I got the passenger side mostly done today. I remembered to mark the center line on the axel tube and marked the frame before starting today, when I was finished I used a plumb bob to check how much my axel moved back, it was about an 1-1/4".....I would have guessed more than that by the looks of the tire in the fender well. The look is starting to grow on me, plus it should help during full stuff to keep the tire from rubbing.

For the shackle mount, I ended up cutting the old mount off, and cutting and removing the bushing tube and reusing it welding it to the new shackle hanger, I figure that way I still have the factory size bushing, and won't have to use the ones from my trailer project as described in my last post. I moved the shackle hanger back 2" and tacked it in place, I ended up with a shackle angle of 55° if I remember correctly 45° is the sweet spot, so I'll probably move it back a little more tomorrow.

I definately need to rotate the axel and correct the pinion angle, hopefully I get my axel spring perches soon!

 

I understand being impatient. That's why I'm having a god suspension guy put mine together. I don't know how and can't wait to learn or I'll not be wheeling for years.

I'll build and assemble what I can. Certainly enough to say built not bought but I can't do it all.

Perhaps when I upgrade from leafs to coils I'll finally have learnt to weld enough to have a bash? Actually, I think considering what I do to red and then drive all those hwy miles I better not..... Thinking and typing trash. anway

 

I sometimes wish I had a knowledgeable "go to guy" to help me out, take some of the guess work out of it. I think you've done more than enough work on your 4runner to say it was built, not bought!

Well I got my 3 hole axel spring perches on Tuesday, but they still didn't send me the missing shackle tubes, lucky for me Im impatient and had already cut and reused the bushing tubes from my old shackle hanger.






I finished up the suspension, minus mounting the shocks, I want to cycle the suspension first and see where would be the best place to mount the shocks to get full up and down travel out of them. Here's a before and after pic of the suspension install:


^^^ before with stock rear leaf springs, 2" blocks and 3" additional lift with Zuk mod using jeep TJ front coils


^^^ after using AllPro Offroad 6" rear suspension kit, the axel is moved back a little over 1"

So I thought that stretching the wheelbase another inch wouldn't be that big of deal, but I ran into a problem...




^^^I wasn't even at full stuff and the tire was making contact with the rear of the fenderwell...I don't want to do any fender trimming, so when I install the 3 hole axel perches (to correct my pinion angle) I think if I use the rear most hole instead of the center hole that should move my axel forward again, but I would have to move my shackle hangers position as it would be to straight up and down. On a side note, I drove the 4runner to work last night (without rear shocks) and it rides and absorbs the bumps a lot better, much more comfortable ride, and obviously better flex, it has a little more body sway, but hopefully once the shocks are mounted it will eliminate some of that.

 

I had one living with me when I was in Yellowknife. He held my hand through the first projects giving me the confidence to just get in and take stuff apart. Funny bit is he is 10 years my junior. Was an apprentice aircraft mechanic he's finished now but he's one of those dudes who is switched on when it comes to mechanic things. He's also got patients in spades and can really build you a picture of how things works with just words.

He'll be a rad trainer one day.


Truck looks awesome. Is your rear axle in the stock location? I'm hoping to move mine back a bit to help not bash the ass end off every bloody rock, stump etc on a trail. My rear bumpers stay level after installation for minutes it seems.

I'll keep my next one tight to the body like yours is with perhaps some deflection plates under the frame.

 

It's nice to have friends like that, that's one thing I miss, before we moved a year and a half ago I worked with a friend (20 years my junior) but very knowledgable, it was nice to be able to bounce ideas off him. I don't have anybody like that where we live now, but at least I still have my YotaTech Brethren! Sorry, I was still editing my last post when you posted up, the axel is moved back approx 1 to 1-1/4" but I'm probably going to move it back to stock position because it's rubbing the rear of the fenderwell when the tire is stuffed, I don't really want to doing in trimming.

 

Looks like you are getting quite a bit done. With the clearance you have now, I was surprised to see it rub the rear. Looking good.

 

Only an inch and a bit and rubbing? Oh pooh, I wonder if my 2nd Gen will be the same?

 

Hello Terry, yeah I have quite a bit of clearance and should be able to flex it out a lot, I think the mistake I made was moving the axel back an inch, that's what's causing the rubbing issue. Once I cut the old axel spring perches off, and rotate the axel upwards pointing straight at the transfer case output flange to correct my pinion angle, then I can weld the new spring perches in place.

