The Car Care Nut made a video on my Runner, thoughts?

[ReconcileUs]

Everything You Need to Know about the Toyota 4runner | 3rd Gen 1996-2002 - YouTube
[MENTION=164664]brillo_76[/MENTION] warned me a year ago to check the rear heater lines. Guess they have been leaking this entire time, but I've barely driven the truck between then and now. The leak is very slow.

I think Car Care Nut kind of overblew the rust condition of my rear trailing arms. But only time will tell.

 

[brillo_76]

Everything You Need to Know about the Toyota 4runner | 3rd Gen 1996-2002 - YouTube

[MENTION=164664]brillo_76[/MENTION] warned me a year ago to check the rear heater lines. Guess they have been leaking this entire time, but I've barely driven the truck between then and now. The leak is very slow.

I think Car Care Nut kind of overblew the rust condition of my rear trailing arms. But only time will tell.

Just trying to help.. Bummer on the rear heater lines but very common in the 1996 to i think 2000 models( not exactly sure what year they switched).. The later models 01 and 02 have stainless steel lines running back to the rear heater. The bummer is you cant buy them new anymore only off pick and pulls or make your own lines with copper nickel tubing as a 2nd option.

 

[ReconcileUs]

Just trying to help.. Bummer on the rear heater lines but very common in the 1996 to i think 2000 models( not exactly sure what year they switched).. The later models 01 and 02 have stainless steel lines running back to the rear heater. The bummer is you cant buy them new anymore only off pick and pulls or make your own lines with copper nickel tubing as a 2nd option.

I see them new on the Camelback website and I'm planning on asking my local dealer about their price.

87248-35061 Part Number

 

[PlutosT4r]

My rear "heater lines" (didn't know what they were, thought they were brake lines) are in as bad a shape as yours. I used a wire brush and Rustoleum spray paint, and forgot about them. I don't know when or if they will cause a problem.

Regarding the rear "trailing arms" (I'm assuming that's synonymous with where the rear control arms mount to the frame): It does look kind of bad in your case. That's a weak point IMO, based on the construction. By looking at it, seems like Toyota does some welding to add the piece sitting below the frame. My 4th gen is the same. That weld gets rusted pretty easily. I saw a 4th gen in worse shape than yours, which was still being driven. If it is a concern, you could have someone repair it. I know frame repair in general is expensive, but since you just need that specific area reinforced, and it's not already broke, I hope it won't be too bad.

I like the guy for doing a thorough video. You're famous.

 

[Spiker Engineering]

He really liked the hood struts

 

[ReconcileUs]

Regarding the rear "trailing arms" (I'm assuming that's synonymous with where the rear control arms mount to the frame): It does look kind of bad in your case. That's a weak point IMO, based on the construction. By looking at it, seems like Toyota does some welding to add the piece sitting below the frame. My 4th gen is the same. That weld gets rusted pretty easily. I saw a 4th gen in worse shape than yours, which was still being driven. If it is a concern, you could have someone repair it. I know frame repair in general is expensive, but since you just need that specific area reinforced, and it's not already broke, I hope it won't be too bad.

I like the guy for doing a thorough video. You're famous.

I dunno, I need to look at it myself to see for sure. I know that that spot on both sides was hit heavy with POR-15 2 years ago. I personally feel like the front of that pinch weld, the area towards the front of the car, is more important than the area he touched.

I do know of a place that would repair it, who knows for how much though.

He really liked the hood struts

I really like them too I mentioned you in my comment on the vid.

 

[3bears]

nice looking rig....looks like it has TBU as well as stainless lines. Yes the rear heater lines can be an issue. I think you should do fuel filter if its original....but like he said that can become a can of worms with the rusted fittings.

I think the guy likes the word "natorious"

 

[brillo_76]

I see them new on the Camelback website and I'm planning on asking my local dealer about their price.

87248-35061 Part Number

oh.. must have made more for a while they were no longer available. Good deal i think i have 2 sets here to replace my ones that are rusting up.

I pulled from a local pick and pull..

 

[ReconcileUs]

nice looking rig....looks like it has TBU as well as stainless lines. Yes the rear heater lines can be an issue. I think you should do fuel filter if its original....but like he said that can become a can of worms with the rusted fittings.

I think the guy likes the word "natorious"

It's not original.... I mean... I don't rep t4r.org for nothing. I don't do a lot of modifications or offroading upgrades but every maintenance item has been done already.

Lotta people on YouTube making assumptions about the condition of my vehicle because of how he chose his wording in the video. But I gave him a 70 line spreadsheet of everything done. But, I witnessed first hand how he is beyond swamped with customers, so I don't expect him to go over every detail of my vehicle with complete info and accuracy.

 

[Twan]

My heater lines rotted out, so I just yanked them off and replaced them with a couple lengths of heater hose, and no leaks almost a decade later. Not sure the size I used, but I found that info on the forum here.

 

[Bad Luck]

That video was painful to watch. If I had to sum it up in one word that word would be "notorious". I couldn't disagree more with his lower ball joint statement of if you have had the lower ball joints replaced under the recall then you are good. Absolutely not true. The recall replacement ball joints are just as prone to failure as all the other OEM lower ball joints. Also, frames can be repaired. It's not the end of the world if the frame needs a patch or section. I would have thought being in the rust belt he wouldn't be so scared of frame repairs.

 

[brillo_76]

I watched the video, he would have lost his mind if he saw some of my frames.
Like badluck said. The ball joints are wear items. Tim and Sean even have a video on how to check the lowers for play. its (.5mm max) The frames can be repaired as my build thread is full of ways on how to accomplish this. I personally know of several transmission that have survived the pink milkshake if caught immediately.

Your truck is not that rusty. The inner rockers are starting to go which is extremely common. The front bumper mount looks fine just oxidized.

The frame really just needs cleaned and coated on the inside.

There are other areas of rot in the frame besides the lower control arm brackets are the arches. Along with the entire inside frame rail. The frame Mfg Used a lighter gauge on the inside rail to save weight. Thus why you see these mostly rusting out in the inside rail or bottom.

Besides the video guy making me sick zooming around from all kinds of areas extremely quickly and bouncing all over the place. instead of just going from the front bumper to the back slowly. It was alright.

 

[3bears]

agree with brillo 76. I dont think your frame looks all that bad and he has repaired much ( shown in his build threads etc) and there are companies that make repair sections for these frames. Otherwise...I think your rig is a keeper.