New tires, more LED lights
I just bought this a couple of weeks ago and it needs a fair amount of work. I can't afford to do all of it at once, but tires and brakes were high on the list. Got the brakes done last week (kind of finished them yesterday) and got the tires done yesterday.
While it was on the lift (I know the owner of the shop, so I get a lot of freedom that customers typically don't) I pulled down some of the plastic in the front wheel wells and replaced the turn signal housings with new ones from Sparks Parts because they both needed it and it wasn't terribly expensive. The drivers side had moisture in it, the passenger side had a bulb stuck inside it and the back of it was rather melted so I couldn't actually lock a replacement bulb in place. Replaced the bulbs with LED and they are really bright, but now I have the hyperflash issue. I would prefer to keep my DRL, but I don't want resistors on there in case I should ever want to put it back to stock. I think a new flasher is in order. I'm thinking about this one. Anyone had experience doing this?
Also, while it was on the lift, I changed out the running board bulbs. That turned out to be a lot easier than I thought it would be, and I love the clean white look, especially in silver running boards. Still wonder why Toyota chose silver running boards for a black 4runner. Also wonder why they don't put clear coat on black. But I digress.
When I said we finished the brakes, there was an issue last Saturday where a parking brake shoe hold back spring was giving the mechanic fits and since it was close to quitting time, he gave up on it. It squealed very loudly for a good portion of the drive home. Luckily, that's a good 35 to 40 minute drive for me, so by the time I got home, it guess it had worn whatever groove it was going to for the most part and was much quieter. Got a new parking brake maintenance kit and me and the owner did the springs without pulling the axle, just like you're supposed to do. We did cuss quite a bit. Then we bled the brakes again and adjusted the parking brake. Since we upgraded it to the bigger Sport Edition front rotors and calipers last Saturday, it now stops better than it ever has before, and I can use my parking brake just like I like to.
After I got home, I pulled the passenger side tail light to change the reverse bulb and turn signal bulb and realized that I didn't have to pull the tail light to do it. So I put it back and installed the new LEDs. I tested and the reverse light was perfect, but the turn signal wouldn't blink even if I turned on the hazard lights. I must need to flip it over. So in attempting to pull it out, it came out of the little holder and fell into the tail light. So I pulled it again and dumped out the LED bulb. Now since I didn't want to keep repeating that, I set the tail light inside the rear cargo area for further testing. It turns out that every time I try to remove the bulb, it falls inside the light. So it's definitely not snug enough in the holder, and it has little tabs on the side edges that catch the opening as you attempt to pull it out. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions for this, other than filing off the plastic tabs that don't need to be there?
Lastly, I changed out the license plate lights with LEDs. I ordered new lenses with gaskets from Sparks Parts but after cleaning the existing ones with some glass cleaner, they didn't really need to be changed.
I have a new project coming up that I was unaware of until I was working on it yesterday...fuel tank straps. Looks like at least one of them has rusted completely through. Still need new rear shocks, A/C compressor needs O-Rings replaced, and it's past due for timing belt. Crossing my fingers on that last one for a bit. Also, none of the keys seem to work the tailgate lock cylinder. I've sprayed graphite lube in there and it appears to be very stuck. Pretty sure I'm taking that to a locksmith and not trying to tackle it myself.
Had a couple of good body shops give me estimates on paint restoration. One of them said that in order to minimize costs, he recommends I get a bottle of touch up paint and touch up the nicks and dings myself, then get a good detailer to work on the sides of the vehicle. he wants to take off the mirrors, hood, lift gate and front fender flares and actually repaint those in the shop. They won't have to mask the vehicle if they do that, and that saves a bunch of money right there. I figure that if I've got to get a hood painted anyway, why not get a hood with a hood scoop? I've always liked hood scoops, functional or not. Maybe some day I could put a light bar in there.
I just bought this a couple of weeks ago and it needs a fair amount of work. I can't afford to do all of it at once, but tires and brakes were high on the list. Got the brakes done last week (kind of finished them yesterday) and got the tires done yesterday.
While it was on the lift (I know the owner of the shop, so I get a lot of freedom that customers typically don't) I pulled down some of the plastic in the front wheel wells and replaced the turn signal housings with new ones from Sparks Parts because they both needed it and it wasn't terribly expensive. The drivers side had moisture in it, the passenger side had a bulb stuck inside it and the back of it was rather melted so I couldn't actually lock a replacement bulb in place. Replaced the bulbs with LED and they are really bright, but now I have the hyperflash issue. I would prefer to keep my DRL, but I don't want resistors on there in case I should ever want to put it back to stock. I think a new flasher is in order. I'm thinking about this one. Anyone had experience doing this?
Also, while it was on the lift, I changed out the running board bulbs. That turned out to be a lot easier than I thought it would be, and I love the clean white look, especially in silver running boards. Still wonder why Toyota chose silver running boards for a black 4runner. Also wonder why they don't put clear coat on black. But I digress.
When I said we finished the brakes, there was an issue last Saturday where a parking brake shoe hold back spring was giving the mechanic fits and since it was close to quitting time, he gave up on it. It squealed very loudly for a good portion of the drive home. Luckily, that's a good 35 to 40 minute drive for me, so by the time I got home, it guess it had worn whatever groove it was going to for the most part and was much quieter. Got a new parking brake maintenance kit and me and the owner did the springs without pulling the axle, just like you're supposed to do. We did cuss quite a bit. Then we bled the brakes again and adjusted the parking brake. Since we upgraded it to the bigger Sport Edition front rotors and calipers last Saturday, it now stops better than it ever has before, and I can use my parking brake just like I like to.
After I got home, I pulled the passenger side tail light to change the reverse bulb and turn signal bulb and realized that I didn't have to pull the tail light to do it. So I put it back and installed the new LEDs. I tested and the reverse light was perfect, but the turn signal wouldn't blink even if I turned on the hazard lights. I must need to flip it over. So in attempting to pull it out, it came out of the little holder and fell into the tail light. So I pulled it again and dumped out the LED bulb. Now since I didn't want to keep repeating that, I set the tail light inside the rear cargo area for further testing. It turns out that every time I try to remove the bulb, it falls inside the light. So it's definitely not snug enough in the holder, and it has little tabs on the side edges that catch the opening as you attempt to pull it out. Anyone have any ideas or suggestions for this, other than filing off the plastic tabs that don't need to be there?
Lastly, I changed out the license plate lights with LEDs. I ordered new lenses with gaskets from Sparks Parts but after cleaning the existing ones with some glass cleaner, they didn't really need to be changed.
I have a new project coming up that I was unaware of until I was working on it yesterday...fuel tank straps. Looks like at least one of them has rusted completely through. Still need new rear shocks, A/C compressor needs O-Rings replaced, and it's past due for timing belt. Crossing my fingers on that last one for a bit. Also, none of the keys seem to work the tailgate lock cylinder. I've sprayed graphite lube in there and it appears to be very stuck. Pretty sure I'm taking that to a locksmith and not trying to tackle it myself.
Had a couple of good body shops give me estimates on paint restoration. One of them said that in order to minimize costs, he recommends I get a bottle of touch up paint and touch up the nicks and dings myself, then get a good detailer to work on the sides of the vehicle. he wants to take off the mirrors, hood, lift gate and front fender flares and actually repaint those in the shop. They won't have to mask the vehicle if they do that, and that saves a bunch of money right there. I figure that if I've got to get a hood painted anyway, why not get a hood with a hood scoop? I've always liked hood scoops, functional or not. Maybe some day I could put a light bar in there.
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