Hello All

I'm had my 97 Runner (Grimace) for 10 years now. I bought him at 100,000km and he now has just about 360,000 I haven't have any real issues with thing breaking. but now stuff is just starting to wearing

I've replaced a few thing::
the battery a few times
the timing belt, water pump (nothing was wrong just was an easy thing to do when the timing belt was off)
The brakes
numerous wipers
tires
exhaust
cv axels (mainly due to the 3 inch lift)
replaced the stock suspension with a 3inch lift

so really just basic maintenance.
now age is slowly setting in and same with the miles. and now I have to replace the rear Axel seals. I'm also doing the rear pads again too at the same since it all will be apart.


what other thing have you guys and gals all encountered with your rigs with high miles. what should I be looking forward to?

thanks in advance
J

 

I purchased my 4Runner new in 2001. It now has 440,000 miles (708,000 km) and continues to be super reliable.

It’s stranded me exactly one time - when the original fuel pump died at 400,000 miles. Luckily I was about 20 miles from home.

Other than that, everything else has been normal for the miles and use it gets. I’ve performed all maintenance & repairs myself since day 1, and only take it to a shop for tire changes, transmission flushes (every 100,000 miles) and alignments.

The truck is starting to show its age, but runs great, looks nice, and still has a very clean interior (seat covers since the first year).


Pic from a trip to the mountains of West Virginia last weekend:







Andreas

 

With a mere 310,000 miles the 96's biggest replacement bits were the rubber things, bushings, hoses, that sort. I'm on my 3rd timing belt kit and did head gaskets last November.
Ball joints, especially those lower ones have been done as maintenance because lower ball joint failure isn't pretty. Rack and pinion, worn throttle body, radiator when the tank cracked, moo-box because of the failing vsv, u-joints, radiator, 1 cat and a couple of muffler/tail pipes, starter contacts, rear axle bearings...
The list is kinda long with some of it being needed and some preventative maintenance and a lot just for fun of doing or using it- or both.

I don't have a build thread, it's a what am I going to fiddle with today thread.

 

99 4runner v6 4wd will hit 300,000 miles in a week on the original timing belt and water pump.
Pretty much unheard of....

 

263,000 miles. Rear axle seals have been replaced twice, once each by previous owners. Timing belts twice, once at 90,000, once at 250,000 and water pump at that time. I had a mechanic do it and he said the pump was original, and was starting to leak (be warned sharrack!) Belt looked totally fine, though. Radiator had a slow leak so I replaced it. Valve cover gaskets. Starter. Just replaced the leaf springs and shocks (I tow).

The little things that are starting to nickle and dime me, finally after 21 years and 260,000 miles are stuff like door handles, door latches, ignition cylinder and other lock cylinders, front components finally starting to wear out (new tie rod ends are on their way), but I drive a lot of washboard dirt roads, fast.

It has never left any owner stranded. I know the previous two owners; the first owner bought it brand new when we were in college together.

That's definitely not a bad track record. I used to be so impressed by my old Toyotas (80's models), when they hit 200,000 and could still be taken anywhere. But they felt their age at that mileage, and were starting to have issues. 200,000 miles is nothing for this generation of trucks.

Edit: oh yeah, mechanic I took the truck to before buying it said the the ball joints checked out fine, but I replaced the lower ones first thing anyway. Replaced belts and coolant hoses too.