If I use the rear most hole in the perch, it should move the axel forward again, hopefully correcting my rubbing problem, but then I will have to cut my shackle hangers off and move them forward because the shackle angle will be to vertical....it's been a learning experience, lol. I probably wont start on this fix for a couple weeks when my daughter is out of school, that way I can use my wifes car and wont have to be in such a rush.


I know, I didn't think it would be an issue, I'm not sure if that would be an issue on the second gen runners, the rear wheel well openings appear to big larger, but I don't know for sure.

 

Wow, after going through all the pages you've done a great job with modding your 4runner! Glad to see your hard work paying off!

 

thanks man! The build has been going a little slowly over the last year, it will be nice finally get some projects finished on it! Once I get the rear suspension finished up, then I can move on to the radiator upgrade and getting the power steering pump mounted, then it's on to installing my new gauges and gauge pod.






On another note, I have a few parts I'm going to be posting on CL. if anyone is interested in them let me know.


1.) stock rear springs with good bushings off my 4runner, would make a good RUF pak for anyone doing a SAS. (don't know about shipping these, probably local pick up only)


2.) 1st gen 4runner brown center console, in decent condition


3.) plastic rear bumper side skirts (I don't know if that's what theyre called, lol) you can see what I'm talking about in the above before and after pics, they're in excellent shape.

 

So I've been driving my 4runner back and forth to work, and have been noticing a rattling sound. It's most noticeable when I let off the gas pedal and coast while still in gear, or when I push in the clutch pedal to shift gears. I had my hand on the T-case shifter and can feel it vibrate when it's making that rattle sound, so I'm assuming it's the t-case and not the transmission. I'm not to knowledgeable and the inner workings of either, so if anyone has any ideas on what's causing the noise I'd appreciate the input. I have another t-case I can swap in, I guess I'm just looking for some confirmation that the t-case is the problem before I start tearing into it. Thanks in advance for any input!

 

Hey Ed. Runner looks great!

I had a similar problem when I first got my runner. It would make a rattling/vibrating noise. You could feel it through the tranny tunnel and in the armrest. It turned out to be a loose stake nut on the output shaft of the T-case. I took the Driveshaft down and hit it with an impact, noise and vibration went away.

 

Thanks Gizler, I had a similar problem with the rear diff making noise on my old 83' the entire portion of the stake nut that had been staked had broken off the stake nut allowing it to loosen, I just tightened it up and restaked it.

This morning, on my 4 runner I went out and dropped the rear driveline from the T-case, and the stake nut is still in the correct position, it doesn't look like it has move any, I couldn't feel any excessive play, what do you think, should I still try tightening it up?

 

I have something similar in Mistys truck but I am thinking it is in the rear differential. Those are hard to trouble shoot. It may be in her tcase. I am not that strong in gearing. Here is a link http://www.marlincrawler.com/tech/gu...1-gear-install that might help get a better idea of what could be loose or some easy tightening fixes.

 

I have seen worn u joints in the drive shaft cause that issue. I don't know how old yours are, I would check for excessive play there.

 

Thanks for the link Terry, that is some good info, definately come in handy if I ever get brave enough to tear one of these apart, I booked marked it for future reference. I'll probably go ahead and check the rear diff stake nut just to be safe.


Hi chuckarhunt. I checked the drive shaft ujoints and they were ok, no excessive play. I replaced them last year with Trail Gears' Creeper joints.


I started noticing the noise vibration about the same time I did the rear suspension, the pinion angle changed by 5* so I'm thinking that the pinion/drive shaft angle has something to do with it. Tomorrow I plan on cutting off the axel perches and rotating the axel to correct the angle. Then I can move the axel forward hopefully fixing my rubbing problem and finally get my shocks mounted. Hopefully the axel rotation helps with the rattle noise/vibration.

 

We got a new family member yesterday. My wife and kids drove 4 hrs one way to pick her up from a rescue shelter. She is 2 mths old...still haven't named her yet.

 

She is a cutie, great you guys got her from a shelter. We have a 17 week old shepherd at home we got from the shelter as well, almost 60 lbs already. It is always fun adding a new family member.

 

That's cool that you got yours from a shelter as well, wow 60lbs already, they sure grow fast! Yeah , my wife has been looking online for several months now. We were the third on the list to adopt her, we lucked out the other 2 people in front of us didn't pick her up.

 

Sometimes the best things take the longest to get. Hope she brings your family a bunch of joy.