Builds Homer's 2003 GX470 Build 8.2 4.56 2.5 34s (9 Viewers)

[HomersCanyonero]

It’s not perfect, but I was able to add a couple of motorcycle handlebar brackets to mount a FrontRunner tie down rings that will hold a pole to attach my moonshade-like awning like 3-feet past the body.

I cracked my end caps like there’s no tomorrow, but I ordered inexpensive replacements from Amazon. I’ll have to cut them caps when they arrive to fit over my brackets.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Also, ordered the parts to do the GX460 Front Calipers and Lexus rotors upgrade.

Add it to the mounting number of parts on hand that need installation…

Parts on-hand already purchased:

• Driveshaft clunk; upgrade propeller rear shaft assembly previous part 37110-6A480. Upgraded part 37110-60A40; $248
• 555 Tie rods (inner, outer) $48
• Reman Toyota oem cv axles (2) 43430-60082-84
• Set of Akebono brakes ACT976 $52
• 460 Caliper RH (2010-15): 47730-60300 $154
• 460 Caliper LH (2010-15): 47750-60300 $154
• DISC BRAKE ROTOR (FRONT) Part Number: 43512-60191 $62/each
• Anti squeal shim 04945-60090 (1 set) $17/set
• Anti rattle fittings/springs 04947-35050 (2) $2.67
• EimKeith lower link reinforcement bracket $130 plus welding labor
• Bluedog rear mud flap thin covers

 

[CO_Hunter]

Completed trip to Upper Coyote Canyon and Alder

Nice video, you got me missing my GX and I haven’t even sold it yet!

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Nice video, you got me missing my GX and I haven’t even sold it yet!

You gotta do what you gotta do…if you like the outdoors, then make sure you get out somehow.

 

[CO_Hunter]

No problem getting outdoors, moved to the middle of nowhere Idaho on secluded 11 wooded acres. Just don’t need the GX anymore, new life chapter. Bought a 3/4 ton truck so GX needs to go. I’ll likely get an older Toyota p/u to quench my Toyota habit. Lot’s of great trips in the GX and 80 series over the years.

Keep getting out on those trails and have fun!

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Well, today I got a few items done at my local mechanic and got the bad news that there’s a noise coming from the rear diff.

There’s an extra sound when you accelerate coming from what appears to be the pinion bearing in the rear diff.

Work done today:

1. Upgrade to Lexus own GX460 front calipers and rotors with Akebono ceramic brake pads.

2. Replace rear drive shaft with new Lexus upgraded rear shaft

3. Replace tie rods with 555 inner and outer with Toyota boots

4. Drain and fill power steering and coolant

5. Replace thermostat (kept 5-year old one as spare)

6. Oil/filter change

7. New cabin and engine air filter

8. Alignment

Now to find a good used 8.2” diff

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Heat wave in central
California over 100* but not as hot on the kern river’s cold water.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

What’s this? Upgrading to 8.2” rear elocked diff and 4.56 Revolution gears all around. Picking up this week.

Finally get to replace the weak 8” rear diff that started making noises

 

[Rednexus]

Sweet! Looking forward to hearing your thoughts/experiences with this upgrade.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

I just picked up my 2003 GX470 from Premier West Gears in Riverside.

I dove 42 miles home in 15 minute intervals to let the new gears cool off. All highway and pavement miles.

Fun facts and not so fun surprises:

1. Toyota 5th Gen 8.2 Rear Axle Housing with factory e-locker:
- installed a new Toyota wire harness
- re-used axles from GX470, so it retains GX470 wheel bearings, calipers, rotors and pads from my original GX470 rear axle
- transferred my eimKeith panhard correction kit bracket and re-welded onto the 4R 8.2” axle housing
- welded new brackets to retain the Nolathane HD rear sway bar (24mm) and make it fit around the bigger 8.2 pumpkin
- GX470 FJTOYMAN rear shock shin guards don’t fit anymore on the 4R axle housing (need new ones for 5th gen 4R)
- 5th Gen Axle housing looks more crusty at the shock mounting brackets than I had hoped for, but it’s decent shape overall
- kept the panhard bar from the 5th Gen 4R 8.2 diff axle

GX470 felt lighter driving on freeway at freeway speeds. Not a significant difference, but noticeable difference.

