Old Man Emu lift done finally!! After pictures included.

[Kmvreter]

I 100% agree...
... so now I too am expecting maybe a muddy milkshake when I move the boot. However I've been told the sound the CV joint makes is not a squeak but a grinding sound... I'm going to give this a try on my own. Where did you go to get the clamps, since Toyota does not offer them seperately. I'll check to see if I have the same pliers first. The ones you used remind me of the nippers the farrier uses to trim horses hooves, but obviously they are not sharpened tips! I'm thinking if I go to any auto supply store, I'll be able to find the clamps. Other than following along on your write up, any further suggestions?

RE: larger tires. Yes, hell yes!

Since you aren't hearing noises, and it looks like there isn't much grease that has escaped, I wouldn't do the entire repair like mine. Leave the rest of the boot in place. I would just open the current clamp with a screwdriver, move it out of the way, move back the end of the boot to clean out the groove in the shaft, then install the new clamp. Only do the entire messy fix if you get water coming out at this point. I got the clamp at UAP (like a NAPA.) The end nip pliers are very common at any tool department. They are smaller than fence pliers. Don't cut the old clamp off until you are sure about the install of the new clamp.

Now back to your thread...

Good call on the tires. Nice to see a work in process.

 

[Denio]

Ruffian...
Congrats on the OME's.. I have had them on for a year now and love them.. Your Pic's look great.
I notice you have on your wish list Rock Sliders.. I have Hannna Quality Sliders on my truck that I am thinking about removing... If interested PM..

 

[Ruffian]

Ruffian...
Congrats on the OME's.. I have had them on for a year now and love them.. Your Pic's look great.
I notice you have on your wish list Rock Sliders.. I have Hannna Quality Sliders on my truck that I am thinking about removing... If interested PM..

Too cool! Thanks! PM sent.
M.

 

[Erich]

Hi Ruffian,
I too have the OME lift. I was wondering what your thoughts are on the front sway bar. I notice mine is very close to the front shock. I get a metal on metal speaking noise whenever I turn a corner and go over a bump. It sounds like an old bed spring but lower in Freq(bass). I thought maybe it was just the new springs but after looking around I found the sway bar was very, very close to the front shock. BTW the Runner looks awesome.

 

[Ruffian]

Hi Ruffian,
I too have the OME lift. I was wondering what your thoughts are on the front sway bar. I notice mine is very close to the front shock. I get a metal on metal speaking noise whenever I turn a corner and go over a bump. It sounds like an old bed spring but lower in Freq(bass). I thought maybe it was just the new springs but after looking around I found the sway bar was very, very close to the front shock. BTW the Runner looks awesome.

Yeah I'm hearing that too, but I heard it before the lift. Did you have X-REAS? I was wondering if it was that at some point. I never considered it till now, since until I got Ruffian in the air, I never knew that system was there.

After some research, I found that it's the bushings or whatever you'd call them on the Lower part of the control arm. This is why one of my "things to do" is to replace those control arms with an aftermarket one. Anyway, I was told that is the sound we are hearing, so just lube those parts where the control arm moves. I'm going to be working on fab'ing a quick disconnect (or just buying part of it from WabFab) to disconnect that sway bar when I go off roading. (I know...I know...Great off road toys are built not bought!) Will help in getting that much more flex off road. :biggrin2:

So now I need to deal with the rattle in the sunroof, ignore the humming from the brake assembly, lube the clunk from the drive shaft, lube the squeak from the lower control arm, and spritz some silicone spray on the back seat connects when you have them upright. Gee....maybe I'm lucky the drivers seat noise and the glove box noise are not that bad. Granted to ignore those I just turn up the radio. lol :rocker:

 

[Erich]

I guess I'll have to lube that area when I get the Camburg UCA's installed. Interesting you mention disconnecting the from Sway bar. I thought about changing it out with an FJ one, but after reading a bunch of info on IFS sway bars, I'm not sure it matters. I guess if the wheel just drops with no pressure/wieght on it then you really don't get any more traction. I was going to buy an LR3 and the salesman made a point of telling me about a feature they have to compensate for idependent suspensions. I guess it makes it act like a solid axle. Althought at the time I really had no idea what he was talking about. EDITED... forgot, No XREAS.

 

[Ruffian]

Cool beans! You are way ahead of me, but pretty much doing the same things that are on my list. Let me know how those Camburgs work out. I bet once you swap the UCA's, that noise goes away. If not, it's the lower control arm for sure.

How is the ARB locker treating you? I'd like to do that one day, but that's way down on my list. I want to make her stronger first before I start adding things that may cause more breakage. There are several fabrication friends of mine out this way that have done mod work to the frame to help in clearance. There is one or two very weak points in the undercarriage that need bolstering. I've actually folded over one of them already. I'm home sick today, so I don't remember the names of parts right now. Just see yellow arrow in pic.

Keep in touch pls and like wise I'll post here of the work I get done.

 

[retco]

Ruffian,
Spray some White Lithium Greese UP And DOWN your sunroof tracks. I listened to that Damn rattle for over a year be4 I did something about it. It hasn't made noise in a couple yrs, if it ever does I'll spray it again. Good Luck,
Ruffian looks great.
I've got my OME 885/895 w/shocks, sitting in the living room right now. Can't wait to install them.

 

[retco]

Ruffian,
Spray some White Lithium Greese UP And DOWN your sunroof tracks. I listened to that Damn rattle for over a year be4 I did something about it. It hasn't made noise in a couple yrs, if it ever does I'll spray it again. Good Luck,
Ruffian looks great.
I've got my OME 885/895 w/shocks, sitting in the living room right now. Can't wait to install them.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Did you see these for the rear LCA's?? http://www.allprooffroad.com/fjtrailarmor/fjskidplates/fjlowerlinkskid

 

[Ruffian]

Chris,
Hmmm...those are interesting! I wonder though if they would interfere with skid plates? Doubt it, but that would at least be better than nothing. The rocks in the Sierras are ruthless!
Thanks!
M.

