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habanero's 1996 4Runner Build-Up Thread

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Old 07-27-2016, 06:03 PM
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Hey coopster-
Welcome aboard!
Old 07-30-2016, 04:03 PM
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Hey Hab, I'm preparing to swap the steering rack on my runner and do a fluid flush, I know you've done this, any quick tips?
Old 07-30-2016, 06:45 PM
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Originally Posted by jason in tn
Hey Hab, I'm preparing to swap the steering rack on my runner and do a fluid flush, I know you've done this, any quick tips?
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f200.../index105.html
Post 2100- 2102 with a reflection of woulda couldas at the bottom of 2102.

I did put in a power steering filter.
and to quote my ownself when answering a similar question awhile ago:
Originally Posted by habanero
Have fun and be patient with it, it's a job getting everything together straight and centered and also those lines. It can be done. You can do it!
Go ahead and put the poly bushings in before you install it. IIRC you have bigger tires too...I'm figuring that's what's not too easy on the stock bushings.
I wouldn't have been able to leave the tires on if I didn't have the 1" wheel adapters- the tie rod was barely accessible as it was.
Flushing the system was easier than I thought it would be. Thinking about you asking me about it the first time I did a rack is what finally goaded me into doing it. It was much needed so thanks!
If you flush/add filter just get some new 3/8" ps return line and put the filter in. Easiest time to do it and I found my return line was pretty degraded after 19 years. Measure, mine fit best at 13" overall (1" body lift).
Other bits to consider based on miles and condition are the outer tie rod ends, the lower ball joints and sway bar bushings and links, just because of where they are and what you'll be unbolting (lbj only because otr, but only if needed).
I know you've got this and have prolly already given the above and more some thought. It's okay to tell me to shut up already.

Did I mention have fun?
Seriously those rubber bushings the racks come with (A1Cardone, Toyota, Whoever) won't last a minute- can't remember if you have the poly rack bushing kit- get it if you don't (Wheeler's has it) because you'll be doing them sooner than later if you don't.

All of Toyota's new racks (best price I've found so far even with ridiculous shipping is EB Toyota) are the newer style with the solid guide. Not sure of other companies- order a rack for an '02 to be sure to get that style guide. The large hex that the guide is under should be an 'inny', NOT an 'outty'. Thread here with better description and pics: https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/h...ctures-215931/

Toyota's racks have inner tie-rods already. Whatever rack you get you want those because they are spendy on their own.

If you need a new rack boot for any reason Beck Arnley makes a nice one.

IF you need them poly sway bar bushings are 26mm. Most bushing replacements listed for the 4Runner are for the Taco and too big at 27mm. I used Prothane #18-1115. Installed them 2 years ago and have not had to replace (regrease, yes) since.

Line wrenches were useful...I can't remember if it was to get the lines on or off- but I think it was off. The lines going to the rack are angled weirdly in a way that's hard to get them started when putting them back on. Compare to the new rack to get an idea of the correct angle.

If you have a dif drop you will have to unbolt it in order to lift the front diff enough to pull that loooonnnnggg bolt out.

Patience, grasshopper.

Anything specific just yell. You've really been doing a lot of work up front lately, haven't you?

Last edited by habanero; 07-30-2016 at 06:54 PM.
Old 07-31-2016, 08:45 PM
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Thanks for all the insight as always Hab, I was hoping to have this knocked out before I headed back to work, but now I get to dread in for another week or so lol.
Old 08-01-2016, 01:39 PM
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Always something standing in the way of something else, isn't it? Here's to getting a chance to get it done!
Old 08-02-2016, 12:31 PM
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Just checked out this years trip report. Thanks for sharing as always. We just did a power weekend trip from here to Provo, UT and didn't take any time for side trails. Makes me jealous. Glad you had fun and made it back safe.
Old 08-02-2016, 01:34 PM
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It was an excellent trip and with 2 trucks we knew the blue one would make back for sure since I had that green 'parts truck' along.

I've been east and southeast of Provo, but never in. Hear there's decent mtn biking there...or maybe that was Park City? Any adventure can be a good one, whether it goes bumpity bump or not, right? Saw your school year starts a couple of days behind ours...how does this keep happening earlier and earlier?
Old 08-02-2016, 01:58 PM
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Our high schools have always started 2nd week of August, and teachers go back a week before meetings, so that takes my wife out (this year she goes back the 8th). This is only my 2nd first day of school at the Community College where I work so I don't know if it's normal. I'm just glad I've only got one day of meetings and not a whole week!
Old 08-03-2016, 02:45 PM
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Ugh, started back today with the big meeting and have 2-3 more days pre-kids. Considering how long my vacation is I'm not complaining tooo much, just always a little hard to give that time up at the end of each summer. And it's still been too rainy to finish stripping the paint off the one corner of the house and repaint it. And the garden still needs serious amounts of weeding. And. And. And. And the squirrels got the corn and peaches this year!
Hope the CC job is good for you JBurt!

