Sagging and stock nearing 250K:
Spruced up as of December 2012:
A few months ago I was convinced to keep/build/upgrade my 97 by some of the more persuasive members here. Inspired by the many sweet rigs, stories and pictures posted on this site I decided to do just that, and am happy to have joined in on the journey...
I have maintained this rig faithfully for over 200K miles, and she has served my family and I well on many trips. I didn’t really want to sell her, and I really didn’t want a car payment after not having one for years. However, the ole girl needed new brakes and tires, and it creaked, groaned, and bounced over every ripple in the road. I’m nowhere near as skilled a mechanic as many here, but I took the leap.
Safety first, so I decided I’d do the brakes, and after reading through BigFishAllDay’s outstanding writeup I searched around for the parts and ended up with Brembo rotors from ebay, remaned 13WL calipers from Autozone, and ceramic Toyota brake pads with shims (part #04465-AZ001-TM) also from ebay. Acquired some 2” extended Goodridge SS brake lines to replace the cracked and crappy stockers, some DOT 3-4 synthetic fluid, a new master cylinder, and went to work. In a blatent act of copycatery I decided to paint the calipers with red caliper paint ala rickashay.
The install went exactly as the writeup described except I missed the part about my six spoke wheels not fitting over the calipers without spacers –doh! A quick dash to the parts store for cheapo spacers and they were on. Wow. WAY more solid feel even with a softer pedal –weirdly awesome.
Brembo rotors
Jagged dust shield cut to fit 13WLs
Everything on
I knew I wanted to upgrade the stock suspension, and was also due for new tires so after a lot of searching, reading, and asking dumb questions (it really can be pretty confounding for a rookie so thanks to those who responded patiently and helpfully) I settled on the toytec coilovers with Bilstein 5100 adjustables and LR upper control arms for the front, and Bilstein 5125s with OME 906 springs in the rear. I didn’t want a huge lift, and was planning on 32s, so the adjustables up front with 906 springs in the rear seemed right. I figured if I wanted to later I could go to 285s and a taller rear spring pretty easily, but so far I’m very happy with the setup I have.
While I was at it I decided I’d better get new LBJs, TREs, and anti-sway bar end links with poly bushings for them and the steering rack. Also bought bushings for the lower control arms. Went with OEM/Toyota stuff for everything except the bushings.
Lift unpacked on install day 1:
Compared to the TBU, getting all the suspension on was a bit more of a challenge. I started in the rear confident that I had done my homework. I had not. I wrestled with one spring for a couple hours one afternoon before I finally wedged in in there and threw in the towel. My mistake? Unbolting the panhard bar instead of the rear anti-sway bar ends in a lame attempt to “open up” the suspension.
Stock spring right, next to new 906:
How NOT to remove springs:
My "workshop":
I wish I had taken a picture of it after that first day all crooked like a crab ha! After an evening spent reading more and massaging my bruised ego and knuckles with beer I dove back in the next day. What a difference doing it the right way makes! By opening up the suspension with the stock jack the other spring fell off of the axle, and the new one set right in it’s place –without spring compressors, without cursing and prying –sheesh. Now it was time for the rear shocks. The 5125s come with an adapter from toytec that had me baffled at first. I had spent so much time and frustration with the springs that when I pulled the stock shocks and saw the stud for the top I was convinced I had the wrong part. Duh. Once I figured this out though they went in pretty easily –except the top shock mount for the driver’s side rear shock. My arm is still scarred. It’s a tight fit up there, and it took some wrestling moves to get it tightened all down. The bottom mounts needed some sanding before they accepted the shocks, but after that they slipped on pretty easily.
Rear adapter pic:
The front coilovers were very straightforward. Using the stock jack (this time to push the upper control arm down) definitely made this easier also. It was pretty much unbolt the olds and install the news. One lower shock bolt needed some patience and a BFH to persuade it to do the right thing. Using the spanner wrenches (kind of a PITA) I lowered the shocks to what I thought would be pretty level. I’m waiting for it all to settle for a few hundred miles before I make any more adjustments --if any.
Front suspension pics:
Polyurethane anti-sway bar bushings were next. Took some jacking and grunting, but they went on eventually. Think these old ones were shot?
I had ordered new 32” BFGs and 16” ProComp 7069 wheels on sale including a $75 rebate from 4Wheel parts, and when I went to pick them up I had them install the ucas, lbjs and tie rod ends because 1) I did not have the time, tools or knowledge, and 2) it was getting too cold to work in the driveway --mostly though because I was scared. $300 well spent for this weekend warrior mechanic.
Everything I bought in “phase one” is now on except the bushings for the LCAs and steering rack, and it drives straight even with no alignment (due to seized LCA adjustment sleeves). I really like the improved ride and height –it has come out exactly as I had hoped. There is some light rubbing on the front mud flaps, so that is next on the to-do list along with the sleeves and an alignment.
Plans for the future include: some light armoring, a headlight upgrade of some sort, the deckplate mod, a new radiator, new plugs/wires, seafoam treatment, a transmission cooler, satoshi grill with hella fogs, matching front tint, possibly a rack upgrade, possibly flares. I’d LOVE to get myself a super charger, but with these miles I’m putting that one on the back burner…for now.
Thanks again to those who patiently chimed in during this process. I’m hoping it all holds together until next spring when mod-fest 2013 will commence. Feel free to comment, make suggestions or ask questions. I’ve learned a lot from this site and it’s members have really been great. Hopefully I can return the favor. Think snow!!
