SqWADoosh's 85 Runner Build Thread

[SqWADoosh]

Did you get my text with John's number?

Yes, thank you.

[mudmaster]

 

[SqWADoosh]

Well I got my fridge wired up and working after some trouble with it. Turned out that one of the prongs on these Anderson connectors I'm using wasn't fully seated and was being pushed out the back as the two connectors came together. So with my fridge working I rushed to the store on Thursday night and got food for the weekend. I then took off early from work on Friday around lunch and started bombing towards Evans Creek to meet Mudmaster.





I ended up passing Mark on the gravel road that leads to Evans Creek. It was raining and when we got to the campground there wasn't a single soul to be seen. So we got the best camp spot with the gazebo and setup our tents under cover and got started on a fire. Dinner was brats, dogs and Mark's buddy Doug bought some Spaghettios! Whoever camped in our spot before us had left about a dozen pallets there so once we got the fire going good and hot with the wood we brought we switched over to burning the pallets. We noticed an odor right way after placing the first one on. My money is that they doused them all with lighter fluid because it smelled just like it and they burned like crazy. Some genius had the bright idea to put 3 pallets on at once  We had to stand outside the gazebo because the fire was so crazy hot. 









After some good grub and a steady fire we set in to some awesome fire talk. Mark brought along his buddy Doug who like me and Mark works in the Aircraft industry so we all had plenty in common and lots to talk about. The next morning we got up pretty early, got some breakfast in us, and bestgen showed up with his buddy Travis. We set about getting ready for the day's worth of wheeling and then headed down to the bullpen to meet the rest of the guys joining us for the day. Once everyone was wrangled up we headed up the "311" traill. About 1/2 a mile into the trail one of the guy's son who was on his first wheeling trip had his truck stall out on an incline. The truck began to roll back and with the loss of power he had no brakes. He unfortunately panicked and the truck ended up rolling down the hill. Luckily a rather large tree saved him from going all the way to the bottom. He unfortunately did not have his seat belt on and by some miracle walked way without a scratch.














It took 3 of us anchoring our trucks to trees and running our winches in unison to get the truck back over. Unfortunately the effort took mudmaster's winch as a casualty as well as very likely his transmission which ended up cracking its housing completely around shortly after. Wasn't the best day of wheeling with a lot of carnage and not much time running trails. Luckily no one was hurt and everyone got home safe.

Unfortunately on my way out of the ORV I started hearing a sound that very quickly progressed into a terrible clunking that came on with acceleration. It was my rear diff that I found metal in a few weeks back. It was kind enough to hold together for the trails however soon as I got back on pavement it began grenading. By yet another miracle I was able to make it the 70 miles back home. The sound was god awful and I thought for sure at any moment the rear end was going to completely seize up. By the time I got to the last 5 miles of my trip home the noise was horrendous and the truck was difficult to get moving from a stop. So needless to say I'm out of commission until I get a new diff. I have a e-locker diff that I need to get re-geared and swap in however I don't have the $1000 its going to cost me right now so I'm walking for a while 

[redneckcustoms13]

Why would it cost so much to have a set of gears put on thst 2rd?

[OTO Phil]

Why not disconnect the rear driveline, and drive it in 4wd?

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[SqWADoosh]

Why would it cost so much to have a set of gears put on thst 2rd?

Nitro gears, master install kit, 29 spline flange, cryo treatment, and the cost to have zuk do the install.

[Mudder]

Why don't you want to put it in? Then you could look at the other one ad see if it's salvageable, I know you couldn't use 4wd with two different R&P ratios and your truck would be slow off the line but then at least you could drive to work.

[SqWADoosh]

Why don't you want to put it in? Then you could look at the other one ad see if it's salvageable, I know you couldn't use 4wd with two different R&P ratios and your truck would be slow off the line but then at least you could drive to work.

Plan is to regear this extra one. Put it in. Then rebuild current one and have in truck as a spare.

[LittleSteve]

Why don't you want to put it in? Then you could look at the other one ad see if it's salvageable, I know you couldn't use 4wd with two different R&P ratios and your truck would be slow off the line but then at least you could drive to work.

I wheeled the rubicon last year with 4.10 in the front and 4.30 in the back

[SqWADoosh]

I wheeled the rubicon last year with 4.10 in the front and 4.30 in the back

This would be a much bigger difference. 4.30 and 5.29

[LittleSteve]

This would be a much bigger difference. 4.30 and 5.29

I know.
I wouldnt run it on granite, snow is coming and the ensuing mud, you could manage it for a while maybe whilst you get the other sorted.

[SqWADoosh]

I know.
I wouldnt run it on granite, snow is coming and the ensuing mud, you could manage it for a while maybe whilst you get the other sorted.

Nah, I live within walking distance to work. Won't be the first time I walk nor the last. I'll have the money here in a week or so. Won't be down for long.

[redneckcustoms13]

I highly recommend g2 gears. The sets I have ran and am currently running are doing well.

[SqWADoosh]

Going with Nitros.  Been very happy with them. Even with all the I've put this diff through the R&P has held up. Plus they are out of WA state.

