Replacing timing belt/water pump

[ColoradoMTNlivin]

Just bought a 99 4runner sr5 v6 4x4 with 160k miles on it. I read that the timing belt and water pump should be replaced every 90k. I have a carfax on it but it has very limited service records, and none indicating either have been replaced. I'm hoping to get this baby to at least 300k miles, do you think I should replace them just to be safe? How about the ball joints which I read are also prone to failure at around this mileage? Thanks!

 

[Stick Figure]

I would start by inspecting the timing belt. Its fairly easy to pull the upper cover and have a look at it to see how old/warn it is. Ball joint wise, if they haven't been replaced, its probably a good idea to do so. If you can afford to do more than just the lower ball joints, and you plan to keep the truck I would. With that mileage I'm sure the rest of the suspension is far from new condition. Doing it all at once saves from having more downtime and trouble shooting as each piece passes its prime.

 

[TN_Soljah808]

Just bought a 99 4runner sr5 v6 4x4 with 160k miles on it. I read that the timing belt and water pump should be replaced every 90k. I have a carfax on it but it has very limited service records, and none indicating either have been replaced. I'm hoping to get this baby to at least 300k miles, do you think I should replace them just to be safe? How about the ball joints which I read are also prone to failure at around this mileage? Thanks!

Toyota Owners - Official Toyota Owners Website

Sign up and see if there is any records for your vehicle. If any maintenance was done at a Toyota dealership it should be listed on that website.

LBJ is something almost everyone puts off and are either lucky or not. It's up to you. I have about 170k and replaced mine. It took about two hours due to every bolt being rusted.

 

[LittleCaesar]

You might also want to consider replacing the radiator. Type "pink milkshake" in the search engine to see why.

Here is a good, comprehensive DIY for the TB/H20 pump:
http://www.nwtoys.com/forum/tech-article-submissions/1261-5vz-fe-timing-belt.html

 

[TheDurk]

I would start by inspecting the timing belt. Its fairly easy to pull the upper cover and have a look at it to see how old/warn it is. Ball joint wise, if they haven't been replaced, its probably a good idea to do so. If you can afford to do more than just the lower ball joints, and you plan to keep the truck I would. With that mileage I'm sure the rest of the suspension is far from new condition. Doing it all at once saves from having more downtime and trouble shooting as each piece passes its prime.

I agree, but it is difficult to assess the age of the TB--you will only be able to identify a real disaster. It is more important to check the water pump carefully for any sign of leakage while you are in there. A buildup of pink residue is a signal to change it right away. More TB failures seem to be due to WP leakage or seizure than just the belt aging. Those TB's last extremely well if no coolant gets on them. I would do a full TB/WP/both idlers/tensioner in the medium term so as to have a good known baseline if you are planning to keep it until 300k. You will have to do it before then anyway.

Check your BJ's by lifting the front and checking for play by push/pulling tire with hands at 6 and 12 o'clock. That will tell you if you need to do it right now. If the rig was lifted, or spent a lot of time off-road, then you should probably do them soon. If stock height and rig was run mainly highway, I think you could wait on those if no play is found.

Then check 3 and 9 o'clock for tie-rods and look for play in the rack bushings when the wheels are turned on the ground.

 

[ColoradoMTNlivin]

Thanks for the help guys, I'm thinking I'm gonna do the radiator for sure. If anyone else has any advice for anything else I could do to increase her life at 160k miles let me know!

 

[Zachpins34]

you might wanna consider getting an external tranny cooler so that you never have to worry about the pink milkshake. Around 75 bucks and good insurance for your tranny

 

[Nunyabiz]

If you have no idea if the TB was replaced then I would go ahead and do it.
Plus as hard as it is to believe the 4Runner I just bought a few months ago had the "Timing Belt" replaced AT THE DEALER at 123.xxx miles but they said the WP looks fine so no need to replace it?

Got to be kidding me? but sadly no, so I had a TB replaced at 123.xxx but a WP in there when I bought it with 157.xxx on it. DOH!

Dumbest thing I heard of but none the less was done at a dealership at the advise of the dealer so even if the TB looks like it may have been replaced doesn't mean the Water Pump was.

I would do the whole shebang, WP/TB etc and Ball joints and an external trans cooler.

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[halllricky]

I have 407,000 miles on my 98 4runner with the original belt