how'd you guys make out??? anxious to see
HAM: Pillguy needs help with suspension lift install
- Thread starter pillguy
- Start date
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We did not finish. Andrew had a hard stop time of 6PM. We did get the bulk done (winch bumper installed, lift installed and rear axle swapped). The things left undone were completing the reconnections on the rear axle (brake lines, ABS, parking brake, shocks, tightening all the bolts, ...). So Andrew will be back under it in the coming days and should have opportunities to post a number of pictures.
All in all; it went well. The lift was a direct install. Andrew had everything ready and well laid out. Andrew, Jesse and I had fun getting it done; not even a busted knuckle between the three of us.
A good time, and respectable progress.. It was nice to meet you Larry. You guys made me look like a dirty bum, what with your 'fancy' jumpsuits and all 
Thanks for lunch Andrew. The 4Runner is starting to look mighty tough now. Perhaps enough so to jump back in that mud pit.. well, maybe some tires might be in order first.
If you want an extra set of hands bleeding the brakes or buttoning things up, just let me know. I'm working over by the Brookhaven Marta station during the week.
Jesse
Thanks for lunch Andrew. The 4Runner is starting to look mighty tough now. Perhaps enough so to jump back in that mud pit.. well, maybe some tires might be in order first.
If you want an extra set of hands bleeding the brakes or buttoning things up, just let me know. I'm working over by the Brookhaven Marta station during the week.Jesse
Sounds like you guys made progress, sounds like you had fun. Let's see a little photographic evidence.
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- Thread starter
- #25
A big thanks!
I really want to thank Jesse and Larry for taking time out of their saturdays to help me out. It really helped to have a few sets of eyes looking at the best way to approach things as I have never done much suspension work beyond changing shocks out over the years.
Larry and I got started about 10:30am and Jesse showed up a bit later. The first thing we did was to install the bumper. We ended up loosening the brackets to get it to fit, and then did our final tightening as we set it in place. That took about 2 hrs total.
Next, Jesse suggested we tackle the front suspension and diff drop first and thank god, I paid the extra money to have the springs compressed into place. I think it took less than 1 hr to do both sides.
Next was the diff drop which was pretty easy and then we had some lunch before we tackled the rear end.
I stripped most of the brake and ABS cables off and set them aside while Larry and Jesse tackled the bolts and shocks.
We pulled out the rear axle (old) and wheeled the new one in on some floor jacks and it lined up pretty easy.
By this time it was starting to get late and we finished up attaching all the main bolts for the axle and did a quick clean up.
What is left now is attaching all the brake lines, ABS, and changing out the brake hardware and possible the drums. I may do a quick sand and paint of the axle since it dropped low for now.
Also remaining is changing out the bearing seals (has anyone done that before??)
and running all the electric for the elocker. I found a brain, short harness and switch and am awaiting deliver of it and well and fabrication of the remaining harness to the cab and a drain and fill of the diff will be in store.
Last I have to figure out what I will do in terms of armor before I go out again.
Again, I want to thank Jesse and Larry for their time and insights to making a daunting task seem effortless.
I will get some pictures up soon.
Andrew
I really want to thank Jesse and Larry for taking time out of their saturdays to help me out. It really helped to have a few sets of eyes looking at the best way to approach things as I have never done much suspension work beyond changing shocks out over the years.
Larry and I got started about 10:30am and Jesse showed up a bit later. The first thing we did was to install the bumper. We ended up loosening the brackets to get it to fit, and then did our final tightening as we set it in place. That took about 2 hrs total.
Next, Jesse suggested we tackle the front suspension and diff drop first and thank god, I paid the extra money to have the springs compressed into place. I think it took less than 1 hr to do both sides.
Next was the diff drop which was pretty easy and then we had some lunch before we tackled the rear end.
I stripped most of the brake and ABS cables off and set them aside while Larry and Jesse tackled the bolts and shocks.
We pulled out the rear axle (old) and wheeled the new one in on some floor jacks and it lined up pretty easy.
By this time it was starting to get late and we finished up attaching all the main bolts for the axle and did a quick clean up.
