Hey all, new here.

Just picked up a 1991 4Runner, 4WD (auto-hubs), 3.0. 264k, stock ride (no mods.) Trying to renovate it into a basic D.D. & snowboarding rig, nothing fancy. Seems to be in pretty decent shape but has a few issues, and I'm not sure where to start. Trying not to spend too much $.

1.) Steering wheel travel. Seems pretty loose, especially at freeway speeds. Is there a common cause of something like this?

2.) Slow speed wobble when turning/going over bumps, the rear seems to "jump" on bumps, and roll a lot during low speed turning. It is stable at freeway speeds. I got underneath and all the bushings seem decent - maybe need to replace the ones on the rear trailing arms? I don't want to spend days replacing every bushing if someone can pinpoint what may be the culprit. I bought new shocks for F&R, figure with 264k it's probably time. The rear doesn't sag, so I don't think it's the springs?

3.) Exhaust. The muffler is rusted out, as is the tailpipe. I was thinking of just getting it replaced with a basic job at a local muffler shop, but then started reading on here about cutting out the cat and all that - I don't have to pass DEQ/smog where I'm at, so I'm not concerned about that...is there a writeup for removing all the emissions crap, or at least the cat? Advice on that front? Is that helpful at all for the 3.0?

thanks in advance.

 

Have you also replaced the steering stabilizer with a after market one??

Some tires can also give the wobble along with suspension and steering parts

I live with emissions so perhaps someone else can answer that one.

 

I haven't replaced anything - steering stabilizer included. Should I look at that?

I'm not sure about the tires - they're not particularly big or knobby, but not small either. Helpful, I know.

 

That and Shocks for sure .

Sway bar bushings

Even wore out rear shocks can make the front sway a bit.

Really hard to compare unless your able to drive another 4Runner with all new goodies.

 

After doing some reading on the steering stabilizer, it sounds like a likely culprit.

I've got a moog stabilizer on the way. Hopefully that plus shocks will take care of the issue. I'll replace the sway-bar bushings last - when I looked at them, they seemed in good shape.

Thanks for the input Wyoming9.