What have you done to your 4th Gen 4Runner today?

Finally got around to switching Hid headlights and high beams to led, new ballast too

 

No pics, but I ordered snow chains for it. So expensive for such a seemingly simple item, ugh.

 

Bought new wiper blade inserts cause mine were over a year old and starting to not wipe well. I use 2016 Taco OEM wipers on both my 4Runner and my IS300 and it's the best wiper out there IMO. #itsthelittlethings

 

I replaced the rear wiper arm yesterday. What a pain in the ass. Ended up trying a 2-jaw puller to get it un-stuck, but broke the plastic part off leaving the bushing behind. Then had to dremel that off. Replacement one went on in maybe a minute and a half though, works great. Fingers crossed I'll be able to see out of my rear window in the rain again.

 

Did a very cheap and extremely easy mod today: put silicone license plate frames on.

They popped up in a FB ad and I had never heard of anything like it, so I bought a knockoff version on Amazon for a quarter of the price ($11) and I’m stoked on it.

I’ve never been someone to put a vanity or dealer (gross) license plate frame on my cars, but the rattling of a bare plate is annoying. This solves that for cheap.

Link:

$10 ZAKRA License Plate Frames,2 Pack Silicone License Plate Frames,Premium Silicone Material, Rust-Proof,Rattle-Proof,Weather-Proof.(Black)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08YDJJS4N/

 

2006, 4runner, Sport, 4X4, 4.0L V6, Galactic Gray | NGk, 6619 Iridium Spark Plugs (LFR6AIX-11) | aFe Power, Dry Air Filter | URD, MAF Sensor Calibrator | SPC UCA | Front Springs: ToyTech, 112-620 | Rear Springs: "Super Flex 2.0" | KYB,

$28 SM5640 - Mount Kit

SM5640 - Ft. Spring Mount Kit | Bilstein, 5100, Adj. Ride Height 5100 front (@.85 second from bottom ring) | Dobinsons, 4Runner front Diff Drop kit | Prothane, Universal sway-bar bushings (Ft. 30mm, Rear 21mm) | Weather Tech, Laser floor mats (Black) | Falken Wild Peak AT3W 255/80/17 E | Stock Sport Wheels | Cali-Fab Body Mount Chop (not req. for current tires)

 

Not the case with mine. I have to turn off Rec. or it gets stuffy and warmer even on an overcast day.

 

Replaced the alternator today. That bottom bolt is a bear to get off.

 

Added skids!

 

I did this a few days ago, you're not kidding on that lower bolt.

 

I hate ball joints. So much.

Replaced my outer tie rod ends and spent way too much time beating on the knuckle to get them loose.

Ugh.

 

get yourself one of these

 

Not today but in the last week I bought a set of black TRD Pro wheels and got them installed. Pulled all the cladding off and got it painted and reinstalled it. Looks like a totally different vehicle. Had a little rubbing on the front of the fender liner even though I didn't go up in tire size; just the different wheel offset made it rub. (I have 265/70/17's on it so I was slightly above the stock size). I moved the liner forward and took care of it. Still have a slight rub on the LH side hitting the mud guard. I'll be putting on a better lift soon along with JBA upper control arms and I believe when it's aligned they'll be able to add more caster and stop that.

 

I had a two jaw puller style one I tried. Ended up messing up all the threads on the stud and nut with it. Passenger side was stuuuuck.

 

I have this exact one and used it to pull the tie rod ends and LBJs on mine just this past sunday to swap LCAs. This style of separator is worth it to not mess up those threads

 

You really don't want to use it unless the compressor is on. It will cause serious fogging of the windows.

 

Since last week when I put the TRD Pro wheels on I've decided to go black. I bought and installed matte black TRD Off Road emblems on the B pillars, (I know I'm a poser for that), and plastidipped all the original emblems. Then I removed and painted my chrome grille matte black. Also painted the rear wiper arm as it was looking a little weathered. Looks like a different vehicle, but I like it. Sorry, haven't had time to take pics yet.

 

Got it aligned after doing some suspension bidness and replacing outer tie rods. It's amazing how much joy having a straight steering wheel and no side to side pull brings.

 

Performed a transmission drain and fill x4. Used Valvoline maxlife ATF. It was dark but not as bad as I expected it to be. Overall not that hard of a job, just time consuming.

 

How often have you done that?

 

First time. Going to do it every 50k from here on tho.

 

How many miles you got? A dealer told me that since mine has 200k to leave it alone. Letting off the brake at a red light it and accelerating it has a slight "thump". Lubed the driveshaft and it improved, but didn't cure it

 

193000. Drove it around all day and it shifts great. Definitely better than before.

 

I started doing my drain/fills at about 183K. Made a significant improvement after one, even more after two, and with the third I also put in a tube of lube guard shudder fix and holy shit, torque converter chatter is gone in 98% of the situations it was showing up in before.

 

Changed my oil on Tuesday and had some forbidden chocolate shake on the oil filler cap. I don't drive my 4Runner a ton, mostly just short trips around town, so I get some fairly heavy condensation up there and that fun brown goo. Tuesday made me decide to throw on a catch can. I had one on my Tacoma and it helped me immensely with keeping condensation in the oil to a minimum in the winter.

Amazon special catch can that came with a bracket that I had to cut down and drill a hole through. Then used an existing threaded spot on the inside of the fender. It came with some surprisingly decent quality hose, but not enough, so I had to use some other fuel line I had laying around. Overall pretttty pleased.

 

Got that same one on a different vehicle, works great

 

New radiator, upper and lower hoses this morning. Noticed a little leak when I changed the oil a couple of weeks ago.

 

Added aftermarket head unit and back up camera, back up camera was a little bit of a hassle.

 

Officially sold it to my cousin today. End of an era in my car ownership life. But he was super excited (he had an almost identical one that was recently totaled in an accident) so I know it's going to a good home. See you guys on Tundras.com. One last pic of my last camping trip in it in May.

 

177k, v6 4RUNNER, new to me so I'm in the process of full service,
Girl got stuck in 4Hi as I tried to get into 4Lo,
So i swapped in a new RockAuto actuator.
T-case still needs mounted.... hopefully tomorrow