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Suspension similarities to 1st gen Tacomas

Discussion in '3rd Gen 4Runners (1996-2002)' started by glwood54, Sep 3, 2021.

  1. Sep 3, 2021 at 10:01 AM
    #1
    glwood54

    glwood54 [OP] Stop making me buy stuff!

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    I've posted on the TW forum in the 1st gen section, but seem to be getting crickets, for the most part.

    Can anyone tell me if the 3rd gen 4R has a similar suspension? My recently acquired 2003 Tacoma PreRunner has some suspension squeaks and squawks that sound very much like bushings needing attention. What I was trying to ascertain from TW was what bushings can or should be replaced on a 2003 Tacoma, or is there some way of lubricating the existing bushings to help eliminate the noises. Also, these noises only happen when the temperatures are cooler - once the air warms up (and also the truck), the noises disappear...
     
  2. Sep 3, 2021 at 2:46 PM
    #2
    Kwikvette

    Kwikvette Kwik Fab

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    Identical front end with the exception of;

    Sway bar attachment
    Tie rod ends (straight on Tacoma)
    Lower ball joints (slightly offset mounting on Tacoma, can be used with Tacoma tie rod ends)

    Different rear end;

    Sway bar (none on Tacoma)
    Coils (leaf on Tacoma)
    Shock mounting (eyelet to eyelet on Tacoma)
     
  3. Sep 3, 2021 at 4:24 PM
    #3
    kgwags87

    kgwags87 New Member

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    I had the same thing on my 06 Tacoma and ended up replacing upper and lower A frame new (wheel bearings from Blue Pit)
    And replaced front shocks that fixed it!
     
  4. Sep 3, 2021 at 4:52 PM
    #4
    glwood54

    glwood54 [OP] Stop making me buy stuff!

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    So, new upper & lower control arms + wheel bearings?

    Shocks already replaced with new Bilstein 4600.
     
  5. Sep 4, 2021 at 6:46 AM
    #5
    kgwags87

    kgwags87 New Member

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    I think it was more upper control arms driver side and the rubber in shocks were shot I put KYB shocks on pre loaded from Rock Auto they work no body roll around corners. I put KYB shocks on my 87 4Runner also made a big difference.
     
  6. Sep 4, 2021 at 8:19 AM
    #6
    Kwikvette

    Kwikvette Kwik Fab

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    Wait what?

    Why would you get new arms when all you need to do is replace the bushings in them?

    Wheel bearings you can check by lifting your vehicle and checking for play at the wheel by gripping the 12 o'clock and 6 o'clock positions of the wheel.

    If you are set on replacing them, you'll need to pull the spindle off as the wheel bearings are pressed into the hub. Koyo bearings are what you seek and they're the same for Prerunner Tacoma's, 4x4 Tacoma's (whether ADD or manual hub), and all 3rd Gen 4Runner's.
     
  7. Sep 4, 2021 at 8:26 AM
    #7
    glwood54

    glwood54 [OP] Stop making me buy stuff!

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    I didn't say I wanted to replace any control arms. I was just trying to find out what @kgwagswas referring to in his post before that.

    I am simply trying to find out what would be the least amount of work needed to eliminate the bushing squawking going on in my Tacoma. If that is replacing the CA bushings, I'm all for that. And any other bushings that might be the culprit. The last 1st gen Tacoma I had was back in 2008, and it only had 35k on the odo, so I never had any issues with it. This is a new world for me.

    Any suggestions for control arm bushing replacements?
     
  8. Sep 4, 2021 at 11:17 AM
    #8
    kgwags87

    kgwags87 New Member

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    To add to this my ball joints were shot in both upper and lower on both sides that’s why I replaced replaced them. This truck had 250000 and a lot of desert trail rides on the old girl. And as far as bearings much easier to get from blue pit than trying to separate and pressing new bearings in they use Koyo bearings I guess it depends on how much money you want to spend and time. And I replaced the sway bar bushings also.
     

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