What Did You Do To Your 3rd Gen Today?

[mesooohoppy]

i gave eimkeith a bunch of money yesterday and started stripping my LCAs.

 

[binqker]

bye bye needle bearing!

Needle Bearing extracted! Replacing it with ECGS bushing! :biggrin2:

 

[DavidH.]

After neglecting the 4Runner for way too long, I've had a couple productive weekends catching up. I've had some KYB Gas-a-Just rear shocks sitting in my garage I bought from another member several months ago. Last weekend I finally replaced the 22 year old original shocks. It took way too long to remove the top nut! The trick is to use a flex head ratcheting wrench on top and then spin the shock body itself using a chain wrench. I only had rubber strap wrenches and they slipped so I finally used some large channel locks to bite into the metal. Memphis interstates are basically potholes with painted lines right now and these noticeably improved my ride. I'll be ordering some OME 906 coils soon to finish up the rear.

I've also been aging OEM LBJs for a long time in the garage. They're finally ready, so I installed them Saturday. Good piece of mind as my 4Runner has 185k miles on it now and the LBJs were original. I watched [MENTION=120071]mtbtim[/MENTION] YT video to get ready and for torque specs. It was a quick and simple install using only hand tools. I changed my oil and rotated my tires while I was at it. I dropped my skid plates to clean off all the spilled oil from the terribly placed oil filter. After cleaning them and all the oil on the bottom / back of the engine and various components, I found a couple fresh drops of oil to confirm the leak I've suspected. I need to diagnose it's location next. Doesn't appear to be from the oil pan and it's not anywhere up high. I'm guessing rear main seal?

I found my driver side sway bar end link had rusted off, so I ordered a cheap MOOG replacement for now: https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B000V528JU/

I also ordered 2 of these Honda Oddysey windshield washer nozzles thanks to [MENTION=167832]Rallysport[/MENTION] mod in this thread : https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LIRXIN0/

I also went U-Pull-It and FINALLY found an oak cupholder console intact and in good shape in a 2000 4Runner! For $30, I left with the console and e-brake, one corner light (preparing for HID soon and will need to paint a set to match the headlights), and a factory headlight stalk with the fog switch. The stalk was a whim because it was there. Can it be used in my 1997 to add foglights?

 

[4Runner4Leon]

Aa factory headlight stalk with the fog switch. The stalk was a whim because it was there. Can it be used in my 1997 to add foglights?

If it has the white plastic connector, then it'll work with your '97. If it's black, then it won't. I think they made the change either in '00 or '01, so see what color your connector is.

 

[zxing]

Took it to the shop to get an estimate on repairs. It’s not looking good unfortunately...

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[DavidH.]

If it has the white plastic connector, then it'll work with your '97. If it's black, then it won't. I think they made the change either in '00 or '01, so see what color your connector is.

The connector is black. Too bad! Thanks for the info.

 

[3bears]

Took it to the shop to get an estimate on repairs. It’s not looking good unfortunately...

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ouch...bet its totaled due to age and "value"
not saying I agree with "value"

 

[Honda pc]

New usrr, lurker here, not enough to post thread.

Heres my problem.. Got 2002 sr5, 2wd drive. 220k miles, bought used 2-3yrs ago. Problem is Both front tires inside worn out.. Front factory struts have been replaced with kyb struts 20k miles ago..old one was original factory.. Wben they replaced with kyb, they didnt put the old toyota original plastic space on bottom.. Said didnt work... Wondering if missing factory bottom plastic spacer cause the inner tire wear. Also is orientation of struts springs installed correctly as far as which way it faces.
New 4 tires installed same time i bought car, 20k ago. Any ideas, help.
First 3 pics are drivers side looking front.

Below three is 3 pics passenger side looking toward rear of car

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[3bears]

New usrr, lurker here, not enough to post thread.

Heres my problem.. Got 2002 sr5, 2wd drive. 220k miles, bought used 2-3yrs ago. Problem is Both front tires inside worn out.. Front factory struts have been replaced with kyb struts 20k miles ago..old one was original factory.. Wben they replaced with kyb, they didnt put the old toyota original plastic space on bottom.. Said didnt work... Wondering if missing factory bottom plastic spacer cause the inner tire wear. Also is orientation of struts springs installed correctly as far as which way it faces.
New 4 tires installed same time i bought car, 20k ago. Any ideas, help.
First 3 pics are drivers side looking front.

Below three is 3 pics passenger side looking toward rear of car

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

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what plastic things, I running KYB's and installed myself...I have no plastic things at bottom of sturt.
I think you got something else going on

 

[4Runner4Leon]

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what plastic things, I running KYB's and installed myself...I have no plastic things at bottom of sturt.
I think you got something else going on

Dang, I was just typing up the same question - what plastic spacers? I also installed KYB's just a few days ago, I didn't have any plastic spacers to deal with. Unless someone had plastic top plate spacers in there (but they're not Toyota).

