What Did You Do To Your 3rd Gen Today?

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Well today is a sad day indeed for the 4Runner. I was driving up Highway 4 to Bear Valley to go snowboarding yesterday. The weather was perfect and the roads were clear. As I was heading around a long bend, I hit some black ice on the front passenger tire and the whole vehicle started to turn. As soon as I lost control of the car, I let go of the gas and held on thinking I would catch traction soon after. Well, the car kept going around and I regained traction as I was fully turned. I rolled once and landed back on the feet. All 4 of us in the car were completely uninjured minus being sore, so thank you 4Runner for saving our lives, and for all of the memories you've given me. Once I got it towed home, I put the spare on the driver front and drove it around the block one last time. I'm hoping to buy it back to pull the salvageable parts off, but it is pretty messed up. Consequently...I'm in the market for a new 4Runner. I am definitely glad to be alive and unharmed. Thank you everyone on here for the help and ideas along the way. I wouldn't have gotten this far without you all.

Here's some photos of the aftermath. :rip:

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Ironic "Safety Third" sticker. Also, make sure your boxes are fully strapped down!
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Well today is a sad day indeed for the 4Runner. I was driving up Highway 4 to Bear Valley to go snowboarding yesterday. The weather was perfect and the roads were clear. As I was heading around a long bend, I hit some black ice on the front passenger tire and the whole vehicle started to turn. As soon as I lost control of the car, I let go of the gas and held on thinking I would catch traction soon after. Well, the car kept going around and I regained traction as I was fully turned. I rolled once and landed back on the feet.

Holy Sh!t dude!! Glad you are ok. Sorry to see the 4runner in such a sad state. GL with the search for a new one! May the next one be even better :)
 
Well today is a sad day indeed for the 4Runner. I was driving up Highway 4 to Bear Valley to go snowboarding yesterday. The weather was perfect and the roads were clear. As I was heading around a long bend, I hit some black ice on the front passenger tire and the whole vehicle started to turn. As soon as I lost control of the car, I let go of the gas and held on thinking I would catch traction soon after. Well, the car kept going around and I regained traction as I was fully turned. I rolled once and landed back on the feet. All 4 of us in the car were completely uninjured minus being sore, so thank you 4Runner for saving our lives, and for all of the memories you've given me. Once I got it towed home, I put the spare on the driver front and drove it around the block one last time. I'm hoping to buy it back to pull the salvageable parts off, but it is pretty messed up. Consequently...I'm in the market for a new 4Runner. I am definitely glad to be alive and unharmed. Thank you everyone on here for the help and ideas along the way. I wouldn't have gotten this far without you all.

That completely sucks and I know your pain :( Looks like your runner took a beating and held up and kept you guys safe the same way mine did. Very thankful! It is true though.. its faster the second time (mods) :)
 
Well today is a sad day indeed for the 4Runner. I was driving up Highway 4 to Bear Valley to go snowboarding yesterday. The weather was perfect and the roads were clear.

That really sucks for the rig, but super happy no one was injured. These things are great rigs but they roll over SUPER EASY no question. I tell my family all the time...THESE THINGS WILL FLIP OVER IN HALF A SECOND SO DO NOT EVER GET IT SLIDING!!! We have rolled one twice in the last 10 years!
This was the last one and no one was hurt in either wreck.
 

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Holly cow man! Glad you are all OK.

So on my way to work on the HW, I look down to see a flashing CEL light that flashed and went away. I thought that maybe it was a fluke so I drove to work and saw it again about a mile from my destination. I then noticed a rough idle and a seemingly noticeable loss of power.

I have yet to pull any codes or have time to look into it, but my initial research points to plugs and wires being the root of the problem. I have new Toyota plugs and NGK wires. I am wondering if I should pick up new coil packs from a stealerships before I head home. And for that matter, will I be doing harm to limp home 15-20 minutes on the highway?
 
I did nothing other than spend a crap ton of money ordering some suspension parts for it. Now I'm on about hour 100 of deciding on what springs for the front to get me a real world meassured 1-1.5" lift on the front. So while I'm waiting for parts and surfing I threw in a load of Elk Jerky.
 

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Did the tundra brake upgrade and washed and waxed my 4runnerr
 

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Installed my [MENTION=28464]eimkeith[/MENTION] Panhard Bar leveling brackets. Seems like a huge stability improvement on my lifted rig.


View attachment 236826

I just want to point out how undeniably perfect your frame and axle looks. This is how I imagine "fresh off the factory line" would appear. I hope find a rig half as clean as yours in the future.
 
I just want to point out how undeniably perfect your frame and axle looks. This is how I imagine "fresh off the factory line" would appear. I hope find a rig half as clean as yours in the future.

Thank you I appreciate the compliment. California vehicle makes a big difference but I do also keep the underbody scrubbed a few times a year and after off-road. I use citrus cleaner in a bucket of hot water, scrub brush and hose. My neighbors think I am nuts. But if you really want to see a clean underbody check out [MENTION=116470]Tyler James Inc[/MENTION] his is phenomenal! And he lives in snowy parts!!
 
