Parts and Plans for a New T4R owner

[NorthernRyan]

I have read a fair amount on here but this is my first time posting. For my first car I have bought a 2003 Galactic Grey Sport T4R that now has 155k km and shes great. I have had it for 3 months and brought it from BC to Alberta as I moved to Fort McMurray (for all the Americans here that is your leading foreign source of oil, your welcome). Here a V6 is considered fuel efficient and a 4Runner is a small truck. But enough of the fun stuff, the problem is I have to pass an inspection here to register it and I have bad brake news.

Parts:
So I need to replace both leaky front calipers (from reading here a common occurrence) and rear rotors and pads that are worn out of spec. And I have to order them this weekend so I can install them next weekend to reinspect it and get registered before my insurance runs out. I'm mechanically inclined and labour rates up here are $150 an hour so I'm doing it myself. I need suggestions on the parts as being my first car I haven't done this before. I want good parts but I am ... "frugal". I also want to lift the front end slightly to even out the raked look a bit and from reading on here due to the X-REAS system I'm thinking top out 3/4" polyurethane spacers. A Canadian supplier may be easier shipping wise but I'm open to any suggestions.

Plans:
Being so far North already I figure a trip to the Arctic circle would make sense after I get this brake thing squared away. I will be doing it during the winter so the ice roads provide more of a direct route. I was wondering what you guys would think some "necessary" mods would be for the trip. I'm thinking bull bar with skid plate and steel roof rack. I have a block heater but a battery wrap may be necessary. Tire chains will be a must but that's not really a mod I don't think.

Thanks for any help guys and I look forward to posting pics as my runner evolves and eventually some pics of this trip when it happens.

 

[gptoy96]

Sorry, I'm not going to be all that helpful to you for most of your questions but I just wanted to say hey as it's not too often a guy sees another Albertan on here.

Welcome. You've come to the right place for information and with some searching I'm sure you'll find all kinds of helpful info.

As for your trip, would be a good one for sure. You have a great truck for it. Lights would be important, a good cold front to keep your rad from freezing at highway speeds and a good set of tires with a good spare (maybe an extra on the roof) are pretty important. I grew up in the NWT north of you, the majority of it not too far north of the border but still enough to know how cold it can get for how long.

 

[4Runner8]

hey congrats, i can help you on the top out spacer, here is a link, not sure if you ment you want 3/4 inch lift or thats the size spacer you want but here are some top outs and pre loads, i reccomend the top out as its much easier to install.

hope this helps
03-Current Toyota 4Runner Suspension Equipment -Wheeler's Off-Road

 

[NorthernRyan]

Hey gptoy96 good to meet you. I was thinking about the lights too seeing as it will be dark a lot of the time I'm up there, being the winter. I didn't think of the cold front though good suggestion. Being from Vancouver those things don't come up, haven't heard the name before but I'm assuming it's one of those covers so less/no air can go through the front to get at the rad.

Thanks, 4Runner8. Ya I mean a 3/4" spacer to get around 1 1/2" or a little less of lift.

 

[4Runner8]

okay well those spacers all say how much they will lift. there are also some others out there, but most are pre loads.