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

I was guessing based on the shop that changed my upstream O2 sensors since I couldn`t budge `em...charged me $700 !!!!

 

Got a fix-it ticket for front window tint this morning. Yes yes I know ANY tint is illegal, still irks me because my tint isn't super dark (35%) and 99.99% of cars in San Diego have their front windows tinted. Guy was either bored, or his full time job is writing fix-it tickets because while I was pulled over I saw no less than 10 cars drive by with front window tint, lol.

edit: this is not for my front windshield, just my front drivers/passenger windows.

It also irks me because i've seen numerous police cruisers with their front windows tinted. Rule for thee, not for me, I suppose.

And, while pulling me over, he did an illegal U-turn and ran a stop sign.

 

Update : it`s fixed and back to road worthy status...only took me all week

 

Ok, so on the final "did I get em all" bolt check from my fuel pump job, I noticed something interesting...

I have TWO broken wheel studs and missing lug nuts, one right front, and one left rear.
I wonder how long those have been broken ?

ToyotaPArtsDeal.com shows a different p/n for these studs depending on front or rear.

And if I read the Dealer page correctly, the dealer shows different p/n for left v right ?

 

There should be no difference left/right IIRC but I wouldn't be surprised about differences front to rear

 

Busy weekend in prep for an upcoming camping trip in South Dakota.

Finally got the F3F console molle panels installed. Got a place to hook my GMRS handset and my tablet for the trail.



Also got most of the work done installing an aux fuse panel. Need to clean up the wiring and add some labels.

 

Sweet set-up R4.

 

Well I still have my Dobinsons IMS suspension sitting in boxes. Got a quote from my go-to nearby shop. $805 to take off the XREAS and install the Dobinsons. Does that sound reasonable? I was thinking it sounds slightly high, but also don't know common pricing for this type of work. If it didn't have XREAS, I could at least do the rears myself in my garage and then take it in for the fronts/alignment. I did an AAL and shocks in my garage on my Tacoma, and coil springs seem easier to swap than leaf springs. Its the XREAS that i don't feel comfortable disconnecting only half the vehicle or whatever.

Anyways, thoughts on that price?

 

I know labor rates have gone through the roof, but that seems high. I am biased though because I do 95% of the service work on my vehicles.

I have not done any research but is replacing XREAS with a non-XREAS suspension that hard? I know that my 19' 4Runner with KDSS (not the same I know) was a bit tricky, but I was able to install my lift with only a few challenges. If you know how to swap out suspension parts, I would save the money and take a weekend to do this job yourself. And do a write up if there isn't one already.

 

Just did a few searches, gkomo. There's plenty YouTube videos on how to delete the XREAS system. Seams very straight forward to me. Here's one video that might help. I'd suggest watching the full video or skip to the later half for a review of required tools and tips. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hLACgbU_Jzk

That said, it's not challenging, just time consuming. If a shop did it, that's probably a 2-4 hours worth of labor (est $100 per hour x 4 hours - $400 (it may take the less time - don't know the book rate on this job).

 

My days of doing weekend jobs, or any job that would take longer than 30 minutes, are long gone for now - from my 2 year old. Both my wife and I work full time, she aint gonna just let me work on my car all weekend while shes on toddler duty. And to be honest, i would get interrupted too many times to be efficient anyways. I'm a car guy, and will teach my daughter how to do stuff around a vehicle as much as i can, just not now, definitely when shes a little older though. I look forward to doing 'projects' with her.

 

I totally understand. That said, with labor rates at @ $100 ph at an independent shop (in my area anyway), $805 is probably reasonable knowing now what is involved.

 

Decided to get rid of my terrible leather interior and replace it with a better cloth interior. I purchase the interior out of a wrecked 2005 4Runner and decided to dye the entire interior black. My original interior was brown and tan, the interior I purchased was gray. I have totally removed the complete interior of my 4Runner for this transformation. In the process I changed the interior lighting from OEM orange to blue.

 

I have extra interior parts other than door panels if anyone needs them.

 

WOW!!! That looks incredible, RonT4R! My interior is already cloth and gray but needs a refresh. This is inspiring to say the least. I like the amber gauges personally, but have also been looking at converting everything to blue.

 

That's an awesome transformation! Would be cool to see before and after shots if you have any of the before. But either way, respect for the thoroughness on a job like this!

 

I'm torn between going blue or just white for the gauge cluster. I bought white LEDs to do a similar thing to my '08 Tundra's cluster and have a lot more bulbs than I'll need for it. But haven't checked yet to see if they're the same/compatible type for the 4Runner.

 

Before pics….

 

Raised the adjustable spring seats on my Eibachs. I finished my bumper and winch install right before a big trip in January and didn’t have a chance to do it then. Truck is level again and I didn’t realize how much better it would ride and handle. I know the geometry multiplier thing but wow, the perches are only like 1/2” apart so that’s quite a difference.

 

Started the fitting of the SB X20 winch... prefect bumper and space for this bugger!

 

Looking good! Which front bumper are you running?

 

Thanks! Its an OG Groupbuy Shrockworks from 2014!

 

Here are the new pics. I have not started the door panels.

 

^^Damn that's a game changer! How's it feel compared to the previous seats? Nice work!

 

Thanks! IMO the cloth seats are way more supportive and comfortable than the leather. My leather seats were flat. I enjoy the ride so much more now.

 

I removed the rear sway bar DIY linkages as I sheared an end-link last time I went out on the trails...not too bad for lasting and driving it for nearly 10 years on those buggers...the plan is to build new ones and be done for another 10+ years but I have to say, driving it this morning without the RSB has been a pleasant surprise! I don't feel unsafe at all and it seems to cushion up the rear-end a bit over some road irregularities...I might just leave it off for the summer and see if I want to throw it back on...I didn't remove the bar itself and it's out of the way so thus far, it's a non-issue experiment!

I also re-aligned my exhaust a bit on the back end to eliminate some vibrations under certain loads...I noticed the exhaust clamp was making contact with the frame...easy fix and I'm off to the races (or just regular work in my office). Happy Friday smile-enthusiasts!

 

Charged the a/c today as it was starting to get warmish....first service to it since new in 2008!

 

Looking great! I'm curious about the interior trim pieces that had a carbon fiber look before, did you paint and reuse them or just replace them? And if you replaced them, are the old ones for sale?

 

I still have a majority of the old parts I removed since I purchased the interior out of a wrecked 2005 4Runner. I reused the climate control panel because I did not have a spare and the tray below it has a broken tab so it is not useable anymore. Honestly it would be cheaper just to carbon fiber wrap your own interior parts, it’s not hard and everything is on Amazon.

 

I got the winch installed and wound up the line...waiting on Amazon for some disconnect circuit stuff... I'm stoked.