[H8PVMNT]

ZUK is the man.  I learn something every time I visit with him.  I have set up maybe 20+ thirds but finally starting to fully understand how to do a really good setup with his coaching.  Last one I did I kept sending him photos until I got the ZUK approved "slight deep" pattern.

You know I like G2s the best too but I haven't heard anything bad about Nitro and they offer that bigger splined pinion which can't be bad.

[blackdiamond]

ZUK is the man.  I learn something every time I visit with him.  I have set up maybe 20+ thirds but finally starting to fully understand how to do a really good setup with his coaching.  Last one I did I kept sending him photos until I got the ZUK approved "slight deep" pattern.

You know I like G2s the best too but I haven't heard anything bad about Nitro and they offer that bigger splined pinion which can't be bad.

It's been a very long time (2002) since I did the ring & pinion on my differentials and I went with Yukon gears that were recommended by my local shop.  I can't complain.  At the time I thought Genuine Gear wasn't a well respected brand so I'm somewhat surprised that G2 (I assume to be the same) is well respected now.  Things change.

Going with Nitros.  Been very happy with them. Even with all the I've put this diff through the R&P has held up. Plus they are out of WA state.

I'll be interested to see how your diffs hold up over the next few years.  You're certainly not easy on your 4Runner but I'm surprised that you've had a ring & pinion failure, especially the rear.  Part of me wonders if the PBRs may have pushed things a little too far for long term reliability on the Toyota drivetrain and part of me wonders if the rear axle breaking was the catalyst (i.e. shock event) for the differential coming apart.  It all just has me curious.  I will say that whether it's related to the tires or not, your recent experience has made me very satisfied with my itty bitty 35s and 4.88 gears.

I hope you get it sorted and you never have the issue again.

[SqWADoosh]

The diff taking a dump happened for one of two reasons.

1. The axle shaft break took the bearing with it.
2. When I replaced the axle shaft and filled up the diff I didn't put enough fluid in. My axle being rotated up caused me to not be able to put enough fluid in. I think the diff got very hot on the Tahuya trip and took a bearing out. From now on I will use this little incline that connects me and my neighbor's driveways to put the proper amount of fluid in.

[mudmaster]

I've had G2s in my front HP for a few years now on 36s. One trip on 38s 

[:)bestgen4runner]

I would like to get My hands on the third member when its removed. Try to identify what failed and why.
If its possible. 

[mudmaster]

Try to identify what failed and why.

I'd say heat from low fluid and metal from the axle breakage.

[redneckcustoms13]

I'd go more with the metal from previous shaft failure than low fluid. I've had plenty of tpyota rears show up ans have less than a quart in them. Drain it, replace leaking pinion seal, fill it and roll out. They are very tough little units.

[OTO Phil]

What fluid do you use?

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[redneckcustoms13]

As much as he recommends mt-90. I would imagine that is his choice for diffs to.

[SqWADoosh]

As much as he recommends mt-90. I would imagine that is his choice for diffs to.

No. Lucas 85-140 HD

[blackdiamond]

The diff taking a dump happened for one of two reasons.

1. The axle shaft break took the bearing with it.
2. When I replaced the axle shaft and filled up the diff I didn't put enough fluid in. My axle being rotated up caused me to not be able to put enough fluid in. I think the diff got very hot on the Tahuya trip and took a bearing out. From now on I will use this little incline that connects me and my neighbor's driveways to put the proper amount of fluid in.

I hope the failure is related to the axle break.

How much fluid were you able to get in?  I generally squeeze in just shy of 2 quarts and I can't imagine that your diff is rotated much more than mine.  Also, running synthetic fluid I would expect it to be fine unless you were WAY low.

In retrospect, it would have been interesting to see what the 3rd looked like after the axle break.  Diffs need to be clear so you can easily see what's going on in there!

[Rockcrawlintoy]

when ZUK did my setup , he also recommended and provided g2 gears.

I hope the failure is related to the axle break.

How much fluid were you able to get in?  I generally squeeze in just shy of 2 quarts and I can't imagine that your diff is rotated much more than mine.  Also, running synthetic fluid I would expect it to be fine unless you were WAY low.

In retrospect, it would have been interesting to see what the 3rd looked like after the axle break.  Diffs need to be clear so you can easily see what's going on in there!

You  can get clear diff covers for the Dana axles and 14bolts

[SqWADoosh]

Got the cash together. New innards for new diff ordered and shipped from East Coast Gear Supply to the cryo place. Zuk will get it built up ASAP and headed back my way. Should be back up and running by mid October at the latest. 

[OTO Phil]

Just in time to come down and play at brown's

[SqWADoosh]

Just in time to come down and play at brown's

I wouldn't hold your breath on that one. Browns is best suited for us non locals in the summer. Camping down there in the winter sounds like a shitty time.

[1985CRAWLER]

Damn we've been having the same luck lately lol , I blew both my 5.29 diffs at MCR, I'm rockin welded 4.10s just for now until I can save up for new 5.29s lol