also, the running board on the drivers side has been damaged, the end cap on the passenger side one is missing, and the front bumper was dented at some point, but not badly so. Finally, the paint has seen better days.
I bought it because there was zero rust underneath, the regular engine maintenance, and the mechanicals all checked out. I did have a mechanic check it out, and he said it was ok, just "rode hard and put up wet." Like someone took advantage of the capabilities and the body paid the price.
I'm going through changing the fluids, put new tires on it, new rotors, and fixed the broken antenna. I want to go to through the engine, and then the suspension and teach my son some automotive skills. We're going for ride comfort first, while maintaining the ability to hit the national forest roads confidently.
My questions are about suspension and steering, my personal mechanical weakness. We're not interested in lift, if it can be avoided, so stock height to 1-2" lift is our aim. Everything is apparently fine underneath, but we're going to change it out and beef it up for long term reliability anyway. So what would y'all suggest as a path to that end?
LBJ is first up. I'll get OEM. But what else can we do while we are tearing it apart? Two dudes in a driveway level stuff. Upper ball joint? Tie rod ends? Any other straightforward upgrades or suggested replacement parts we can do while its torn apart anyway? What about other steering components?
After that, I want to hit all the shocks and springs and struts. Again, I'm not looking to lift it high, so stock height is ok, maybe 1-2" if it can't be avoided. I've read where some have said since you're replacing it all anyway, just put a lift on it, but this is a daily driver, with summertime forest roads and snowdrift busting the hardest work she'll likely do. Would the lightest OME setup do? Or some mashup of stock/OEM and aftermarket stuff? -Thanks
The issue is that it was also regularly thrashed, it seems. The rear bumper was replaced, the hatch repaired and repainted (poorly), the moon roof doesn't work, and it was pretty dirty inside. Also, the running board on the drivers side has been damaged, the end cap on the passenger side one is missing, and the front bumper was dented at some point, but not badly so. Finally, the paint has seen better days.
I bought it because there was zero rust underneath, the regular engine maintenance, and the mechanicals all checked out. I did have a mechanic check it out, and he said it was ok, just "rode hard and put up wet." Like someone took advantage of the capabilities and the body paid the price.
I'm going through changing the fluids, put new tires on it, new rotors, and fixed the broken antenna. I want to go to through the engine, and then the suspension and teach my son some automotive skills. We're going for ride comfort first, while maintaining the ability to hit the national forest roads confidently.
My questions are about suspension and steering, my personal mechanical weakness. We're not interested in lift, if it can be avoided, so stock height to 1-2" lift is our aim. Everything is apparently fine underneath, but we're going to change it out and beef it up for long term reliability anyway. So what would y'all suggest as a path to that end?
LBJ is first up. I'll get OEM. But what else can we do while we are tearing it apart? Two dudes in a driveway level stuff. Upper ball joint? Tie rod ends? Any other straightforward upgrades or suggested replacement parts we can do while its torn apart anyway? What about other steering components?
After that, I want to hit all the shocks and springs and struts. Again, I'm not looking to lift it high, so stock height is ok, maybe 1-2" if it can't be avoided. I've read where some have said since you're replacing it all anyway, just put a lift on it, but this is a daily driver, with summertime forest roads and snowdrift busting the hardest work she'll likely do. Would the lightest OME setup do? Or some mashup of stock/OEM and aftermarket stuff? -Thanks
If you want to save a pile of cash, Moog sells decent OEM alternatives for all things suspension. 
