Recent content by IdahoDoug

John, For whatever reason, I had to do two short-cycle replacements of this exact seal (right side rear axle seal) recently - the one that fits in the tip of the axle seal against the spinning axle to contain the differential oil. It started as a normal failure on the 97 after many years. I...

A few years ago, my 93 started killing its battery after sitting for a month or two. Bought it new, and for the prior decades this never happened. An incident around the same time may have caused it - I dropped a jumper clamp while starting it and caused sparks - can't recall what touched...

Do you realize the sum total of information you provided us to help diagnose a sound is "weird"? Nobody will be of any help connecting what you hear and that part, which is a sway bar end link bushing needing replacing. I'd replace the bushing, or perhaps the entire end link as it may be...

Wow, great video and very interesting result. I'll be adding that "adjustment" to my own bearing work now. However, I'll be doing it a slightly different way and I'm interested in others viewpoints on this. When he's whacking the tire with a hammer, he is putting sudden load on the bearing...

From your description of the spindle, nothing to worry about but that looks like not enough preload. The weight on the spindle is borne on the underside of the spindle, so that's where you'll first see issues appear. A quick story on preload. I'm restoring a 1982 Toyota Sunrader. These were...

So many people make a universal radiator with tranny oil cooler in it for either model, etc. I just want a plain manual radiator like the one that came with her from the factory. Any suggestions? Rock Auto it out of stock.

As many of you know (and have been personally helpful with in various cities she's lived for college, etc!!), our daughter fell in love with Cruisers ever since she came home from the hospital in one of our 80s as a newborn. So when she needed a car for college, we sold her our 97 for the price...

FYI, the news it happened at the same time you installed a 3 inch lift should have been in your first post. Kinda like asking why your engine is running hot for a week of suggestions, and at the very end mentioning it started the hour, minute and second you replaced the factory fan with an...

If your avatar is accurate, now might be a good time to mention to folks that this is not a stock 80 with a wind noise issue. It's had the body cut and a camper grafted onto it that protrudes over the cab and creates completely different airflow from an 80 series.

While I hate seeing any mods from factory, it's worth noting that in the old days many intake manifolds were two separate pieces. These were also often cast iron which is heavier and more likely to cause issues if any were going to result. One comment I'd make is there is a steel support arm...

You youngsters and your starting issues! Doesn't anybody keep a can of Starting Fluid on their shelf anymore? Spray some of that in the intake (remove the air filter so as not to soak it) while cranking. Start and then shut down? Fuel problem. Not start? Electrical problem. By far the...

In addition to enthusiasm for the greatest 4WD ever built, I love threads like this about Mud. I consider my wrenching skills well sorted after over 45 years of restoring cars as a hobby, even daring to rebuild a few engines and even a complex German transmission. But threads like this are...

You mentioned the harmonic balancer is split and nobody seems to have caught that. That is a show stopper that will damage the engine quickly if it fails, so replace it.

Leave it and change your screen name!

Happy to start a thread on this if we're taking over the OPs. So, the metal locating ring in the axle housing is there to help align the axle shaft at the diff end on the axle's long side (left) when it's inserted and it should never touch that ring again after the axle is fully assembled...