Photo Timeline of my 4Runner {LOTS OF PICS}

[LINY4Runner]

some better shots :madgrin:

 

[Thorgan112]

??? in the quote you just posted it says "Ditch Light Kit from CBI Offroad Fab". I would assume CBI sells a ditch light kit, which would consist of the brackets…

touche! lol I should learn to read I guess! :wow: found them on CBI's website, thanks

 

[LINY4Runner]

So here's my sort-of update.

:yield:
After trying everything I could possibly try I'm waving the white flag. My next day off it's getting towed to another friend's shop to go over the geometry and steering. He looked at it quickly and said the links and mounts look good, alignment isn't terrible. He does NOT like the track bar and how it relates to the drag link, so he wants to bring the axle side up and build a new track bar so it's flatter.

I guess we'll see...




Still keeping the frame-swap back to IFS and the Total Chaos Long Travel kit in my back pocket, though...it's still an option, although a last resort.

 

[URBAN ASSAULT]

So here's my sort-of update.

:yield:
After trying everything I could possibly try I'm waving the white flag. My next day off it's getting towed to another friend's shop to go over the geometry and steering. He looked at it quickly and said the links and mounts look good, alignment isn't terrible. He does NOT like the track bar and how it relates to the drag link, so he wants to bring the axle side up and build a new track bar so it's flatter.

I guess we'll see...




Still keeping the frame-swap back to IFS and the Total Chaos Long Travel kit in my back pocket, though...it's still an option, although a last resort.

Damn! Hopefully the panhard mods will help. I know my axle side panhard mount is tall. One of the limiting factors to having any lower ride height.
Only about an 1" to spare at full bump.

The principal rule I tried to follow was 'long & flat' on everything; Even the panhard. Also, I guess make sure everything is square. Obviously, links are same length, but are they square to the frame? I used a few landmarks like cross members or body mounts and measured 50x to bolt hole center of link mounts.
Good luck! Don't go back!

 

[coues7]

That is a tranformation if I've ever seen one.

 

[LINY4Runner]

Dropped her off at my buddy's house this morning...let's see what he comes up with....


While he has it, he wants to remove the body lift and cut and re-weld the bumper brackets and sliders...lol...so she'll be 2" lower

 

[URBAN ASSAULT]

Dropped her off at my buddy's house this morning...let's see what he comes up with....


While he has it, he wants to remove the body lift and cut and re-weld the bumper brackets and sliders...lol...so she'll be 2" lower

Great idea! I regret not pulling my 1"BL out. Not even sure I can now. So much has been built with it in. But I would love to have that inch back.
Good luck with the fixes.

 

[LINY4Runner]

So here's what he's tried;

Raised the axle-side track bar mount and swapped to a straight bar with solid joints.

Moved the axle-side upper link mount further out because the joint on the frame side was maxed out and binding against the mount.

Drilled out and welded in 1-ton ream inserts because the steering arms may have been reamed too big.

Balanced the tires.

Set toe and caster.

Ran geometry in 3-link calculator, came up very good.


aaaaaaaaand it still wobbles.

He has three more ideas he wants me to try; swap out tires with the stockers I have at home, replace the wheel bearings and replace and adjust the trunion bearings. I'll entertain that because it won't cost much money to do, but that is it. I'm done after this.

If anyone is in need of an 85 Axle built with 4.88's, Marlin chromoly birfields and fully rebuilt knuckles with OEM parts, I'll be looking to get around $1000 for it.
Same goes for the coilovers; Fox 2.5 Remote Res, 10" travel, 10" 250lb spring over 12" 350lb spring...looking for $1600.
OEM rebuilt Toyota steering box, maybe $250.
Nothing else in the swap is worth anything anymore...but at least if I can sell this stuff off, it'll fund the Total Chaos kit and all I'll have to do is source a parts truck with a good frame, front diff, steering rack, etc...

Sorry guys. I know you're all bummed. Imagine how I'm feeling typing this...

 

[t4r4life]

Poor guy

 

[cdrewferd]

Man, that really sucks. Wonder what's going on. Think the axle might be bent? Weird to see you having all these issues, but others have done the swap and love the new setup.

 

[downpour11]

Take it to someone else.

 

[Mr. B]

Before you do anything drastic,
Can you please take a video underneath the front end, while you shake your steering wheel back and forth. Maybe one of us can spot something moving/wrong. Sometimes, while we try to look for a major problem, we somehow overlook the slightest things...