The 96 is in serious need of a tire balancing but I need to get the front shocks, one rear air bag and the left lower ball joint done too, plus alignment thank you very much lifetime align.

I did cave and jump on the rear lower control arm skid bandwagon just before our trip using swagbucks/survey money. Both on the 96 have minor scrapes on them and I think the 99's got some use too so I suppose it wasn't a bad thing.
Old 08-07-2016, 09:32 AM
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96 4Runner 286,xxx miles
Listening to Toyota Trucks and Trails Podcasts 10 and 11 while wrenching is entertaining. Good times and only lots more to catch up to the fresh new current podcast.

Pulled the front coil-overs and left ball joint to replace with new joint and shocks. Billies again for the front. Everything came apart as it should, will need to knock a little rust off what was behind the springs while everything's apart, not much luckily. Will have the front tires balanced at the same times I have a shop put coil-overs together since they're off the truck. I don't have a spring compressor that can handle the stiff tight springs is why a shop.....

I used a puller to get this apart, but a slight tap with a hammer would have done it, it fell out with a single turn of the wrench. It feels 'loose-ish' but not omg bad. Still, like the other, I'm not chancing it. 68,000 miles on this one. Again, only reason is grease pukes. More pukey than the right side, no symptoms (like I could tell with the death wobble in serious need of balance tires). Originally replaced with oem and replacing with oem this go-round too. Also going to replace the bolts again, will keep the current sets as spares.



The shock bushing looking a little used...about 90,000 miles on the Billies



And I'll need to grab a pair of these...didn't think about the possibility of needing them...



So the truck might have to sit for a few days, 'least none of this is hard to do, got it apart pretty quickly and *should* go back as easy.

Last edited by habanero; 06-30-2017 at 09:15 PM.
Old 08-07-2016, 05:55 PM
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Was questioned about some HID bulbs. I don't happen to have true HIDs (and had to do a little learning to find out about them) but I do have some cheap whiter colored bulbs off Ebay. I'm putting the resulting info and pic here if anyone happens to be interested. The GP bulbs are a little higher wattage than the stock bulb and run a little warmer. They also don't seem to last quite as long, especially on the dual battery side that I have to take the headlight assembly out to change- of course.
Anywho.... from my answer....

I don't have HIDs with ballasts, I have cheap ebay bulbs- GP Thunder 8500k. Claim to be HID but there's no ballast or gap, they're just a whiter output. They aren't that much brighter but I find it easier to see with the whiter bulbs. Looking at the Kensun bulbs with the ballasts I don't think they would fit in my truck because of the dual batteries. I am not saying they will or won't in yours because no experience with them.

Since I happen to have a cheap Walmart bulb on the driver's side and one of the GP thunders on the passenger here's a comparison:



Here are a couple of HID threads to start..
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...-help-ddm.html
http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-ge...b-upgrade.html
So thank you to The Original for asking a question and making me learn some new stuff. Awesomeness!
PS. I am impressed by anyone who can speak more than one language! I.....cannot.

Last edited by habanero; 06-30-2017 at 09:16 PM.
Old 08-13-2016, 08:44 AM
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Hey Habanero! I haven't read your thread in a couple months and just got caught back up. The moab pics look awesome! Maybe I'll make a visit out west some day...
Old 08-14-2016, 08:03 PM
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You MUST! After all the green and normal sized trees of where we live it's a little surreal. Glad to see you here.

Absolutely not truck related, we were headed down to Ha Ha Tonka for a quick backpack and saw the most bizarre cloud coloring ever- they really did look like this but the weird purple/green/pink/yellow color stood out more. Ice or something? I will have to look it up. One of those are my eyeballs really seeing that? sort of thing.
EDIT: They are called Mother of Pearl or Nacreous clouds.


Ha Ha Tonka is very much a karst situation, neat area if you ever happen to be in the Ozarks around Camdenton.
Oh yeah, don't do it right now because OH MY GOSH, IT'S SEED TICK SEASON AGAIN!!!

96 4Runner 286,415 miles
This weekend I finished up replacing the front shocks. Steve at Sonoran Steel got a couple of parts to me super-quick so the truck didn't have to be down forever and ever so big thanks to him. Also replaced the left lower ball joint. Did I mention it popped apart with barely a turn with the press? Was leaking lots of grease is why I replaced it with about 50,000 miles on it. Feels looser than the right side did...all I know is the bucks to replace it I'll consider peace of mind insurance.



