Help with 3-link on '99 4-Runner (16 Viewers)

[JLHEEPETR]

Here's a shot of the frame side upper mounts from Ballistic. They are basically the only adjustability I will have in the rear (besides the links) once everything is done. I would have liked to have more but I think this setup will still work well.

A picture of the axle. Most of the brackets are nearly finished being burned in but I still have a little work to do. I went ahead and started fininshing them as they have no adjustment and I was happy with their position.

 

[mrqtipp]

nice job on the crossmember

Looks good

 

[JLHEEPETR]

Thanks mrqtipp, love your build. I finished the rear axle this weekend and got it painted up.

Here the axle was re-installed and the suspension got cycled again to check for any problems before I burned in the frame side mounts and crossmember. It looks like I'll be able to run 16 or 18 inch coilovers in the rear, most likely the 16".

 

[JLHEEPETR]

Got the rear frame brackets painted this weekend and finished up the links tonight. Once I was sure on the length I went ahead and listened to some of you here on Mud and sleeved the lowers with a piece of 1.5 x .250 DOM. It took a lot more grinding than I ever would have imagined. A little anti-sieze made sure they didn't bind up.

The inner piece is just over 2 inches shorter than the outers to allow room for the bungs and full adjustment of the Johnny Joints. This picture is just before I finished hammering them down in with a deep socket. Hopefully this will give me a little insurance against bending one if I come down on it hard.

Here they are painted up.

 

[Toyo Boyo]

That rear set up is looking really good.

Keep up the good work - you're making great progress.

Did you decide what you were going to do with the front axle links?

Time for you to get a

 

[JLHEEPETR]

Thanks Boyo...I'm going to run the front lowers from under the frame rails. I was thinking about triagulating them from a crossmember in the middle but there's very little room for one and I would be forced to change it all later anyway once I'll able to add the toy box. I'm going to run the upper from the inside of the frame a lot like in the rear. I'll run like that for a while and see how I like it. I have to go to WY for work for the rest of the week but hope to start on the front after that. I did finish the rear (besides coilovers, brake lines, etc,) and will post a picture tonight with everything painted and bolted up. Oh, and I will be getting that !

 

[JLHEEPETR]

Pictures of the rear completed.

 

[JLHEEPETR]

Well nearly a month later and I finally found some time to start tacking up the front only to discover that in order to achieve all the up travel I want I am going to have to clearance the rear sump oil pan. I don't see a problem with this (I don't know how a little less oil capacity will really affect anything), but thought I'd throw it out there for opinions? I'm thinking I'll just cut the driver side front corner of the sump out and turn it around or use a piece of the old pan and re-weld it in to create the recess. I'm sure someone has had to do this before.

 

[74fj40]

Yeah it has definitly be done, but maybe consider running an external sump?

 

[JLHEEPETR]

Thanks for the input. What's the reasoning behind the external sump?

 

[97grntaco]

You could also try using a larger oil filter. It won't add a huge amount, but it will help get a little more into the system.

 

[JLHEEPETR]

I worked on recessing the oil pan today. Here it is back off of the truck with the corner cut out.

And here it is patched back together. It took four pieces to fill the void. I still have a little finish work to do on it but it's close. This should only reduce the oil capacity by about a 1/4 quart and will allow for almost 2 more inches of uptravel.

 

[jtaco1]

make sure there are no pin holes in the welds, maybe seal the welds from the inside with some form of sealant like they use in motorcycle gas tanks. It would suck to have it leak after all the work you put into and have to re-do it.

Looking great.

 

[JLHEEPETR]

Thanks for the advice jtaco1. I did just that today. I am always a fan of a little extra insurance.

 

[74fj40]

Dry sump - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[mmml4]

Nice work
I will be doing the 4 link on my 99 4runner as well. I am doing a 3 link on the front right now.

 

[JLHEEPETR]

Thanks guys. The dry sump will have to wait for now but would be an awesome upgrade down the road some time. I got the panhard and upper link tacked in on the front tonight. I need to move the frame side panhard mount about a 1/2" forward but it's nice to see things coming together. Hoping to have the lowers tacked in tomorrow. Here's a shot from the drivers' side frame.

From the front.

This picture is from behind the passenger side tire.

Even with the oil pan mod and reverse tapering the steering arms to mount the drag link on the bottum I'm still only going to be able to get about 5" of up-travel from ride height. I keep thinking this is not good enough? I could have mounted the steering box just over 1" further forward and it would have given me another 1/2" or so. If I had the frame plates to do over I would have but it's a little late now. Am I worrying about nothing? Opinions please?

 

[JLHEEPETR]

I was able to get the rest of the front links mocked up today. This is the front lowers from the side.

Here are a couple more from under the truck.

 

[Dusty]

such a sick build. keep it up.

 

[JLHEEPETR]

Thanks Dusty. How much uptravel/compression do you have in your LX? I havn't been able to get any responce as to whether 5" is a sufficient amount?