off roading in my 'new' 98 4runner

[masphx]

Hi guys,

Last week I bought a 1998 V6 5speed 4x4 w/ locker with 168,000 miles. Went camping last weekend and the 4runner was great! Seemed like nothing could stop her even though I did not really push her too much. Only had to sue the 4x4 twice for a few hundred feet. Truck seems very tight and well made. Only issue I found when off-roading is that the dash or steering column made a lot of noise. Did not seem like anything was loose just noisy. Is this normal? When I bought the truck was told I should replace the shocks as they looked original.

Thanks for the help and input,

Mason

 

[SRSRunner]

I haven't had mine in anything at speed, at least not enough to have everything bouncing around like that- it may just be the dash.. I may be wrong, but if your front shocks were shot you'd feel it on the pavement as well. My front suspension had 231k on it when i pulled it off and honestly I was shocked, they didn't look like they had 100 on them. If your rears are stock replace them- I snapped the top of one off playing on a dirt pile.

 

[kruegs]

Hi guys,

Last week I bought a 1998 V6 5speed 4x4 w/ locker with 168,000 miles. Went camping last weekend and the 4runner was great! Seemed like nothing could stop her even though I did not really push her too much. Only had to sue the 4x4 twice for a few hundred feet. Truck seems very tight and well made. Only issue I found when off-roading is that the dash or steering column made a lot of noise. Did not seem like anything was loose just noisy. Is this normal? When I bought the truck was told I should replace the shocks as they looked original.

Thanks for the help and input,

Mason

I've got what I believe is the same thing... best described as a "clunk" in my steering wheel / dash area when going over larger bumps OR on traveling on washboard areas at speed. I am suspect of my inner tie rod ends or rack at this point.