Pre-Purchase Info, Modifications, Write-Ups, Quick Links, and FAQ's

[ChaosStarter]

Yeauuh. I've been car shopping on and off for about three years, switching between newer car, truck, 4runner, older BMW. Up til about a month or so before I bought the 04 I was convinced I wanted a 3rd gen.

When I started looking for 4Runners a year ago, I found (2) 2002 4Runners (both limited's), both around 48-50k original miles come into my Toyota dealer. One of them was in much better condition though than the other. I put a deposit down on the nicer one, but because the truck was over 8 years old, I couldn't get a good financing deal that would've worked for me.

I have fixed plenty of both generations since starting at Toyota, but I preferred the 4th gen overall. A bit of more power, and the 3rd gen would be perfect. I'd love to see a 3rd gen with a 2GR V6. From a power perspective, I was never to keen on the 3rd gen. My wife didn't care for them either and also preferred the 4th gen.

Fast forward to last May. Found my '05. Been happy ever since. I would buy it all over again. I had to wait for a good deal to come around but it popped up a mile from my house at a dealer I used to work at. :thumb


The funny thing is that this one only made it into the financing category by 8 months and a few thousand miles.

 

[iBison]

Great thread! Oh and my 03 has side air bags. But that may be because of the Limited version.

I changed it to 03. Thanks for the correction.

Here are a few BFG / Duratrac post.


http://www.toyota-4runner.org/perfo...7-bfg-t-ko-vs-goodyear-wrangler-duratrac.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/120455-duratracs-bfg-all-terrains-your-input.html

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/112933-duratracs-vs-all-terrains.html

I added these to the tires wheels section. Thanks for the links.

 

[Teqeeler]

Great work IBISON
Its funny i was thinking of doing something like this also and finally contributing to this forum, but never did.

Check out vvortex and there gti/ jetta forums they have a sticky that we should try and duplicate.

I hope this becomes a sticky and evolves into a DIY and how to section.
maybe have different categories like for example

Interior lighting

Exterior lighting

Maintenance- engine/brakes/ etc

wheels/ tires etc.

interior mods

exterior mods

electronics

performance




This would encourage other people to make DIY's that everyone could enjoy.

The user Av/1 has some great write ups and maybe we can link all of his mods to this sticky which would send people to his helpful site and toyota120 has a bunch of write-ups also

Maybe everyone try and find some DIYS on here and we can send them to Ibison to put in his post.

 

[Teqeeler]

Brakes

2007 4Runner SR5 V6 Front Brake Job - YouTube Credit youtube user JASON16V

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/maintenance/63934-my-4th-gen-front-brakes-walkthrough.html credit- DUCMAN

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/maintenance/36979-front-brake-caliper-pad-replacement.html

credit KMVRETER

Interior

auto dimming mirror install

https://www.google.com/url?q=http:/...ds-cse&usg=AFQjCNEcsJ4OiDWwFcgyfnh7yMrAWjwMZg credit 4RunnERD

leather install

https://www.google.com/url?q=http:/...ds-cse&usg=AFQjCNHqHVoiLLmmtIpmRG0Ucaor2o9mtw credit MACOYLE

Blacking out wheels

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/52200-blacking-out-fj-wheels-lots-pics.html Credit BLAIRB

 

[08T4R]

Great post!! Few corrections I saw, just so no one gets confused. 4th gen started in 03. UrbanRunner package was 08 & 09. Trail was 09 only.

 

[ddnww]

im waiting for the right deal to jump on ... i test drove a 05 limited v8 last night. all i can say is WOW.. i engaged the center diff and 4lo on a dirt lot to ensure they work properly. I am very impressed with the 4x4 system and the power and torque this thing had.. i cant wait to get out on the hills.

 

[iBison]

Brakes

2007 4Runner SR5 V6 Front Brake Job - YouTube Credit youtube user JASON16V

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/maintenance/63934-my-4th-gen-front-brakes-walkthrough.html credit- DUCMAN

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/maintenance/36979-front-brake-caliper-pad-replacement.html

credit KMVRETER

Interior

auto dimming mirror install

https://www.google.com/url?q=http:/...ds-cse&usg=AFQjCNEcsJ4OiDWwFcgyfnh7yMrAWjwMZg credit 4RunnERD

leather install

https://www.google.com/url?q=http:/...ds-cse&usg=AFQjCNHqHVoiLLmmtIpmRG0Ucaor2o9mtw credit MACOYLE

Blacking out wheels

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/52200-blacking-out-fj-wheels-lots-pics.html Credit BLAIRB

I have the auto dimming mirror thread on there, used it yesterday actually. I'll get the others on there soon.

Great post!! Few corrections I saw, just so no one gets confused. 4th gen started in 03. UrbanRunner package was 08 & 09. Trail was 09 only.

Fixed, although I'm not sure who hacked my post to say 2004-2009 instead of 2003-2009.

