Just bought a 1993 4runner v6 auto, it has 300k+ miles on it and runs and drives just fine. I took it offroad the other day and plan to today and it does awesome, it went up things I've never been able to before except on a dirt bike and bicycle, and up and down things I'd never done prior in anything ever. I do need to replace the CV shafts though, as well as check and top off the Tcase and diffs. Anyone got any tips or suggestions? What size socket do I need for the fill plugs? Any suggestions for skid plates? I currently have none.

Sorry for the non flowing sentences, just typed what I thought. anyway thanks in advance to any help tips or suggestions.

 

Welcome to YotaTech.

You have cheap calipers; you're much better off just measuring the plugs than relying on someone's odd memory.

There are plenty of good write-ups on this site (and even some "okay" videos on YouTube) for replacing the half-shafts. There is one gotcha. If you jack up your rig with the front wheels dangling, the angle formed by the half-shafts is "wrong" and you will never be able to remove them from the diff flange. If you search long enough, you will see advice like removing the ball joints, dropping the control arms, even pounding out the precision shoulder-bolts in the differential flange! Stop!! You need to compress the front suspension so that it is like the truck is sitting on it's tires. (I use a trolley jack under the brake rotor to lift it just enough.) With that angle, the half-shafts will slide right out.

If your half-shafts aren't noisy, but just have split boots, you can replace the boots only. Think twice about that. The two boot kits alone (it's the outer boot that splits, but it comes off over the inner end so you need to replace both) cost just about as much as a professionally (?) rebuilt half-shaft. Plus replacing the boots (they're filled with grease, of course) is a messy, thankless job.

 

Lots hate on the 3.0, but most hate it because of the power robing auto behind it, Dont let the the 3.0 over heat and it will last a long time.

Best bet for skidplates is to find some stock ones. Not too many people making skidplates for these anymore.

Your diff/trans/tcase plugs are 24mm. There are some 17ers out there, but most are 24mm.

 

24mm is the plug size but 15/16 also works

 

Thank you much! that will come in handy. I have two Brand New half shafts since both are loose and noisy around turns. I wouldn't have thought about the dangling being a problem but that's very good to know thank you.

 

Thanks for the size info. The auto doesn't really rob power offroad, otherwise I have no problems with it being slow.

 

Thank you, I think I have a 15/16ths so thats very helpful.