 

[Dous]

What kind of wobble is it?

Steering wheel going back and forth?

Throw hydro assist on it, it is pretty much impossible for death wobble to occur with a hydro ram

 

[Dirtco]

What kind of wobble is it?

Steering wheel going back and forth?

Throw hydro assist on it, it is pretty much impossible for death wobble to occur with a hydro ram

Hydro assist really makes a difference, and your going to want it down the road anyway. I had a little wobble in the old Turbo 4Runner with hydro assist; ended up the tires were out of balance, the tie rod ends were shot, and the shackle bushings were worn out (without hydro it would have been un-driveable). I would start there, it's a Band-aid fix but if it makes it bearable to drive then who cares?

Also, I would find someone with a GoPro camera and mount it to several different spots of the suspension/steering. You might get lucky and be able to see where it starts.

Edit: Throw some stock wheels and tires on it then drive it, eliminate as many things as possible. The MTR's have issue's when it comes to balancing and being round.

 

[LINY4Runner]

Take it to someone else.

It's with someone else. The guy who helped me build it is pissed.

Before you do anything drastic,
Can you please take a video underneath the front end, while you shake your steering wheel back and forth. Maybe one of us can spot something moving/wrong. Sometimes, while we try to look for a major problem, we somehow overlook the slightest things...

I've been hunting this down for 6 month, EVERYTHING has either been re-worked or replaced…I'm over $1500 in parts just to eliminate this wobble.

Throw hydro assist on it, it is pretty much impossible for death wobble to occur with a hydro ram

I don't want to mask it, I want to eliminate it.

Hydro assist really makes a difference, and your going to want it down the road anyway. I had a little wobble in the old Turbo 4Runner with hydro assist; ended up the tires were out of balance, the tie rod ends were shot, and the shackle bushings were worn out (without hydro it would have been un-driveable). I would start there, it's a Band-aid fix but if it makes it bearable to drive then who cares?

Also, I would find someone with a GoPro camera and mount it to several different spots of the suspension/steering. You might get lucky and be able to see where it starts.

Edit: Throw some stock wheels and tires on it then drive it, eliminate as many things as possible. The MTR's have issue's when it comes to balancing and being round.

I've done the GoPro thing, and like you said Hydro is just a band-aid fix. I'm gonna try swapping the tires out for stockers, because I know MT/R's suck the dick.
My main issue is if something as minor as an unbalanced tire can make the truck undriveable, I don't want that in my truck. I drive 300 miles to the nearest off road park. I don't have a tow rig or trailer. My first and foremost requirement of this truck is to be able to safely sustain highway speeds. I'm running out of belief that this is possible with crossover steering.


Second problem with adding Hydro is that I have nowhere to put the ram. The truck sits so low and only has 3" of useable up travel as it is that there's physically nowhere to put the ram.

 

[downpour11]

It's with someone else. The guy who helped me build it is pissed.

Oh shit, well that sucks. Sorry to hear man. Hate to see you giving up on it. What about selling the axle you have, picking up a semi-built 44 or 60 and redoing the steering? You'd also have room for hydro.

 

[LINY4Runner]

Oh shit, well that sucks. Sorry to hear man. Hate to see you giving up on it. What about selling the axle you have, picking up a semi-built 44 or 60 and redoing the steering? You'd also have room for hydro.

I think I'm just so burnt out on the idea of the solid front axle that none of those ideas sound appealing to me. And, again, it's spending MORE money for the same thing I have now and MAYBE it'll fix the wobble.
I honestly believe that IFS is the only way to have the truck the way I want it: 75/35 street/trail

 

[TheArkMaster]

Man, it's a bummer to hear. I hope you find it soon man! Or at least win the lotto or something! Good luck either direction you go.

 

[cdrewferd]

Instead of trying to go back to IFS, have you thought about maybe trading someone for their IFS 4Runner? They would probably need to come up with some cash too, but then you wouldn't have to try and figure out the IFS geometry and everything.

 

[LINY4Runner]

Instead of trying to go back to IFS, have you thought about maybe trading someone for their IFS 4Runner? They would probably need to come up with some cash too, but then you wouldn't have to try and figure out the IFS geometry and everything.

Well, when I say go back to IFS, I'm talking about doing a frame swap with an unmolested frame