Rockdawg84
New member
Thank you, I really enjoy driving, wheeling and modding this truck.
The Smokey Build
- Thread starter Rockdawg84
- Start date
Thank you, I really enjoy driving, wheeling and modding this truck.
Rockdawg84
New member
stoped at a dirt pile near our house yesterday after I picked up my boys from school. Its fun when the 8 year old steers from the passenger seat.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2Up7bpvLqzs" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2Up7bpvLqzs" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>
Rockdawg84
New member
So over 5 months ago I ordered at set of tires that I have wanted for a really long time. Pitbull Rocker Radials. Well the time it took for them to be made gave me the time to really talk to some people who are running them. While I know that they are probably the best non-sticky offroad tire on the market. But I still daily my Runner and so when I was told that the PBR's suck on the highway it made me rethink my choice. I was able to cancel the Pitbulls (it hurt inside a little) and then back to the drawing board of picking a new tire that would be good on the road and great offroad. I knew that I didn't want to go back to MTR's as they were horrible on the road, BFG's are notoriously undersized, Everybody and their brother is running the STT pro's. So I settled on a tire I knew would meet my needs. The Mickey Thompson MTZ p3's. I didn't get the metric size but got the D load 35x12.5R17's.
I am super happy
Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Untitled by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Here is a pic of the Day I put the MTR's almost 4 years ago for comparison
Smokey 63 by Sam Wright, on Flickr
I am super happy
Untitled by Sam Wright, on FlickrUntitled by Sam Wright, on FlickrUntitled by Sam Wright, on FlickrUntitled by Sam Wright, on FlickrUntitled by Sam Wright, on FlickrHere is a pic of the Day I put the MTR's almost 4 years ago for comparison
Smokey 63 by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Rockdawg84
New member
Thanks Keith now I just have to get out and put them through their paces.:cheers:
Dezert4Runner
Senior Member
How are your FROR rear links holding up?
Rockdawg84
New member
They are doing great. The joints are as tight as ever. Love them.
Dezert4Runner
Senior Member
Awesome, I was expecting that after 3 years of use at least a couple heims would have been replaced by now but it sounds like they’re doing well in the desert environment. Do they squeak at all? How often do you spray them if at all with dry lube? I just placed an order for lowers and am excited for the upgrade.
Rockdawg84
New member
sorry it took so long to reply. they have only just begun to squeak since I tore the panhard bar off wheeling and haven't built a new one. I have abused them and not lubed them once. I suspect that once I get the panhard bar back on the squeaking will go away. you are going to love them.
Rockdawg84
New member
well about two months ago my supercharger suddenly began making a horrible noise. So I parked Smokey thinking that I would get to it quickly but now two months later I was sick of not having it to drive. So I dropped it off at my mechanics to have him tackle it. Well turns out that both bearings in the nose cone were toast so I had to order them with a new seal. While we were waiting on parts he asked if there was anything else I wanted him to do. That is a dangerous question. So I made a list of all the small things I have been putting off.
replace front LCA bushings (white line)
change temp sending unit for gauge
wire front turn signals
install parking brake lines.
well as he got into the lower control arms it became obvious that I was going to need inner tierods and as we inspected the rack it was junk as well. So my whole front end steering got rebuilt. Rack, tierods, LBJ's LCA Bushings. Should drive like new again. He has everything done with the exception of connecting the outer tierods to the ball joints. The last alignment shop who worked on smokey totally rounded the locking nuts. So one more run to the parts store in the morning.
here are some picks of the parking brake install.
started from the rear of the truck at the mustang caliper and ran the line up toward the front. As a note mustangs have a right and left that are different lengths. Buy 2 of the shorter ones.
Parking brake install by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Parking brake install by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Then a bracket was made for the cables to fit into. a simple piece of 1.5" angle iron was used. Holes drilled for the cables to fit into and 5 holes drilled so the bracket could be riveted into the floor support. Nice that toyota put that there for us to use and not have to drill all the way through the floorboard.
Parking brake install by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Parking brake install by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Then we cut the equalizer cable up so we could get the bracket and the boot.
Then the stock parking brake cable outer casing was cut and we left the inner cable long. the boot was put on and attached with zip ties.
Parking brake install by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Parking brake install by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Once the length was determined the equalizer was put on the cable and cable ferrules were used to secure it on the end.
Parking brake install by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Parking brake install by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Finally everything was put together and the cable was adjusted at the handle and it actually works! I'm very happy with how it came out. there are a couple of things to finish up, like securing the cables to the rear axle better and to source a new brake handle and cup underneath since I did the shift to the side mod with the 98 handle. Over time if I don't change it out the cable will fray and I will have to modify another stock cable. Over all I think it came out great, and looks pretty factory.
Parking brake install by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Parking brake install by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Parking brake install by Sam Wright, on Flickr
replace front LCA bushings (white line)
change temp sending unit for gauge
wire front turn signals
install parking brake lines.
well as he got into the lower control arms it became obvious that I was going to need inner tierods and as we inspected the rack it was junk as well. So my whole front end steering got rebuilt. Rack, tierods, LBJ's LCA Bushings. Should drive like new again. He has everything done with the exception of connecting the outer tierods to the ball joints. The last alignment shop who worked on smokey totally rounded the locking nuts. So one more run to the parts store in the morning.
here are some picks of the parking brake install.
started from the rear of the truck at the mustang caliper and ran the line up toward the front. As a note mustangs have a right and left that are different lengths. Buy 2 of the shorter ones.
Parking brake install by Sam Wright, on FlickrParking brake install by Sam Wright, on FlickrThen a bracket was made for the cables to fit into. a simple piece of 1.5" angle iron was used. Holes drilled for the cables to fit into and 5 holes drilled so the bracket could be riveted into the floor support. Nice that toyota put that there for us to use and not have to drill all the way through the floorboard.
Parking brake install by Sam Wright, on FlickrParking brake install by Sam Wright, on FlickrThen we cut the equalizer cable up so we could get the bracket and the boot.
Then the stock parking brake cable outer casing was cut and we left the inner cable long. the boot was put on and attached with zip ties.
Parking brake install by Sam Wright, on FlickrParking brake install by Sam Wright, on FlickrOnce the length was determined the equalizer was put on the cable and cable ferrules were used to secure it on the end.
Parking brake install by Sam Wright, on FlickrParking brake install by Sam Wright, on FlickrFinally everything was put together and the cable was adjusted at the handle and it actually works! I'm very happy with how it came out. there are a couple of things to finish up, like securing the cables to the rear axle better and to source a new brake handle and cup underneath since I did the shift to the side mod with the 98 handle. Over time if I don't change it out the cable will fray and I will have to modify another stock cable. Over all I think it came out great, and looks pretty factory.
Parking brake install by Sam Wright, on FlickrParking brake install by Sam Wright, on FlickrParking brake install by Sam Wright, on Flickr
Tucson4runner
New member
Glad to see smokey is still chugging along, i just recently had to do my whole front setup as well. LBJ, LCA, rack, and tie rods. Feels better then it did, are you going with OEM or parts store? Is marc back up and running?
Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G998U using Tapatalk
Rockdawg84
New member
Marc is up and running. that is who is doing all the work. I got an O'Riley reman rack with lifetime warranty but got oem outer tie rods and LBJ's. Went with Whiteline for LCA bushings. I really look forward to having it back and driving well. I recently also did the clutch and that has made a huge difference.
hopefully we can begin to have our monthly Arizona 4Runners monthly meet up soon.
