4th Gen 4runner questions (1 Viewer)

[1973Guppie]

I owned and sold a 98 4runner and loved it.

Eventually I want to build a 4th gen expedition vehicle.

Questions:

- How strong are the stock drivetrain components and are there upgrades available? IE: chromoly or other?

- How strong is the aftermarket for these vehicles? skid plates, suspension, etc. I am looking to build something that has 33 inch tires all terrain at the most, but can be driven through the rubicon on a family trip with a few clean pulls from a winch when high centered or stuck.

appreciate the help.

Noah

 

[LukeZero]

I owned and sold a 98 4runner and loved it.

Eventually I want to build a 4th gen expedition vehicle.

Questions:

- How strong are the stock drivetrain components and are there upgrades available? IE: chromoly or other?

- How strong is the aftermarket for these vehicles? skid plates, suspension, etc. I am looking to build something that has 33 inch tires all terrain at the most, but can be driven through the rubicon on a family trip with a few clean pulls from a winch when high centered or stuck.

appreciate the help.

Noah

There are chro-moly half shafts available for the front (big $$$), otherwise many of the suspension pieces are in common with the same age Tacoma. T-case, etc.

Lifts are available, but not many. Same with skidplates. Rear chro-moly axle shafts are available.

Other than a stronger skidplate, winch/ bumper, lift and tires- I would think the stock drivetrain would hold up pretty well to moderate wheeling.

Or you can do the straight axle thing. There was a beautiful 4th generation, gray 4Runner at Rubithon a year ago on 42" Swampers.

 

[1973Guppie]

well, I would like to keep the on road ride decent, I have thought of a SAS, question: would a SAS totally kill the onroad ride of one of these vehicles?

also, I have always worked on solid axle rigs, fj40&fj55 landcruisers, so I know how to change a birf/axle/etc, but have never dug into a later model axle housing (IFS). Question: how hard is it to pull broken parts on the trail? any special tools necessary? or can I just carry spare parts and swap out if needed/broken? what is the weak link on a 4th gen? I know on the fj40's it is usually the birf or hub, The plan would be to have a rig that is not an extreme wheeler, nice to drive on road yet once a year I could do the rubicon or the dusy, I don't do the hammers, that's where it gets too extreme for me.

thanks for the help, just doin some thinking here.......

Noah

 

[apeterson]

I would think you could do that.... I think the front end stuff would be more difficult to change on the trail than a birf. but not impossible...

 

[larsdennert]

The 4th Gen uses a standard Toyota 8" 4 pinion rear just like your '98 had. The housing is different with disk brakes. The Front end uses a new 8" ring gear clamshell diff up from the 7.5" of the 1-3 Gen's. Birfs (CVs) are bigger in the 4th Gen too. They are a pain to swap on the trail but the hubs are live. Knock on wood, I've yet to break a front end.

The Front geometry is better for lifting that the 3rd Gen also. Same fully boxed frame with stronger motors and trannies. Can't comment about the xfer but Toy always builds them strong.

Skid plates are a joke but there are after market ones or you build your own. Same drivetrain as the FJC.

 

[1973Guppie]

thanks, any special tools needed to work on the front axle on the trail? press, SST's?, or ?, or could I plan on just carrying tools and spares similar to what I do now with a solid axle / birfs?

Noah

 

[SinCity4r]

Or you can do the straight axle thing. There was a beautiful 4th generation, gray 4Runner at Rubithon a year ago on 42" Swampers.

I've never seen or heard of a 4 gen 4runner with a SAS. Any pictures? I really don't see a 4th gen fitting 42"s into the wheel wells - at all.

 

[LukeZero]

I've never seen or heard of a 4 gen 4runner with a SAS. Any pictures? I really don't see a 4th gen fitting 42"s into the wheel wells - at all.

Now that I think about it I think it was a 3rd Gen body style. I think I have pictures of it somewhere. It was enormous. Had to have custom suspension. I'm not aware of any 15" lift kits available off the shelf

I think it was on 42" Iroks with about 20" Mickey Thompson Classic II polished wheels. It was gray/silver in color. When I saw it it was sitting on the rocks above Little Sluice at Rubithon 2007.

 

[Matt K]

I've seen some pretty nice builds on Toyota120.com- One of the people there was in the last 4WD Toyota Owner mag.

The options for aftermarket are a little limited from what I'm finding but there is a good amount of stuff availible. The most common stuff I'm seeign is a bumper from Shrokworks or ARB, several lift choices but OME gets mentioned a lot, sliders from multi sources, budbuilt skids, Total Chaos suspenstion looks really nice and there are many other to choose from. One area that's underserved is the rear bumper-most have something fab'd for them with a spare carrier and jerry can rack. I've seen a thread or two on a SAS conversion but it's kind of rare.