I'd meant to take more pics but mostly forgot. Replacing the coil-overs wasn't hard. Left the cvs in, took the lower ball joint bolts out for a little leeway. Watched out for the cv boots. The lower bolt came out pretty easy with some tapping and the 3 upper nuts came right off. I did have to have a shop swap the coils (and got charged girl-tax after having been quoted a reasonable-ish price for the job, urgh, they lost themselves a sale on the set of Michelin greens the VW's getting come fall) which I hate not being able to do myself but oh well. Loosened the upper a-arm for some room for the re-install and the floor jack to lift the spindle up and therefore the upper a-arm too. Tightened both the bottom shock bolt and upper a-arm bolt after the tires were on and the truck was sitting back on the ground. It needs to settle a little, with all the junk in the back and the one broken air bag my rake is gone. I also need to get the tires balanced (and guess who's not getting that job either) and until the air bag comes from Firestone (sept!) that's (hopefully) that for the suspension. For now.

Last edited by habanero; 06-30-2017 at 09:17 PM.
Old 08-15-2016, 04:50 PM
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Chuckles- and by MUST I mean in your lifetime. So much to do and see everywhere and somehow I keep ending up in CO/UT.
Old 08-20-2016, 07:07 PM
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96 4Runner 286,xxx miles

FINALLY found a not-broken washer neck and replaced the mouse chewed one from since I've had the truck.



Didn't even look to see what year 3rd gen, it just looked new so I nabbed it for a couple of bucks...


They are super easy to remove/replace- disengage from clip at the top, pull up, push new one in. Even the gasket comes off the tank easy and installs easy too. Pull off old, push on new- without dropping it into the tank.

Also have started gathering parts for a new project...inspired by Murry (our TDI Jetta wagon) and by Chim99 over on T4R...



Other than that, the OBA has been running intermittently, mostly ran but seemed to 'hiccup' occasionally. I crawled under the truck thinking it was the pressure switch because it seemed like an electrical deal. Well, it was electrical, but it was only the wire that runs between the pressure switch and compressor. The weatherproof connector was cracked and had all sorts of dirt and corrosion. Still need to source a connector but that's an easy thing.

Oh, also nabbed an airbox/maf/bits off a 99 4Runner for future conversion IF the 96's maf ever goes out. Did it because of cost of a maf for a 96 is way higher than that of the 99's. I'll be following this thread to re-pin the connector...
http://www.ttora.com/forum/250-late-...f-upgrade.html

Hope all is good with everyone. Looks like we'll get a break from the constant threat of rain (mowing weekly in summer, rather than every 2 weeks or so) and get the front of the house painted. I've had it stripped down since June. Still have to do the side where the sun hits too, stupid faded paint!

Last edited by habanero; 06-30-2017 at 09:18 PM.
Old 08-21-2016, 08:37 AM
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I've never thought of updating the MAF, very cool idea, that's my only problem with you Hab, you are always giving me ideas for more cool stuff I want to do. Can't wait to see what the next project is.
Old 08-21-2016, 05:50 PM
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I'm sorry Jason! It's not like you're Mr. Innocent over there with your own mods and ideas.
Wish I could say it was my idea. I'd thought a little about it because I know the newer style maf is way way cheaper, but coming across the thread and seeing how it'd be a pretty simple thing to do made me decide to watch out for a newer air box and all the other bits. Hardly ever do we come across a part I want at a junkyard on the very first try! The maf on the 96 is still good, this is a for laters mod.

Today simply watched the hubby pull the right cv shaft off the 99 and reboot it. Slightly different than rebooting the manual hubs, but all in all pretty similar. Now he has experience pulling the cv off a 4Runner, easy peasy. He did a slight boot stretch while he was at it, will be watching to see how that works out. Toyota #04438-35060 comes with everything to reboot one add shaft- both boots, two different types of grease (dark in outer, light in inner joint), all clamps, snap ring and the ring that goes on the part of the stub that fits into the diff.

Old 08-21-2016, 11:00 PM
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Just catching up on your thread. Mice like to get into things. Squirrels have been a problem for a few in my area. Least it is starting to cool down here in Missouri lately, soon we will be shivering.
Old 08-22-2016, 05:54 AM
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Good morning Terry! And don't forget those stinky old chipmunks!
Luckily that's all the mouse damage for the 96 and it's been there forever. The 99, however, the mousies love the firewall fluff on that one.
It was so nice to wear a jacket to the bus stop this morning, may even get the front of the house painted today since it's supposed to stay dry for a couple of days.

Old 08-23-2016, 05:01 AM
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Yeah, I've pulled mouse firewall fluff nests out from under the intake manifold and inside the HVAC fan.

At least they haven't gotten comfortable enough to start chewing the wires. So far. Or that I've noticed.


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