The Toyota 5th Gen e-locker engages somewhat slow. I could engage when turning but not when going straight. This was all pavement driving at very slow speeds like 1-3 mph. Need to test in dirt.

Polished 4.56 Revolution gears don’t require a break in period. However, I’m old school and I still did the 15 minute drive, stop 15 minutes, drive 15 minutes, stop 15 minutes, and drive 15 minutes until I got home. Basically letting gears cool off while stopped with engine off.

Diff fluid change after 5k miles just as a precaution.

The only thing left is to continue testing the engagement of the elocker on the trails.

 

[Rednexus]

Any difference in acceleration from stoplights etc?

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Any difference in acceleration from stoplights etc?

The way I would describe it is that the GX470 feels lighter when accelerating from stop and in the freeway.

I was mostly on flat ground (no steep hills going home).

My speedometer said 70, rpm’s were at 2500, and it felt good.

I’m thinking that an improvement in acceleration could be achieved with a cpu tune.

4.56 gears, IMHO, just make the GX470 feel lighter.

I’ll have to hit the trails to see if I can crawl Little John Bull in Big Bear a little more easily.

 

[Rednexus]

Thanks. I'm getting 33s next month but 4.56s are 6+ months out. Not looking forward to the impending loss of acceleration and under-gearing on the highway.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Thanks. I'm getting 33s next month but 4.56s are 6+ months out. Not looking forward to the impending loss of acceleration and under-gearing on the highway.

I came from a 1996 FZJ80, so the GX470 on 33s was an improvement.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Another driving impression with 4.56 gears…

Even though the polished Revolution gears don’t require a break in period, I’m still diving around town on pavement breaking the gears in.

One thing that I started doing is driving in 2nd Start so it skips 1st gear.

It’s too jumpy in first gear coming off a stop. It jumps too much if you press the gas pedal a decent amount. Maybe a better description is too jerky accelerating from a stop position.

I’m on 33” tires (285/70R17) but hoping to upgrade to 34s (285/75R17) in the not too distant future

 

[captainva]

I came from a 1996 FZJ80, so the GX470 on 33s was an improvement.

The GX is a rocket ship compared to an 80. Not even a comparison

 

[captainva]

Another driving impression with 4.56 gears…

Even though the polished Revolution gears don’t require a break in period, I’m still diving around town on pavement breaking the gears in.

One thing that I started doing is driving in 2nd Start so it skips 1st gear.

It’s too jumpy in first gear coming off a stop. It jumps too much if you press the gas pedal a decent amount. Maybe a better description is too jerky accelerating from a stop position.

I’m on 33” tires (285/70R17) but hoping to upgrade to 34s (285/75R17) in the not too distant future

Having driven a few folks rigs offroad now, the throttle pedal mapping on the GX gives you a lot of throttle with little application which makes it feel really fast around town but offroad it ramps way too fast compared to the 100s and 200 that I've driven in the rocks. It would be nice if the GX pedal was mapped more closely to those IMO

35s or bust!!

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Having driven a few folks rigs offroad now, the throttle pedal mapping on the GX gives you a lot of throttle with little application which makes it feel really fast around town but offroad it ramps way too fast compared to the 100s and 200 that I've driven in the rocks. It would be nice if the GX pedal was mapped more closely to those IMO

35s or bust!!

Do you think the 2nd start button would be helpful climbing rocks and rutted dirt roads?

That’s what I’m thinking of trying out…not sure if it helps

 

[captainva]

Depends on what you're doing but if you're wheeling in rocks then no. For the east coast wheeling that I do you need to be in 1st for the sake of control. A lot is climbing boulders between trees so you want the truck to stop you going forward too. Typically I wedge my foot between the gas and trans tunnel to maintain consistent throttle and drive with the brake but that could also just be me. On the true land cruisers I've driven it was the opposite. Consistent brake and drive with the gas but two foot driving helps a lot with preventing a single wheel from spinning to keep you moving forward and generally getting the truck to do what you tell it.