What is left now is attaching all the brake lines, ABS, and changing out the brake hardware and possible the drums. I may do a quick sand and paint of the axle since it dropped low for now.
Also remaining is changing out the bearing seals (has anyone done that before??)
and running all the electric for the elocker. I found a brain, short harness and switch and am awaiting deliver of it and well and fabrication of the remaining harness to the cab and a drain and fill of the diff will be in store.
Last I have to figure out what I will do in terms of armor before I go out again.
Again, I want to thank Jesse and Larry for their time and insights to making a daunting task seem effortless.
I will get some pictures up soon.
Andrew
- Thread starter
- #26
Jesse,
Thanks for everything. I will let you know what I will be able to do this week.
Andrew
Thanks for everything. I will let you know what I will be able to do this week.
Andrew
A good time, and respectable progress.. It was nice to meet you Larry. You guys made me look like a dirty bum, what with your 'fancy' jumpsuits and all
Thanks for lunch Andrew. The 4Runner is starting to look mighty tough now. Perhaps enough so to jump back in that mud pit.. well, maybe some tires might be in order first.
Jesse
- Thread starter
- #27
Larry,
Thanks again for everything, your jack stands were and misc. tools were very helpful. Very nice truck you have.
A
Thanks again for everything, your jack stands were and misc. tools were very helpful. Very nice truck you have.
A
A good time, and respectable progress.. It was nice to meet you Larry. You guys made me look like a dirty bum, what with your 'fancy' jumpsuits and all
...
Jesse
Jesse,
My clean coveralls are blue, so it would have been a very amusing sight to see Andrew and me wearing matching 'uniforms'.
Andrew,
I thought I was the only one with absolutely no 'fashion' sense that still wore coveralls in public. What a hoot! If Jesse had known us better where he was comfortable teasing us, we gave him a lot of material to work with. Just think of the pictures he could have taken if he had borrowed your camera.
Thanks. I like her
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How much of that Alabama mud was still clinging on???
- Thread starter
- #30
Most of it got washed off at the car wash after about 15 bucks in quarters, but somehow, we still managed to find fresh mud draining from one of the rear shock strut towers points.
LOL!
LOL!
Andrew,
With a nice warm weekend like this, you must have made progress on cleaning and painting the new axle. Got any pictures of your progress?
With a nice warm weekend like this, you must have made progress on cleaning and painting the new axle. Got any pictures of your progress?
- Thread starter
- #32
Well, I did do some work on it....in between a rush tile repair job in the kids bathroom.... So I ended up getting the wire wheel out and grinding off the rust and primed it. I also did a few other odds and ends to the brakes, took my drums and used the brakes on the new axle as they were better. I am in need of drums in about 6-8 months.
Next up is final painting and torquing all the bolts to spec. and installing the shocks and the panHard bar.
I have also got to figure out why it is leaking gear oil, loose drain plug or what....I hope.
I have been surfing the forums to figure out the wiring for the e-locker as it has been difficult to piece it together. I get my 6 conductor wire later this week and I will splice it into the factory harness.
I think it will require a removal of the speedo cluster to see if I can find the bulb for the e-locker to light up. That will be tricky as I found my truck is devoid of any factory wiring for the elocker.
In terms of pictures,
Picasa Web Albums - Andrew - 4x4 bumper build here are some of the bumper repair and build. I will get the rest up tomorrow.
I really want to see how Teds roll cage turned out. Unfortunately, I was not able to make it.
take care
Next up is final painting and torquing all the bolts to spec. and installing the shocks and the panHard bar.
I have also got to figure out why it is leaking gear oil, loose drain plug or what....I hope.
I have been surfing the forums to figure out the wiring for the e-locker as it has been difficult to piece it together. I get my 6 conductor wire later this week and I will splice it into the factory harness.
I think it will require a removal of the speedo cluster to see if I can find the bulb for the e-locker to light up. That will be tricky as I found my truck is devoid of any factory wiring for the elocker.
