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'99 4Runner Build: Clara

sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
Last night was the first time in a LONG time that I enjoyed wrenching. I was actually having fun. Maybe it's the new lights in the shop, but it was enjoyable... for the most part.

I've gotta say, I'd rather work on a Tacoma than a 4runner ANYDAY. Pulling the third was a major pain with the gas tank skid in the way. I had to remove most of the skid and twist it just to get the third out. I'm also disappointed with how wimpy the upper (and lower) links are. My lowers are bent, and I'm sure it wouldn't take much to bend the uppers. Someday I'll be replacing them with some sonorasteel links. It's crazy how cramped everything is back there in a 4runner. Oh well, it's worth the extra room I get with the 4-doors, I just don't enjoy working on the rear end.

I got the tacoma back together, but the 4runner is still out of comission. I'm hoping to finish the diff install tonight. The 13 year old gasket has really hardened onto the rear axle, so it's going to take some time to get that off. Hopefully tonight is as much fun as last night was (minus the gas tank getting in the way).
 
blznnp

blznnp

Well-Known Member
Location
Herriman
I always find it easier to work when the lighting is better, when its not so good and I work on a rig at night, I usually find myself almost asleep on my crawler under the vehicle. But with a good lighting set up, helps get my mind off the fact that its 10 or 11pm, plus it makes it much easier to see things.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I've heard fantastic things about those Falken's. I hear they kinda suck in mud (as do most tires), but I have been giving those some serious thought. They're kinda heavy, but with my extra-low gearing that shouldn't be a problem.

I also like the Hankook dynapro and the newer Big O A/T.

I also love the Mickey Thompson Baja MTZs

And I love my KM2s, zero complaints (although the ones that came on this runner are extremely cupped). I'm guessing that's due to a poor alignment.
 
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sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
ttora4runner said:
Steve, check out Ripcords build on toyota-4runner.org he just built a set of rear upper links. He's one of the few people that I've seen actually damage them.
Click to expand...

Dirtco bent his too.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/95322-dirtcos-1999-4runner-build.html


Posted for future reference.
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/85197-ripcords-2002-4runner-build-photo-timeline.html


Did you install your lower links yet? Do you mind measuring the eye-to-eye distance for me?
 
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lenny

lenny

formerly known as PokeyYJ
Location
Bountiful, UT
sixstringsteve;874160 newer Big O A/T. .[/QUOTE said:
I absolutely hate my Big O A/T's. The only good thing is that they came on the Discovery when I bought it and they seem to have decent tread wear.

They have awful traction in just about every environment I have used them in. Moab - sucks, loose dirt/rocks - sucks, wet heavy snow - sucks, mud - sucks, packed dirt - sucks.

I had BFG AT's and Truxxus' on this Discovery when I owned it the first time, and the tires performed SOOOO much better than the Big-O's
Click to expand...
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
lenny said:
I absolutely hate my Big O A/T's. The only good thing is that they came on the Discovery when I bought it and they seem to have decent tread wear.

They have awful traction in just about every environment I have used them in. Moab - sucks, loose dirt/rocks - sucks, wet heavy snow - sucks, mud - sucks, packed dirt - sucks.

I had BFG AT's and Truxxus' on this Discovery when I owned it the first time, and the tires performed SOOOO much better than the Big-O's
Click to expand...

Are you talking about the old model or the newer ones that look like Hancooks? I really like the newer ones. I've had 'em on 3 vehicles. I hate BFG ATs with a passion and I've been really impressed with my Big O A/Ts in the past: snow, light mud, sand, dirt, rock, it never slipped a tire.
 
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AddictedOffroad

AddictedOffroad

The Yota Specialists
Location
Windsor, CO
I go through a lot of vehicles and such a lot of tires on them. To date, I haven't found an A/T that performs better all around in snow, ice, dirt, pavement, slickrock, etc than the Hankooks. I too despise the BFG A/Ts. I ran KM2s on one of my old 2000 4runners in the 255/85/16 variety and they were BY FAR the worst snow/ice tire I have ever driven on. Even at 27psi the rear end would break loose in slush let alone snow pack. They were awful IMHO. They did fine in everything else. The lack of siping was just huge.

I sold that 4runner to my old shop manager. It took one storm before he told me the same thing. He immediately took them in and had them siped at Discount and he said it was a night and day difference in how they handled in the snow. Just an FYI.

With that said, Brian Ellinger from Diamond axle now runs three sets of Hankooks on his vehicles up in Red Feather Lakes after telling him to get them on his burb. He runs them on his 4runner and his Dodge Dually now too.

I've run BFG A/Ts, Yokahoma Geolander A/Ts(good tire), Nittos(decent), Toyo M/Ts, Iroks, KM2s, MTRs, MTR Kevlars, Krawlers, and a variety of no-name stuff too. But, the Hankooks were better than all of them. Its not a crawler tire, but for a rig that see 90% street, they are fantastic. I'm on my 3rd set and will be buying another set next week for my 7.3L Excursion.
 
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sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
Thanks for the input Scotty. Although this rig will see 90% pavement, I think I want a substantial tire. Running the Rubicon is not out of the question for this rig. My driving style uses the sidewalls for traction quite a bit. I've loved my km2s in deep, fresh snow but I agree that the blocks are just too big for hardpack and ice.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I got the rear third swapped in tonight. The gods must have been smiling on me because everything went back together without a hitch. So far I can't notice any improvement with the 4.88s while parked in my driveway. :D

Looking forward to seeing the
RPMs back in their happy range.
 
jentzschman

jentzschman

Well-Known Member
Location
Sandy, Utah
sixstringsteve said:
I got the rear third swapped in tonight. The gods must have been smiling on me because everything went back together without a hitch. So far I can't notice any improvement with the 4.88s while parked in my driveway. :D

Looking forward to seeing the
RPMs back in their happy range.
Click to expand...

At first read, I got scared... guess it helps to finish reading the sentence.
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
I'm digging the 4.88s in the rear. It's especially nice in starting from a stop. The rig feels lighter. I've still gotta do something about the wicked stiff accelerator pedal/spring.


With 4.88s in the rear and 4.30s in the front, it really likes to grab in 4x4. It's kinda lurchy, but it acts like it as ha TON of grip. The tires really chirp from so much grip. :D
 
sixstringsteve

sixstringsteve

Well-Known Member
Location
UT
Yeah, it's very bad. i was just kidding. I would never put it in 4wd with that big of a mismatch.


hm... next wrenching party will probably be on Monday. I need to swap the manual hubs, diff, and axles from the taco onto the runner. This is going to require removing both knuckles and pressing out the hubs (yuck). It might actually be cheaper to just install some 4.88s into the 4runner front diff...
 
Spork

Spork

Tin Foil Hat Equipped
Location
Saratoga Springs, UT
sixstringsteve said:
Yeah, it's very bad. i was just kidding. I would never put it in 4wd with that big of a mismatch.


hm... next wrenching party will probably be on Monday. I need to swap the manual hubs, diff, and axles from the taco onto the runner. This is going to require removing both knuckles and pressing out the hubs (yuck). It might actually be cheaper to just install some 4.88s into the 4runner front diff...
Click to expand...

The ADD/manual swap has confused me, I remember reading the only difference between the ADD and manual 3rd member was the tube section (basically unbolt the tube and swap on the tube that matches what your hubs are).

http://wwww.ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?p=446316
 
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