What have you done to your 5th Gen 4Runner today?

Fun trails in the hills for sure! I'm on the wrong side of the state but make it out there a couple times per year. This is a somewhat local trail, still takes me about 40 minutes to get to and is only about a 5 mile loop....I've rode it too many times to count. The next closest is Mitchell Sd, about 130 miles.

 

Dang talking about the Black Hills reminds me of when we went to go race DH there back in the day. Group of us lived in Montana and we'd always come over for that race and party. Was a hell of a time that's for sure.

I had a busy weekend with the new to us 4Runner. 66k miles. The girlfriend has been looking for a bigger rig for a while (Ford Focus ST). There aren't many new offerings for vehicles worth a damn in a manual transmission which bummed her out (lifelong manual gal). We talked and I told her if you're going to be forced into an auto, can't go wrong with a 4runner for what you need. She hikes, camps, plays in the mountains, etc. I also an a previous Toyota owner, I had a 99 Tacoma with the elocker and manual hubs...last year for those hubs from the factory. Loved that truck.

I knew from the initial inspection when we brought the truck home it was going to need some maintenance, despite how "well kept" the PO claimed it was. The son was a supposed mechanic. The things I noticed when we went to pick it up screamed "not a good mechanic" type stuff. But we bit anyway since the price was right for our area and the low miles.

The initial maintenance was just to reboot the CV's because of a small tear in one of them that was flipping grease. I researched on here and it was mentioned that while I was in there, I should replace the driver side needle bearing in the front diff with the ECGS bushing. So I ordered that up. I also ordered the tools from @Cowboy59 who was a great help. His tools worked great for the removal and install of that bushing.

So I re booted the CV's with the Dobinsons high angle boot kit because of the Bilstein lift, installed the ECGS bushing (it was crazy how much play that driver side CV had with the needle bearing compared to none with the bushing), new diff seals on both sides, diff was drained. When I got done the CV's it was time for new rotors and pads all around. I like to start any rig to me with a good maintenance foundation that I know. The rotors from the PO (drilled and slotted) had some really bad wear...as in you almost couldn't see the slots anymore. I knew I was either into frozen calipers or the PO ran the pad material all the way down and was stopping on the backing plate. They had put newish pads on but they were worn horribly.

I attacked the fronts thinking they were going to be problem free...but as soon as I tried to compress the pistons on the driver side, 1 of the 4 was completely locked. I tried every trick to get it to break free without success. I usually rebuild my OEM calipers but I knew with this front one frozen too, that's 3 of 4 calipers potentially frozen on this thing. So went looking for OEM remans or brand new calipers from Toyota.

My searches on this forum lead me to a place (https://trdshop.carlocktoyotaoftupelo.com/) that apparently had good deals on rebuilds. I wasn't sure if they were still around so I went to their site and low and behold they had NEW OEM calipers cheaper than any other "rebuilt" calipers out there. I had to call them and make sure what my eyes were seeing was true, and it was. So I ordered brand new fronts and rears. Got a call a couple hours later and they said they didn't have the new OEM fronts but they had the Toyota OEM rebuilt rears, which that was fine. They were a very good price.

So yesterday I got the calipers and put in a big push. New rotors, calipers, parking brake adjustment (it wasn't even working) brake fluid flush (it's nice you can bleed all 4 corners with the abs pump, not used to it being that easy), and rear diff drain and fill. Also removed the 2" spacers from the truck, it was causing some rubbing on the front mud flaps. Probably could get away with 1" ones but meh, I'm not a huge fan of spacers. If and when she wants a more "aggressive" stance I'll chop the body mounts and weld in one of the kits for clearance.

Anyway, that was a long winded post but the truck is on the ground finally and the girl gets to drive her new rig. She's loving it so far. Lots of room for all of her stuff, dog kennel in the back. Looking forward to more time with it, but hopefully don't have to wrench on it any more for a while. I have 2 vehicles of my own that need my attention as well as our motorcycles and dirtbikes!

 

You will not regret, I did the same a year ago . Little bit more thirsty, but man, it is so nicer ride and much comfortable sitting.

 

Well, I still have my Tacoma, and have been driving my 4Runner for about 2 years now. Drove the Taco to work all last week. Seriously missed my 4Runner… Just sayin’.

 

About to do trade my 21 Tundra for a 4Runner. Now my wife and I will be twin-kies. Hers Ice Cap White mine Classic Silver Metalic,

 

Curious as to which Elka setup you went with...

 

I vote to let Darwin sort it out.

 

I finally installed my Prinsu roof rack that i got over the Memorial Day sale.

 

Interested in getting one of these for the 4runner at some point PO mounted a light bar the OG way with brackets in the door sill area and I hate it. The brackets have rubbed the paint off the top of the doors and ruined the seals. Need a way to mount that thing differently. I thinkin a full length rack is the way to go...pretty easy install? Where'd you pick it up at on sale?

 

yep super easy, hardest part was getting it onto the roof. got it from 4runner lifestyle they had it for $100 off over the holiday weekend. i think next month i will get the 40" light bar i watched this video a couple of times before the install:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZbTTiY3pz9A

 

Right on thanks. I think when the gf's bank account recovers from the purchase of the 4runner I'll make her get this for it

 

Went on my 1st "road trip" - though it was really just an overnighter to eastern NC to photograph black bears. ~300 miles each way. On the way out, I went a route that was about 1/2 rural roads and then the last 1/2 was interstate/highway. Driving fairly relaxed and trying to kill a little time, averaged 21mpg. On the way back, tired and ready to get home, averaging 75mph for the entire 300 miles, averaged about 16.5mpg.

Was a successful trip, though. Had somewhere between 40-50 bear sightings in 1 day.

 

Great pictures. A lot of people don't know there are a lot of bears in NC and some big ones too. A guy got one a few years ago where I hunt that was over 500lbs.

 

Thanks! And yes, they get absolutely huge out there in the coastal plains. Last time I looked, the record for NC was 892lbs, that's basically grizzly size lol. And there are so many of them too, I have literally seen 30+ bears in the same field at the same time before. Basically grazing like cows lol

 

Did a thing. https://www.amazon.com/your-orders/...pmentId=D7ChvxKv7&packageId=1&asin=B0C2THYD6X

 

Completed the last piece of the oem trim puzzle that I'm interested in as far as trim pieces go (I think). Patience, luck, and determination has found my 4Runner sporting all oem pro trim pieces for around the same cost as I could have bought aftermarket parts for

 

I just bought that piece. Not looking forward to removing the bumper assembly to get it on.

 

I added this carpet protector to the back of the back seats that someone a few pages ago had shared that they got. This will be great for the dogs and my own camping adventures.

 

some nice yoga pants right there

 

Shouldn't be too bad.

 

That's the video I'd watch if I bought a Prinsu

 

Nice. You got a link for it?

 

Yeah, I wonder why that's the video thumbnail he chose lol

 

I watched it twice, don't even own the rack

 

Those are awesome... Rigid plastic? Please give us a link!

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BYS4FD8...p_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM
They are comparable to floor mats for the cargo area. Way better than Canvasbacks.
The indent/cover for the D-rings on the seat backs will break off over time. I've had 'em for 9 months. A solid addition to your truck that really saves the carpet.

EDIT: The one posted is for a sliding tray. There are others available for a non sliding tray option. Check Amazon.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/394523710875

Same half the price?

 

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BYRXSLJ...p_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM

 

You were posting while I was editing my post.
The difference in price is the rear cargo mat and seat backs vs. just the seat backs. They are similar to a floor mat for the cargo area.

 

Gotcha. Ordered!