Topic: New member! Houston Native! 1995 4Runner

[StockCrawler]

Hey Y'all! Long time listener first time caller! I'm wheeling my brand new to me, 1995 4runner 4x4, 5-speed manual. 248k miles.
ARB Locker-4.56 on order! Excited to learn some more about the wheeling life. I'll post some pics as soon as I can!

[StockCrawler [OP]]

Full driveway tune-up is in the works. I'd post pics if I could, one purpose of this post is to get to 12 so I can upload
New belts
New Fluids. PS, Coolant, Oil, Brake, Diff when the ARB goes in,
New Coolant Hoses
New Brake rotors/pads in front
New brake shoes/ 1" wheel cylinders rear
I will have drums turned.
New Steering Stabilizer
Sparkplugs/wires
Fuel/Oil/filter replacement.

Step 2 will be
CV axles
Clutch slave cylinder
some other MISC to make this ol girl ready for her next 250k miles of wheeling!

Some Items I am contemplating
Lift, (Old Man Emu sounds like my best option unless someone would like to weigh in)
33" Tires
Possibly some aftermarket wheels if I can source them cheap enough!

[RUGER]

to

RUGER

[Slabzilla]

   2  the fold   

[toe]

 

[StockCrawler [OP]]

Ok Y'all. I wish I could post up some phots for ya. I've completed most of the punch list items with the ARB locker and rear end rebuild left to be completed hopefully by the end of the month! Found a set of SRS BR6's on Yokohama 33's and I went with the OME lift with ball joint spacers! Torsion bars have been cranked just enough to clear the rubber and I plan on hammering the pinch weld to gain some more clearance. Looking really good, you'll have to take my word for it lol. I plan on putting on a roof rack with some lights, installing a CB that I have, and possibly some rock sliders by the end of the year. (I would love a recommendation for these.)

[Gnarly4X]

Your ‘Runner reads like a really nice crawler.

Damage, especially body, to your vehicle is eventually almost a certainty on rock crawling trails, so protection is something I wish I had spent more time and money on for my both my 1986 Longbed and my 1985 Standard Cab.

In 1986 when I got into rock crawling, there were not many really good options available. By “really good” I mean well designed and truly functional from my perspective.

Regarding your roof rack and lights…. Roof racks can be a real problem for some trails. Here in AZ there are a few trails where you will have to pass through low overhanging Palo Verde and mesquite. Anything in a roof rack will get whacked or hung up.  I would not recommend a roof rack unless it is absolutely needed to carry stuff.  For our cross-country Sonora Mexico trips, a roof rack to carry extra 5-day supplies would be really handy. If a rack is needed, I would want it to be easily removable when it was not necessary.  I would not mount any lights subject to damage on a roof rack.

On your rock sliders and rocker panel protection…. Because I could not find any on the market that fit my “want list”, I had a custom set made by a friend who is an excellent fabricator.  He made them the way I wanted.  1 – 98% rock bash-proof.  2 – quickly removable, and 3 – as tight against the rocker panel as possible.  He welded a square plate with four bolt holes on the frame, then made the same piece on the slider, so I could bolt them on in less than 15 minutes.  Since I figured they were going to get scraped, I did not have them fancy powder-coated, I just painted them with a can of Rust-Oleum.  Mine were immediately completely Moab tested and passed with flying colors.  For trips to places where no rock crawling would be happening, like the Glamis Sand Dunes and cross-country Mexico, to be able to remove the sliders and reduce weight was a big plus.

That’s just my opinion – it may be worthless.

Gnarls

[idishert]

Great to see you in the forum!

[StockCrawler [OP]]

Gnarl, thanks for that! Now I will defiantly consider waiting to install one until I test load the rig before camping. I’m sure I will discover quickly if I will be needing some rocker protection once I start using this 4Runner a bit more, I’ll hold off for now unless I find a smoking hot deal. I will definitely find a semi-permanent solution to some good lights for cruising 

RIG UPDATE:

Well, good news and bad news.

Good: After breaking down the rear end for this weekends rebuild, I discovered the rear end was not grenaded! The 3rd looked great with only a very small amount of extremely fine ferrous shavings on the drain plug. I have not been able to check the back lash, but will update yall later. Oil looked 7/10
Surprisingly

I will be installing fresh shoes and turned drums, new brake springs and hardware, improved 1” Wheel cylinder (I thought this to be a little more insurance since I went a few sizes up on the rubbers.

Not so good: Right rear axle shaft was broken, right on the C-Clip groove. I cant imagine how many miles this car was driving in only front wheel drive! Any suggestions for replacements?? Should I replace both or just the right? Dorman or after market? Any help would be appreciated!! I’ve seen a few Toyota 8” rears at the local junkyards if y’all think that would be a good option. I have new bearings, seals, etc. Remember I will be installing the ARB Locker as well!

I’ll update all of these posts with some pictures when I get to 12 posts…….

[RUGER]

id grab an axle from the junkyard. if its complete you get an extra 3rd member and you dont need to worry about pressing on bearings on the axles

RUGER

[StockCrawler [OP]]

I'll go grab what I can and a spare for the trail!. I've had no luck finding any 3rds still on the trucks must less the right 3rd with 4.56 gearing. Around here, if you don't get to them a day or two after they hit the yard, they start to look like skeletons very fast LOL!! When I bought the ARB I ordered everything for a complete axle rebuild, except the axles; R&P, bearings, seals, etc. I will be cutting an axle tube off while I'm at the junkyard to build myself the SST for the axle bearings. Any guidance on that would be helpful although it seems pretty straightforward.

[StockCrawler [OP]]

Please excuse this blank post, it is my 11th and pictures will follow shortly!

[Wainiha]

Aloha

[StockCrawler [OP]]

12th

[Gnarly4X]

Lucky 13?

[StockCrawler [OP]]

Ok its not letting me post the pictures I want. Need to run I will try again this evening!

[Ritchie]

Welcome, and hold on to your wallet...

[StockCrawler [OP]]

Ok here we go! Here is what I started with, a very clean 1995 3.Slow! I remember my mom had one of these when I was growing up, same exact vehicle except an Automatic. Brings back a lot of great memories and gets me pumped to make new ones on the trails of the Hill Country of Texas!

[StockCrawler [OP]]

Here is the slight view of the progression over the last month! Lots of maintenance and tons of peace of mind to get this rig ready for the next 250k miles. New suspension, CV axles, fluids, belts, etc. Very rewarding working on these trucks, the engineers defiantly had the at home mechanic in mind.

[StockCrawler [OP]]

Torsion Bar bolts were seized, probably hadn't been touched since it rolled out of the factory lol. Toyota OEM parts took 4 days to get here from the dealer. Its no wonder why Toyota still makes parts for these....The rear end was disassembled, ready to be throughly cleaned and completely rebuilt with new brake components. passenger axle was sheared at the bearing. Im assuming the bearing seized. No telling how long it's been like this. This is my first time setting up a rear end, so I am taking my time checking and double checking my work. Backlash was a 0.0068" average around the R&P. I purchased a Yukon 4.56 replacement R&P but I assume I won't be needing them. I will be returning or selling. Again, my first time here but the pattern I got looked to be decent compared to all of the build notes I've read. Looks like the ARB compressor will fit nicely to the fender well!