Hey everyone,
My name is Tyler, I just met one of the guys who hangs out around here. Josh (FJ40LVR). Speaking of which...he is my new best friend! He just gave me a screaming good deal on a brush guard, tail light covers, and rock sliders! THANKS JOSH!

My wife and I have a '99 4Runner that she has been driving for the last couple years. Well lucky me, she just started a new job that has a commute, so we traded vehicles. Time to make the 4Runner...more manly.

I am sure I am going to be turning to you all for advice and input as I "slightly" modify (as much as possible without the wife freakin' out) our 4Runner. I'm starting off cosmetic...then who knows where it will go.

Hopefully I will run into some of you locally as I get more involved.

-Dirt

 

Welcome to the board! AZ 4ROC has a pretty nice group on here that is reasonably active. There are also some pretty experienced guys as well. Post up what you'd like to do with your truck and perhaps some of us could advise you some. I'll bet almost everyone has done some mod to their rig that in hindsight they wish they hadn't. So let us know, and we'll try to help.

 

Thanks for the welcome. First things first...I am adding a CB this week, the brush guard, rock sliders, and tail light covers. Next I need to do some maintenance on the Runner; the radiator has a small crack and leaks, the back axle bearings leak diff fluid into the brake drum (at least this is the original diagnosis...perhaps someone here has heard of this). I have a friend who is really into 4x4's and has tons of tools and can do about anything in his garage. He has offered to help with the mechanical stuff. Our Runner just turned over 140,000 miles...so I need to make sure I stay on top of the maintenance...the last thing I want is a sweet off roader that breaks down.

 

welcome to the club!

CB is an easy thing to install. Took me all of 45 minutes to install mine (Cobra 75 remote mount). I'd say the biggest pain was trying to tune it, but it wasn't really that bad.

Yeah, 4runners (3rd gens at least) have a problem with blowing their rear axle seals. If it isn't too bad (leaking for a long time) the bearings should be okay. I understand it's a pretty simple thing to replace. I think 111db did his a while ago, might ask him about it. I trick learned from a racing friend was to throw the seals in the freezer for a few minutes. This shrinks them just enough to get them in easier, but not enough to make 'em brittle. I had to replace mine when I first bought my rig. One bearing was fused/seized. Mechanic had to take the axle to a machine shop to press it out. On the plus side, he replaced the otther side (which just started to leak) for free. For those of you down in Tucson, check out Rey's Toy Shop, great guy, saved my butt $$$$ on a 95 that had the tranny little fall out at the dealership.

I think the reason this happens is the rear diff breather is located right on top of the diff and is easily clogged with dirt. I'd recommend extending this. Check www.sonoransteel.com for the part numbers.

 

Hey welcome to YT. Let the adventure begin.

Yes, I replaced an axle seal recently. Not difficult, but definitely easier to do it once correctly with a seal driver that you can 'borrow' from autozone. I'll spare the details... I do know better but tried to get away without it the first time. Your mechanic buddy won't have any issues. You can get the seal at Napa or Autozone for about $6 each. One for each side.

Coincidentally my 97 just turned 144444 on the Sunflower run this past weekend. Maybe 140k is the magic number for those seals giving up the ghost.

What I would recommend is picking up a year/model specific Toyota Factory Service manual (FSM). I got mine on a cdrom from ebay for... i can't recall exactly... i think $15. Paid for itself many times over. Don't waste time with a Haynes or Chilton manual.

I got my wheels from Josh - good guy. But don't tell him they're scrap metal after last weekend.

 

Welcome.

Get the HD axle seals from www.marlincrawler.com they're better than the OEM seal.
Sounds like you'll be replacing the rear brakes..I believe the factory brakes are very good...Call Tim Morsa at Camelback Toyota with your VIN, he'll give ya about 30% off list (he's Internet Parts sales) which will still be alot of $ but worth it IMO.

 

Thanks for the advice and links guys! I will be doing those axle seals in about a month. I have a big vacation planned and need to get through that financial abuse. Once I'm back I will be tackling the axle seals and radiator. The shop also mentioned that the belts could be replaced anytime...so I might try to talk my buddy into doing all that in one sitting (or one weekend). Thanks again!!

 

Welcome...keep and eye out for runs. We'd love to see you out there.

So, 99 4R with 140K and a blown rear axle seal. What else with the truck - 2.7 or 3.4? Diff lock?

 

The seal are REALLY slow leakers. The guys at the shop told me to keep an eye on it, but they thought I would be ok for a month or two.

It's a '99 3.4L V6 4x4. BONE STOCK! I have nicer A/T tires, and added a hitch. My in-laws bought this brand new in '99 and my wife and I bought it from them 2 years ago. It's NEVER had anything major go wrong with it until the axle seals. It's been very babied, and you would never guess the mileage by looking at it. It looks much much newer.

I don't know how serious I am planning on getting with modifications, but I think I would like to do a small lift and a size bigger tire. I defintely want to get a safari rack ASAP so I can get camping gear on the roof and our English Bulldogs in the back.

I am very uneducated when it comes to all the stuff about locking diffs, suspension and drive line modifications. So for now, I am just going to read and see what you guys do and hopefully get a chance to see some of your Runners and get the first hand explanation as to what something is and why you did it.

 

Welcome to the forum. If we can help in any way please let us know. We are an ARB/OME Dealer as well as a Toyota dealer. Building a 3rd Gen 4 runner will be alot of fun and there are several articles with some great advice on what to and not ot do. Use the search feature and save yourself time and money.

 

Mark,

From what I was told, Tim is no longer in the parts department. I called earlier in the week since I haven't heard from him for my parts quote. They said he transferred to the body shop.

 

I haven't ordered anything in awhile.

Well then...my other source is Phil & crew at trdparts4u....always excellent service from those folks

 

We are always available at info@trdparts4u.com Jacque will take very good care of you.

 

Welcome to YT, you will find this forum one of the most friendly around, and most useful for when it comes to write-ups on projects. Good luck with your project. We here at Belize Off Road Team also offer you any Yotatech member a deal in one of our B&B rooms. contact me for more info on the B&B.

 

Welcome to YT.

We'll see what we can do about getting that 4Runner of yours a little dirty.

Even without mods, you'll find that vehicle is plenty capable, probably more than you'd imagine.

AZ has lot of trails to offer, hopefully you can make it out on the next YT posted run that suits your vehicle... when and wherever in AZ that might be.

 

Scrap metal?.....Did you get in a wreck, or are you reffering to some arizona "Rock Character"?

 

HA!

I said the same thing to my wife when I wanted to put on just a few upgrades. In my wake of broken axles and suspension parts, I somehow justified upgrading the front end to some real beef.

Now, even the wife likes to drive it around town.

Tell ya one thing, she sure gets lots of guys wagging their tales when they see her driving the 4Runner. The're thinking "whoa, good looking gal in a narly beast of a machine, I gotta get her number". The last time she drove the 4Runner, she had many a guys drooling.....

ya....just a few mods honey...

This is where most people end up, or would like to end up:





oh yeah, Welcome to the addiction of Yotatech!

 

No wreck. Character courtesy of Log Corral. BTW, we missed you that day...

 

Wish I coulda made it....it looked awesome. Unfortunately, my company was bought out and I have been on the road back and forth from phoenix to ohio every week, + looking for a new job....getting time off on the weekends to get out has been rough.