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Had the rear upper control arm mount re-weld to the frame, just picked it up this evening - took the shop 3 hours and some cutting and grinding but should hold well.

Also ordered left and right LBJs direct from Japan - OEM!
 
What did you do to your 3rd gen today?

"Long time listener, first time caller." Lol.

Just wanted to start out by saying this is one of the best forums ever! After doing tons of research, I successfully installed a new set of OME 881/890's on Saturday and did all the work myself.
8563ff8dece043baa941ce66180580fc.jpg

71957e7bcb2f127b3c73fe1fc0dd574b.jpg



She's a 1997 limited with 225k on her and has been in the family since new.

Thanks for all the tips, tricks and watch outs...couldn't have gone smoother. I would add that the bottle jack for this operation, while recommended in several threads, comes off as a subtle "oh by the way", but is a must have for this. I found myself using it to not only push down the UCA's on the front but to also push up on each side in the back to remove and install springs.

As for wheels and tires...more research but I decided on a new set of cooper at3's in a 285/70r17 on my gx470 wheels. I did use 1.5" spacers as well. The coops did rub the front cladding on the inside corners so a quick drimmel took care of that.

Couldn't be happier with the results.

The ride is very smooth and not as jarring as I expected from what's been posted in some other threads.

Cheers!

Almost forgot...Wheeler's Off-road rocks!

5mm spacer on driver plus top plate spacers on both fronts front plus 10mm on rear to counter the driver lean...worked flawlessly!

Ground to fender in front is 38.25" and ground to fender in back is 39" both sides.

Trackbar/ pan hard bar- yes the back is about 1/4" skewed to pass side, but it actually was before the lift (anyone else have this experience?). It's never been wrecked.

Cv boots-leaking, not split and fixed nicely with hose clamps

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
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"Long time listener, first time caller." Lol.



5mm spacer on driver plus top plate spacers on both fronts front plus 10mm on rear to counter the driver lean...worked flawlessly!

Ground to fender in front is 38.25" and ground to fender in back is 39" both sides.

Trackbar/ pan hard bar- yes the back is about 1/4" skewed to pass side, but it actually was before the lift (anyone else have this experience?). It's never been wrecked.



Glad it is working for you. So, how much (total thickness) of extra spacers did you use on the front?
 
Got a set of cheap seat covers so that I don't mess up my seats after sweating all day, surprisingly they feel really good, and they're thick like leather, I got them for $30 on Amazon, after I sat in them I kinda had the idea of getting some leather seats or better quality covers.


I do miss the leather ones from my Acura, they were definitely easier to maintain and clean
 

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"Long time listener, first time caller." Lol.







5mm spacer on driver plus top plate spacers on both fronts front plus 10mm on rear to counter the driver lean...worked flawlessly!



Ground to fender in front is 38.25" and ground to fender in back is 39" both sides.



Trackbar/ pan hard bar- yes the back is about 1/4" skewed to pass side, but it actually was before the lift (anyone else have this experience?). It's never been wrecked.







Glad it is working for you. So, how much (total thickness) of extra spacers did you use on the front?



3/8" each side plus the 5mm preloader on the driver side


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
"Long time listener, first time caller." Lol.

Just wanted to start out by saying this is one of the best forums ever! After doing tons of research, I successfully installed a new set of OME 881/890's on Saturday and did all the work myself.
8563ff8dece043baa941ce66180580fc.jpg

71957e7bcb2f127b3c73fe1fc0dd574b.jpg



She's a 1997 limited with 225k on her and has been in the family since new.

Thanks for all the tips, tricks and watch outs...couldn't have gone smoother. I would add that the bottle jack for this operation, while recommended in several threads, comes off as a subtle "oh by the way", but is a must have for this. I found myself using it to not only push down the UCA's on the front but to also push up on each side in the back to remove and install springs.

As for wheels and tires...more research but I decided on a new set of cooper at3's in a 285/70r17 on my gx470 wheels. I did use 1.5" spacers as well. The coops did rub the front cladding on the inside corners so a quick drimmel took care of that.

Couldn't be happier with the results.

The ride is very smooth and not as jarring as I expected from what's been posted in some other threads.

Cheers!

Almost forgot...Wheeler's Off-road rocks!

5mm spacer on driver plus top plate spacers on both fronts front plus 10mm on rear to counter the driver lean...worked flawlessly!

Ground to fender in front is 38.25" and ground to fender in back is 39" both sides.

Trackbar/ pan hard bar- yes the back is about 1/4" skewed to pass side, but it actually was before the lift (anyone else have this experience?). It's never been wrecked.

Cv boots-leaking, not split and fixed nicely with hose clamps

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Nice truck! You should post up some pics over in the natural white runner thread.

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-g...ral-white-3rd-gen-4runner-photo-thread-4.html
 
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