Spruced up as of December 2012:
A few months ago I was convinced to keep/build/upgrade my 97 by some of the more persuasive members here. Inspired by the many sweet rigs, stories and pictures posted on this site I decided to do just that, and am happy to have joined in on the journey...
I have maintained this rig faithfully for over 200K miles, and she has served my family and I well on many trips. I didn’t really want to sell her, and I really didn’t want a car payment after not having one for years. However, the ole girl needed new brakes and tires, and it creaked, groaned, and bounced over every ripple in the road. I’m nowhere near as skilled a mechanic as many here, but I took the leap.
Safety first, so I decided I’d do the brakes, and after reading through BigFishAllDay’s outstanding writeup I searched around for the parts and ended up with Brembo rotors from ebay, remaned 13WL calipers from Autozone, and ceramic Toyota brake pads with shims (part #04465-AZ001-TM) also from ebay. Acquired some 2” extended Goodridge SS brake lines to replace the cracked and crappy stockers, some DOT 3-4 synthetic fluid, a new master cylinder, and went to work. In a blatent act of copycatery I decided to paint the calipers with red caliper paint ala rickashay.
The install went exactly as the writeup described except I missed the part about my six spoke wheels not fitting over the calipers without spacers –doh! A quick dash to the parts store for cheapo spacers and they were on. Wow. WAY more solid feel even with a softer pedal –weirdly awesome.
Brembo rotors
Jagged dust shield cut to fit 13WLs
Everything on
I knew I wanted to upgrade the stock suspension, and was also due for new tires so after a lot of searching, reading, and asking dumb questions (it really can be pretty confounding for a rookie so thanks to those who responded patiently and helpfully) I settled on the toytec coilovers with Bilstein 5100 adjustables and LR upper control arms for the front, and Bilstein 5125s with OME 906 springs in the rear. I didn’t want a huge lift, and was planning on 32s, so the adjustables up front with 906 springs in the rear seemed right. I figured if I wanted to later I could go to 285s and a taller rear spring pretty easily, but so far I’m very happy with the setup I have.
While I was at it I decided I’d better get new LBJs, TREs, and anti-sway bar end links with poly bushings for them and the steering rack. Also bought bushings for the lower control arms. Went with OEM/Toyota stuff for everything except the bushings.
Lift unpacked on install day 1:
Compared to the TBU, getting all the suspension on was a bit more of a challenge. I started in the rear confident that I had done my homework. I had not. I wrestled with one spring for a couple hours one afternoon before I finally wedged in in there and threw in the towel. My mistake? Unbolting the panhard bar instead of the rear anti-sway bar ends in a lame attempt to “open up” the suspension.
Stock spring right, next to new 906:
How NOT to remove springs:
My "workshop":
I wish I had taken a picture of it after that first day all crooked like a crab ha! After an evening spent reading more and massaging my bruised ego and knuckles with beer I dove back in the next day. What a difference doing it the right way makes! By opening up the suspension with the stock jack the other spring fell off of the axle, and the new one set right in it’s place –without spring compressors, without cursing and prying –sheesh. Now it was time for the rear shocks. The 5125s come with an adapter from toytec that had me baffled at first. I had spent so much time and frustration with the springs that when I pulled the stock shocks and saw the stud for the top I was convinced I had the wrong part. Duh. Once I figured this out though they went in pretty easily –except the top shock mount for the driver’s side rear shock. My arm is still scarred. It’s a tight fit up there, and it took some wrestling moves to get it tightened all down. The bottom mounts needed some sanding before they accepted the shocks, but after that they slipped on pretty easily.
Rear adapter pic:
The front coilovers were very straightforward. Using the stock jack (this time to push the upper control arm down) definitely made this easier also. It was pretty much unbolt the olds and install the news. One lower shock bolt needed some patience and a BFH to persuade it to do the right thing. Using the spanner wrenches (kind of a PITA) I lowered the shocks to what I thought would be pretty level. I’m waiting for it all to settle for a few hundred miles before I make any more adjustments --if any.
Front suspension pics:
Polyurethane anti-sway bar bushings were next. Took some jacking and grunting, but they went on eventually. Think these old ones were shot?
I had ordered new 32” BFGs and 16” ProComp 7069 wheels on sale including a $75 rebate from 4Wheel parts, and when I went to pick them up I had them install the ucas, lbjs and tie rod ends because 1) I did not have the time, tools or knowledge, and 2) it was getting too cold to work in the driveway --mostly though because I was scared. $300 well spent for this weekend warrior mechanic.
Everything I bought in “phase one” is now on except the bushings for the LCAs and steering rack, and it drives straight even with no alignment (due to seized LCA adjustment sleeves). I really like the improved ride and height –it has come out exactly as I had hoped. There is some light rubbing on the front mud flaps, so that is next on the to-do list along with the sleeves and an alignment.
Plans for the future include: some light armoring, a headlight upgrade of some sort, the deckplate mod, a new radiator, new plugs/wires, seafoam treatment, a transmission cooler, satoshi grill with hella fogs, matching front tint, possibly a rack upgrade, possibly flares. I’d LOVE to get myself a super charger, but with these miles I’m putting that one on the back burner…for now.
Thanks again to those who patiently chimed in during this process. I’m hoping it all holds together until next spring when mod-fest 2013 will commence. Feel free to comment, make suggestions or ask questions. I’ve learned a lot from this site and it’s members have really been great. Hopefully I can return the favor. Think snow!!
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