 

[iBison]

Brakes

2007 4Runner SR5 V6 Front Brake Job - YouTube Credit youtube user JASON16V

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/maintenance/63934-my-4th-gen-front-brakes-walkthrough.html credit- DUCMAN

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/maintenance/36979-front-brake-caliper-pad-replacement.html

credit KMVRETER

Interior

auto dimming mirror install

https://www.google.com/url?q=http:/...ds-cse&usg=AFQjCNEcsJ4OiDWwFcgyfnh7yMrAWjwMZg credit 4RunnERD

leather install

https://www.google.com/url?q=http:/...ds-cse&usg=AFQjCNHqHVoiLLmmtIpmRG0Ucaor2o9mtw credit MACOYLE

Blacking out wheels

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/52200-blacking-out-fj-wheels-lots-pics.html Credit BLAIRB

I've added those links. That leather install write-up is really nice.

 

[Teqeeler]

Sway bar bushing upgrade

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/34115-swaybar-bushing-upgrade.html#post289790 CREDIT CJ3fLYR

Great Informative website with a bunch of how to's.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...ECK64HcOEBp1gK2QwO4PocA&bvm=bv.43287494,d.dmg

Credit J.A

 

[fulltiltboogie]

Awesome list! Stoked on my '03 V8 SE I just scored last week at a killer Craigslist price! Daystar lift is on its way along with TRD Rock Warriors. I just have to decide on tires...

 

[imdtucker]

great post! i recently went through the same pre-buy to new (first time) owner transition. quite funny to see a lot of the threads and other info i have bookmarked appearing here.

one suggested addition is a tire size chart that shows (approximate) dimensions of various tire sizes such as the one i've been been using a lot over at Tire Rack

 

[Teqeeler]

Here is a good thread with alot of DIY'S from KMVRETER

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/general-discussions/21354-diy-mods-post-write-ups-here.html

 

[WXman]

This weekend, I have a long list for the '04 I just picked up. The parking brake doesn't hold AT ALL...vehicle just free rolls. That's going to be fun to fix. The license plate on the back mounts straight to the sheetmetal and the holes won't accept the screws I have. Never seen anything like this. The spark plugs were $60 bucks. I'm also going to do all 3 diffs. and put in a new cabin air filter. Dropping a crap ton of money...but a lot of this stuff hopefully won't have to be done again for a LONG time.

 

[iBison]

Sway bar bushing upgrade

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/34115-swaybar-bushing-upgrade.html#post289790 CREDIT CJ3fLYR

Great Informative website with a bunch of how to's.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...ECK64HcOEBp1gK2QwO4PocA&bvm=bv.43287494,d.dmg

Credit J.A

Added

great post! i recently went through the same pre-buy to new (first time) owner transition. quite funny to see a lot of the threads and other info i have bookmarked appearing here.

one suggested addition is a tire size chart that shows (approximate) dimensions of various tire sizes such as the one i've been been using a lot over at Tire Rack

Added

Here is a good thread with alot of DIY'S from KMVRETER

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/general-discussions/21354-diy-mods-post-write-ups-here.html

Added

Thanks for the links!

 

[iBison]

Added a link to a site where you can cross-reference part numbers on Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Super handy if you visit a junkyard.

 

[boondoggle]

Why isn't this a sticky yet?

Great question!

 

[Teqeeler]

Bump for being a sticky. Almost every good forum has one of these.

 

[LTDSC]

This weekend, I have a long list for the '04 I just picked up. The parking brake doesn't hold AT ALL...vehicle just free rolls. That's going to be fun to fix. The license plate on the back mounts straight to the sheetmetal and the holes won't accept the screws I have. Never seen anything like this. The spark plugs were $60 bucks. I'm also going to do all 3 diffs. and put in a new cabin air filter. Dropping a crap ton of money...but a lot of this stuff hopefully won't have to be done again for a LONG time.

my rear plate mounts straight to sheet metal. I dont find this as weird?

 

[WXman]

my rear plate mounts straight to sheet metal. I dont find this as weird?

From what I understand, these Limiteds were around $38K when new. You would think that for almost forty grand they would at least attach a molded bracket to the rear of the vehicle to mount the license plate to. I have owned vehicles (but never a Toyota) from 1988 to 2012 models...and I have never in my life seen it where you have to literally attach the license plate to the body of the vehicle. There are scrapes and scratches all over the paint behind the plate, and the holes are now rusty and won't accept the screws. Unreal to me that the japanese would build such a nice vehicle with such amazing engineering, and then not even give you a decent place to put the license plate.

But... I suppose if that's my biggest complaint then I'm doing pretty well. :keyboard:

I still love this thing.

 

[jdkilroy]

This is a great resource.

I think if it becomes a sticky, you should be even handed as well as selective in who you include (or exclude) in your lists of vendors for various gear.

Example: in the Retail: Armor/Winches ... etc you should include companies like BudBuilt and Shrockworks, two well respected vendors whose quality equipment graces many of the builds on this site.

With respect to "selective," vendors such as WabFab, who have horrendous reputations for customer service, should not be promoted at all.