 

[mesooohoppy]

ordered lower ball joints, the nuts, and the drain/fill plug crush washer. god damn this front end refresh is getting expensive. these boots had betta not tear!

there are some OEM ones on ebay for 159 and some for 179. after some digging the 159s seller is from China and the colors dont match the 179 balljoints. i opted for the 179s as they looked far more legit and are able to get to me much faster.

 

[Honda pc]

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what plastic things, I running KYB's and installed myself...I have no plastic things at bottom of strut on the kyb. Pics below.

I think you got something else going on

Yeah.. The old one was oem toyota part and it had a plastic spacer under the coil. Cant find it on toyota oem parts schematics.. Let me see if i can find a pic somewhere..

Pics of plastic part below coil on geneic strut. But plastic spacer on bottom on the old strut which was i think was oem original.. Now maybe thinking it was aftermarket.

This is what I installed.

 

[Kanoe]

Yeah.. The old one was oem toyota part and it had a plastic spacer under the coil. Cant find it on toyota oem parts schematics.. Let me see if i can find a pic somewhere..

Pics of plastic part below coil on geneic strut. But plastic spacer on bottom on the old strut which was i think was oem original.. Now maybe thinking it was aftermarket.

The only struts that have the plastic ramp for the spring that I have seen are Monroes. Likely you had these on there, they are black too. I have never seen OEM to have the plastic ramp, they have a formed spring perch instead.

To answer your question about spring orientation, the tag end on the bottom typically faces the tire as far as I have seen. Yours seems to be inward instead.

I doubt the spring orientation would affect your tires. Have you had an alignment done? I suspect your Toe is out of spec causing the tires to scrub. An alignment was needed after the strut replacement due to ride height changes. If you didn't get this done then that's likely your issue.

 

[Honda pc]

Thanks for your help.. It makes sense.. Still learning the 4runner quirks..no alignment was done since I felt not needed. But i will soon.

Contemplating doing whole front refresh since high miles.. Wonder what parts are most prone to failure on front end.. Feels like wheel bearing maybe on way out. LCA bushing wear common?

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[3bears]

depending on use the LCA's are a wear item...seems more than uppers. tie rod ends, esp outers are another

 

[Bad Luck]

Thanks for your help.. It makes sense.. Still learning the 4runner quirks..no alignment was done since I felt not needed. But i will soon.

Contemplating doing whole front refresh since high miles.. Wonder what parts are most prone to failure on front end.. Feels like wheel bearing maybe on way out. LCA bushing wear common?

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Your alignment is out. Probably due to worn upper/lower front control arm bushings. Check your bushings, repair as needed, and get an alignment. If you don't know when the lower ball joints/timing belt and water pump/radiator (if you have an automatic) were done last it's best to replace. Typical service interval of those items is 100k miles under normal use. You can use aftermarket lower ball joints at your own risk. Recommended lower ball joint replacement parts is OEM toyota.

Edit: It looks like you haven't been rotating your tires enough either due to the uneven tread wear among tires. If you were rotating often enough then the tire wear would be less and spread among each tire.

 

[Wedgy]

New usrr, lurker here, not enough to post thread.

Any ideas, help.
First 3 pics are drivers side looking front.

Below three is 3 pics passenger side looking toward rear of car

Timmy's videos are great ! I've done 3 sets of upper and lower control arms now just by watching his videos. Replaced the steering rack also.
The notch in the lower spring orients to the outside as stated. Best to check control arm bushings with the tires in the air and the shocks off, then pry on the joints to see if they move.
YouTube
YouTube

 

[mesooohoppy]

bought more crap for the front end refresh, all in all i am 800 in so far and havent even spent $$ on the rental tools. will also continue stripping my LCAs tonight in prep for the braces to be welded on.

man, i really do love how many parts are available for this chassis, but i made the mistake of assuming some of these parts would be cheap since its not on a 'premium' car such as a lexus. 100 bucks for 4 medium sized poly bushings was a hard one to swallow. :/

 

[4Runner4Leon]

T
The notch in the lower spring orients to the outside as stated. B

Does it even matter where the spring notch is? I don't think it makes any difference how it's oriented, unless I'm missing something.

My new shocks had a spring notch oriented about 90 deg off the factory orientation, so there was no way to match the OEM orientation. But I don't think it makes any difference, because the other end is simply ground flat.

 

[MarkBlack]

Installed new upper control arms, Icon 2.5 Extended travel coilovers, Icon 2.0 rear shock, toytec superflex coils, Panhard bar extender, and fresh Cv Axels!