 

[CJ3Flyr]

Chris,
Hmmm...those are interesting! I wonder though if they would interfere with skid plates? Doubt it, but that would at least be better than nothing. The rocks in the Sierras are ruthless!
Thanks!
M.

They shouldn't interfere with your skidplates. Someone at T120 has them and says they're ok. There's a $180 alternative that is a little better but he said as you did of th All-Pro's, "better than nothing"

Your ride is shaping up nicely


:cheers:

 

[Ruffian]

Thanks again.

Had a good time in the deep Sierra snow storm last night. Learned a few things how the 4Runner handles. I can't decide if it's this lift or the Nittos, but when I was on the icy ruts caused by the snow plow chains or a chitty job of plowing, Ruffian gets to bucking about like a ship at sea. Traction goes out the window. But in the fresh stuff, straight and smooth as an arrow. Highly impressed me. Played in the really deep stuff in the Reno Cabela's parking lot. Did a few erm, power slides! Nothing like 4 rooster tails of flying snow! God bless huge empty parking lots at 2 a.m.!!

 

[drewtiss@hotmai]

Since you aren't hearing noises, and it looks like there isn't much grease that has escaped, I wouldn't do the entire repair like mine. Leave the rest of the cv boot in place. I would just open the current clamp with a screwdriver, move it out of the way, move back the end of the boot to clean out the groove in the shaft, then install the new clamp. Only do the entire messy fix if you get water coming out at this point. I got the clamp at UAP (like a NAPA.) The end nip pliers are very common at any tool department. They are smaller than fence pliers. Don't cut the old clamp off until you are sure about the install of the new clamp.

Now back to your thread...

Good call on the tires. Nice to see a work in process.

I'll probably try this later. I still have to look for a perfect-fitting clamp for now. I still need to estimate some stuffs though.

 

[chronicanomaly]

Diff Drop?

Hey Ruffian,

I have been talking to cj3flyer about a diff drop after having leaky CV boot clamps for almost a year now, and I wanted to ask you how difficult it would be to install, based on the job done on yours. Basically, I'm going back to school in a week, and will only have a ratchet set and basic tools, no jack, and wasn't quite sure what was necessary for this. If you have any advice that would be a huge help!

 

[Ruffian]

I see you tried to send me a PM, the box is now empty. Guess you can only save PM's for so long.

I missed the whole diff. drop install since I had to go to work. I'm told it's very easy to do. It's just installing the longer bolts. I can email my friend who did the work and ask him to tell me how he did it if you like.

RE: weeping CV joints. Ruffian doesn't have this problem anymore. She has new boots! That warranty I paid for was the smartest thing I did for this 4Runner purchase next to the new suspension. Add $144 x2 for the new boots plus the techs hourly wage to install both of them. Took them 2 days only because they only had one CV boot in stock. But they were nice and let me take home for the afternoon a brand new Corolla. Fun little car. Not my cup of tea, but still a nice little car. Oh and that new car scent was awesome! Oh and coasting down hill, in neutral, the AVG MPG would go from around 34 to 99!!

One new one, one old one that night.

Nothing prettier than a brand new part!

And then the following week after the passenger side one was replaced.

 

[chronicanomaly]

I think it should be pretty straightforward if i decide to do it, but thanks for offering to look into that!

That fix looks good, hopefully it holds. Mine don't seem to want to for some reason, and I'm getting tired of reclamping those boots!:bash:

 

[Ruffian]

I see you went with spacers. I went with the suspension lift. I'm curious if the spacers alter the angle of the CV differently. Are you willing to post some shots like the ones I took so that we can see if there is a difference?

I think that this may be a common enough repair, as when I was picking up Ruffian from the dealer, I had a different advisor. I asked him how long he thought it would be before I had to do this again, and taking into effect with the suspension lift as well as I go off roading. He said I should expect to get at least the same amount of mileage. He said they do see this frequently, and mostly in Camrys.

I don't understand that you have to keep retightening the clamps. Did you do the whole rebuild kit or are you just tightening the old clamps?

 

[chronicanomaly]

I see you went with spacers. I went with the suspension lift. I'm curious if the spacers alter the angle of the CV differently. Are you willing to post some shots like the ones I took so that we can see if there is a difference?

I think that this may be a common enough repair, as when I was picking up Ruffian from the dealer, I had a different advisor. I asked him how long he thought it would be before I had to do this again, and taking into effect with the suspension lift as well as I go off roading. He said I should expect to get at least the same amount of mileage. He said they do see this frequently, and mostly in Camrys.

I don't understand that you have to keep retightening the clamps. Did you do the whole rebuild kit or are you just tightening the old clamps?

I will try to get out and take shots this afternoon, but will probably be able to do it tomorrow morning, and we can compare them then. I had a boot replaced at the dealer, and then have had 2 or 3 new clamps put on. I have tried to have the old clamps retightened, but every time I do I get the same response, the clamp is as tight as it can get, just put a new one on there.

The clamp on the inner side of the boot seems to be holding since they put that one on, it is now the larger, outer clamp that is leaking.

 

[Mabuse]

So Ruffian, just to be clear, you bought an extended waranty and the parts and labor to redo the boots was covered by the waranty, even though you had an aftermarket lift put on the car?

That is great to hear.

Did they give you any kind of hassle because of non-Toyota after market parts?