In terms of pictures,
Picasa Web Albums - Andrew - 4x4 bumper build here are some of the bumper repair and build. I will get the rest up tomorrow.I really want to see how Teds roll cage turned out. Unfortunately, I was not able to make it.
take care
- Thread starter
- #34
Well, I did do some work on it....in between a rush tile repair job in the kids bathroom.... So I ended up getting the wire wheel out and grinding off the rust and primed it. I also did a few other odds and ends to the brakes, took my drums and used the brakes on the new axle as they were better. I am in need of drums in about 6-8 months.
Next up is final painting and torquing all the bolts to spec. and installing the shocks and the panHard bar.
I have also got to figure out why it is leaking gear oil, loose drain plug or what....I hope.
I have been surfing the forums to figure out the wiring for the e-locker as it has been difficult to piece it together. I get my 6 conductor wire later this week and I will splice it into the factory harness.
I think it will require a removal of the speedo cluster to see if I can find the bulb for the e-locker to light up. That will be tricky as I found my truck is devoid of any factory wiring for the elocker.
In terms of pictures,
I really want to see how Teds roll cage turned out. Unfortunately, I was not able to make it.
take care
ARB & winch are looking good but they're not functional on the workbench. When are they going on?
ARB & winch are looking good but they're not functional on the workbench. When are they going on?
Andrew is teasing you with these pictures. He is going to lead you through the build up which will lead to the big reveal ... maybe at a trail ride or a meeting.
The winch and bumper were installed first thing on the 31st. Then came the lift with the rear axle swap ending th day.
- Thread starter
- #37
OK here are some more pictures. I am still trying to figure picassa out.
I have not figured out how to post an individual picture within the site, so I am stuck with linking for now. If someone can let me know how, I would appreciate it.
Picasa Web Albums - Andrew - bumper and su...
I am hoping tomorrow evening
I can tighten everything, put the brake line on, the diff breather back on, install the panhard bar and do a final paint job. That should get close to finishing it I think.
Andrew
PS, just ordered budbuilt skid plates. I am hoping they will be here by friday!
I have not figured out how to post an individual picture within the site, so I am stuck with linking for now. If someone can let me know how, I would appreciate it.
Picasa Web Albums - Andrew - bumper and su...
I am hoping tomorrow evening
I can tighten everything, put the brake line on, the diff breather back on, install the panhard bar and do a final paint job. That should get close to finishing it I think.Andrew
PS, just ordered budbuilt skid plates. I am hoping they will be here by friday!
OK here are some more pictures. I am still trying to figure picassa out.
I have not figured out how to post an individual picture within the site, so I am stuck with linking for now. If someone can let me know how, I would appreciate it.
Picasa Web Albums - Andrew - bumper and su...
I am hoping tomorrow evening
Andrew
PS, just ordered budbuilt skid plates. I am hoping they will be here by friday!
Good pics Andrew
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- Thread starter
- #39
Rear diff diagnosis needed:
Hi All,
I am nearly finished putting in the elocker rear axle out of a 96 4runner (129K miles) into my 97 4runner and just drained the rear diff gear oil from 96 elocker axle. The diff was leaking gear oil due to a loose drain plug so there was not much in there beyond about 3-4 ozs.
I noticed some very very fine gold/brass colored grit within the gear oil.
I have not driven the car with the new axle as of yet, so I am not sure if there is a problem yet.
Is this normal?
Andrew
Hi All,
I am nearly finished putting in the elocker rear axle out of a 96 4runner (129K miles) into my 97 4runner and just drained the rear diff gear oil from 96 elocker axle. The diff was leaking gear oil due to a loose drain plug so there was not much in there beyond about 3-4 ozs.
I noticed some very very fine gold/brass colored grit within the gear oil.
I have not driven the car with the new axle as of yet, so I am not sure if there is a problem yet.
Is this normal?
Andrew
I'm by no means an expert on this but I would think that you're ok if it's just "fine particulate". I assume you checked the teeth on both the ring and pinion gears for any sign of damage before installtion. It could be that the PO never put a tube on the breather valve and thus allowed fine particles and dirt into the diff. I would be concerned if you had said "chunks" of debris but that doesn't sound like the case.
Maybe Crusier71 will chime in as he is far more knowledgeable than I.