Questions....

[aeathb]

Ok, I have had many questions and didn't want to ask too many in fear of taking away help from others, but here goes. I apologize for the super basic questions.
1. Should I replace both the end links and sway bar bushings? I wasn't sure if one only made a real difference compared to the other.
2. There are some scratches on my front bumper I sanded out.......and I went a little too deep. Can anyone recommend a clear coat? The color is still there, the paint is just dull, but its too deep for just wax....trust me I tried 6 coats.
3. I keep hearing about "lockers" for the wheels when people talk about off roading. I wasn't sure exactly what they are called, so google hasn't been a real lot of help. What do they do?
4. Has anyone painted their calipers glossy red? How did it turn out? What paint did you use?
5. How bad is it to shift the car into neutral at stop lights if I switch it back into drive 3 seconds before I go again?
6. Is it bad to shift it on occasion like a MT?
and finally,
7. How bad is it to take the car up to say....5k RPM just for kicks.
Thanks in advance!!

 

[danny4runner]

1. Don't know
2. again don't know
3. third time is a charm... don't know
4. don't know
5. why?
6. 5k RPM... why not 9k? :lol:

Ok, I have had many questions and didn't want to ask too many in fear of taking away help from others, but here goes. I apologize for the super basic questions.
1. Should I replace both the end links and sway bar bushings? I wasn't sure if one only made a real difference compared to the other.
2. There are some scratches on my front bumper I sanded out.......and I went a little too deep. Can anyone recommend a clear coat? The color is still there, the paint is just dull, but its too deep for just wax....trust me I tried 6 coats.
3. I keep hearing about "lockers" for the wheels when people talk about off roading. I wasn't sure exactly what they are called, so google hasn't been a real lot of help. What do they do?
4. Has anyone painted their calipers glossy red? How did it turn out? What paint did you use?
5. How bad is it to shift the car into neutral at stop lights if I switch it back into drive 3 seconds before I go again?
6. Is it bad to shift it on occasion like a MT?
and finally,
7. How bad is it to take the car up to say....5k RPM just for kicks.
Thanks in advance!!

 

[Uneek]

2. You can try polishing it. But it probably require a DA or rotary buffer. If you've never used a rotary, let a detailer or pro take care of it. Otherwise, you can burn the paint if you're not careful.

3. They are referring to the differential lockers, which you can get for the front and rear. Some are activated electrical and others by air. The locker will lock both axle togethers making both wheels on that axle rotate at the same speed. This is useful off roading because if you get a wheel up in the air or on a slippery surface you will continue to have power to the other wheel. With an open differential, power will go to the wheel with the least resistance (i.e. the wheel in the air or without traction). A popular locker is ARB.

4. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/60692-painted-brake-calipers.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/general-discussions/49502-brake-rotors-calipers-anyone-paint-them.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/45863-painted-my-calipers.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/4th-gen-t4rs/9723-painting-brake-caliber.html
An easy to find brand is Dupli-Color. IIRC, Tirerack.com also sell complete brake caliper paint kits.

5. I don't see a problem with it. But the engine does idle a bit higher in neutral and in drive. So there could be a tiny hit on gas mileage in city driving.

6. Should be ok, just don't select too low of a gear. Similar to automatics that have the manual mode.

7. It'll be fine, the engine is protected by a rev limiter.

 

[BlackDrake]

1. Unless suspension (lift) had changed drastically from stock, only new bushings are required.
2. See a body shop?
3. Lockers prevent the differential from allowing the wheels on each side of the vehicle to turn at different speeds. "Locking" them together is desirable when one wheel loses traction because it still pushes power to the other wheel. With an "open/unlocked" differential, if a wheel loses traction it will spin and the other will do nothing. Lockers are used for racing or off-roading to ensure maximum traction under power.
4. High-temp paint. There are rattle cans mades specifically for calipers.
5. I read something regarding cab drivers doing this. The conclusion was that it is better to leave the car in gear. Shifting into and out of neutral increases wear on the tranny.
6. It is not bad. The tranny computer will not allow the engine to downshift if the subsequent gear will cause the engine to exceed redline. The tranny up and downshifts on its own and you're simply initiating the same actions. Unless you're using it in a way that would damage a manual, you're not going to hurt it.
7. Higher RPM increase heat and wear. It's not bad, but will eventually lead to a shorter life of the involved parts. Once in a while for short periods of time should not be a concern.

 

[JB.]

6. Is it bad to shift it on occasion like a MT?

No, but keep the gas pedal in a static position whenever you do it. The manual says to never "put your foot on the pedal" when shifting which I interpret, through experience, as don't move the pedal while shifting. I've gotten a couple of very rough manual shifts in the past. Both of them happened while moving the pedal.

 

[BlackDrake]

No, but keep the gas pedal in a static position whenever you do it. The manual says to never "put your foot on the pedal" when shifting which I interpret, through experience, as don't move the pedal while shifting. I've gotten a couple of very rough manual shifts in the past. Both of them happened while moving the pedal.

I only 1/2 agree with the static position technique. If you're upshifting, that seems fine. That's what the transmission is used to, viz when you are flooring it away from a stoplight. I would not be comfortable maintaining full throttle or any throttle when downshifting. It is possible to rev-match with a manual transmission, but the mechanics of an AT do not allow this. I always let go of throttle completely before downshifting. I guess that is a static position, but only a zero-throttle static. Thoughts?

 

[aeathb]

Just wanted to thank everyone who chimed in. Really happy to finally understand something!! Shifting sounds kinda controversial; figured that would be the case.