Ty's DDD Build

[tystaco]

I've owned a 2004 Tacoma Xtra Cab TRD since Dec 2010 and see a family in my real near future. Panic set in about selling my truck, so I began a long hunt for a 3rd gen 4runner, and have begun my Dad Daily Driver build. I also started to fall out of love with my truck when Toyota had it for 6 months doing a complete frame replacement, Dec 2015 - June 2016, because I realized how much I missed my SUV days of college owning a 1994 Ford Explorer.

We moved to Oregon from Michigan in October of 2015, and man are the cars CLEAN out here. I knew I wanted a 3rd gen, and realized I would like some leather, so a limited was in my future. This 2000 with 155k came up for grabs in the town 10 miles from us, along with a 1998 with 150k, both super clean, but it was obvious the 2000 was what I wanted. We finally settled on a price and she became mine towards the end of October. I bought it from a girl in her mid 20's who bought it from her aunt and uncle who had it since new. It was bone stock and had clearly never been wheeled....I spent the first couple weeks shifting into 4wd to get the actuator freed up, and now it shifts in like it should.

 

[Tyler James Inc]

Nice runner [emoji1360]
I'm out in Sandy- Gods country [emoji6]
So, your wife is pregnant?
Calling yourself a Dad before you're even expecting seems a little odd, so I have to assume you have one on the way!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tystaco]

The running boards came off within days, and it really cleaned it up. Having had the Tacoma...the 4runner's running boards were simply awkward. They didn't work height wise for me, and made you step further out to avoid getting junk on your pants.

I threw in weather techs all the way around, replaced the rear gate lift struts with some Monroe's, put AVS rain vents (it rains a lot in OR and my dog fogs the truck up), ordered some replacement FOBS off of Amazon for $25 and got them programmed in. Ordered a Koyo radiator and had that thrown in.

The truck ran so nice, aside from a pull to the right. I put some Cooper AT3's on it, 265/75/16's, 6 ply. I have 10 ply duratracs on my Tacoma and am happy with the 6 ply of the AT3. They don't look nearly as aggressive as the duratracs, but do have a little better road manners, and they do have a nice lug to them. The rig will be 90% on pavement and nice gravel roads, so I went more conservative than I did on the truck. New tires and an alignment and she rolls nicely down the road.

After a couple of long trips, it was a hard hot starter. Would have to crank for 5 or more seconds when the vehicle was hot to get it running, and then it would sputter. I found some info on Jeep forums and a few other offroading sites that said the fuel pump likely was the problem. I got that replaced with a Denso, but still had the issue. I threw in a new battery and bought some NGK spark plugs and found the issue when doing the plugs. Someone had put in single electrode NGK's...and they were quite worn down.

As with many of these limiteds, the power antenna was grinding after full extension, so I did the whip mod and am loving it. I would recommend a pull string, and taping the string so that there is nothing that can get snagged while trying to fish it through.

 

[tystaco]

Nice runner [emoji1360]
I'm out in Sandy- Gods country [emoji6]
So, your wife is pregnant?
Calling yourself a Dad before you're even expecting seems a little odd, so I have to assume you have one on the way!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I would have gotten one of these regardless. They are simply too good looking and practical. But you assume correct, it is super early, so we are still hesitant, but I plan ahead and will be glad to be prepared for whenever a little one shows up.

And I have a dog...so that is basically a two year old that never grows up!

 

[tystaco]

For the near future, a hitch will be coming.

It seems strange to me to have found one without a hitch. As well, I don't know what they did with the roof rack...whether they didn't buy the option? or removed it? But it is not the normal track up there at all, so I will have to do some research to figure out what I can do to get a rack up there. I will get pictures once I get home from Denver so someone can weigh in and tell me what is up with the roof.

Also, was the back window spoiler an option? I figured they all came with them since I have never seen one without until mine.

I will do the DRL disable and the blue/orange wire mod soon. Ultimately the Tundra brake upgrade will happen.

 

[tystaco]

Going junk yarding this weekend. Will be searching out a hitch, roof rack, and alloy rim for the spare since....Tundra Brake Upgrade parts are on the way.

I got Power Stop S2712 Calipers for $229 shipped...$80 of that is core charge, $30 for shipping. These are S13WL remans, 231mm.

Rotors and pads from camelback for pads - $64, rotors - $128, and shipping of $22.

Another buddy in town has a 97 and learned about the upgrade from me, got really excited, and ordered all the parts. So we will be having an early Christmas brake install in a few weekends.

 

[tystaco]

Not sure how good I will be at keeping this up but I did the TBU 231mm upgrade two weeks ago. Still need to do a second round of bedding to get rid of pedal travel. Overall the brakes grab great but requires further push to engage. On ice the ABS triggers pretty quickly but still works as ABS should.

Got a hitch on it from the junk yard for $30. Also picked up a roof rack that needs to be installed.

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[tystaco]

I should have stated above that even had I not done the TBU...the truck was due for new calipers as both sides had a side that was seizing. So the upgrade was great as it got rid of my pull to the right while braking as well as the slight shutter I had while braking and turning at speed.

 

[tystaco]

Wheel Bearing Work

Looks like I have a bad wheel bearing on my driver's side 99. Putting my parts list together with new bearing, seals, abs rotor ring, snap ring, and spacer. Just wondering what else I should replace when I am in there? I see some posts talk about the CV and LCA Bushings...

How much extra work does this add? What specific CV part number? I was on Camelback and saw a couple different pieces in the parts diagram, wasn't sure if outer or inner was what people replaced...not sure I want to spend the extra couple hundred if it isn't in need.

How much extra work are the LCA bushings? Looks straight forward other than the steering rack getting in the way of the bolt?

Plan is to pull the hub assembly and take it to a shop to get everything pressed in and out.