Builds Homer's 2003 GX470 Build 8.2 4.56 2.5 34s (1 Viewer)

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Planning a trip to some trails in Big Bear, CA, so I'm finally going to add a gas can to the Gobi ladder.

I was trying to figure out how to get a Scepter jerry can (20L), but the used ones are expensive and look like crap. I don't plan on going to Canada anytime soon, so going with a 3 gallon Rotopax Gen2. I'll try this and see how it feels on the trails hanging off the ladder.

Overland Equip seems to have the best aftermarket ladder brackets for Rotopax. I didn't go the easy way and other their deluxe ladder bracket with bushing. Instead, I'm going to try their ladder step bushings on a single pane rotopax bracket. I'll post pictures when everything arrives.

Anyways, it's been a while since I did any mods...my cats took a big bite off my repair/mods budget.
 
Did you ever change your rear bump stops out?
 
Call it temporary, still plan on getting scepters for the future. @VidereStudios it's just north of you in Oregon maybe I'll could do a road trip to save on shipping. Worth a consideration... 🤙

Until then, I look forward to seeing the mod. I'm sort of in the same boat, mods have been punctuated by time. 😫
 
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captainva said:
Did you ever change your rear bump stops out?
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No. I guess I'm stubborn as a mule. I'm still riding with the original rear bumpstops. I've checked them after my last outing and they are intact (hard as a stiff rubber can be). I tried to lower them like an inch using a home made spacer, but the current distance to the axle seems about right at around 3.5" or so. This is with the extended travel Icon shocks and Dobinson long travel progressive springs. If I replace them, the Timbren active bumpstops are at the top of my list.

DRANGED said:
Call a temporary, still plan on getting sectors for the future. @VidereStudios it's just north of you in Oregon maybe I'll could do a road trip to save on shipping. Worth a consideration... 🤙

Until then, I look forward to seeing the mod. I'm sort of in the same boat, mods have been punctuated by time. 😫
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Thanks for the offer. You may be right on this being temporary. I'm experimenting with this solution, but my current plans do not include too many adventures that are super far from a gas station like when I was going to Death Valley. This 3-gallon solution should be enough as a precautionary measure.

The issue with this Rotopax solution on my Gobi ladder is that I've seen reports where the Rotopax bolts on the mount handle (the one that you used to lock the Rotopax in place) break off. Apparently, these bolts are holding the weight of the gas can when you install in a mostly vertical position like the ladder.

So, I might have to jerry rig additional support like a ratchet strap or some type of base support to get some weight off those bolts. The moral of the story is that hanging gas cans off the ladder requires a good support system! This is what happens when you want to carry gas outside the rig without wanting an aftermarket rear bumper nor roof rack.
 
Thats what I've done so far. I was wondering if you figured out anything else on LT bump stops. There seems to be no good consensus on them. I'm going to try this and see how it goes

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captainva said:
Thats what I've done so far. I was wondering if you figured out anything else on LT bump stops. There seems to be no good consensus on them. I'm going to try this and see how it goes

Toyota-4Runner.org

The Largest 4Runner Community in the World
www.toyota-4runner.org www.toyota-4runner.org
Click to expand...
I'll look for your update when you try them Timbren rear bumpstops. I did follow someone's advice to spray the stock OEM GX470 bumpstops with AT205 Reseal fluid to keep them from drying out. The advise was to spay all the rubber bushings to prevent them from drying out. I have no idea how well this works, but it seemed to make sense to me.
 
Also, put an order for the Lexus grill and replacement leather front seat covers from www.lseat.com. Forget rear lockers...I'm putting lipstick on this pig!
 
The lipstick 💄 begins…

The Blue Dog Designwerks gap covers fit like a glove: Blue Dog Designwerks - https://bluedogdesignwerks.com/

949C6279-8261-4DEF-9238-9510FEBFA08D.jpeg
4D7C7B1B-FFB5-481E-8576-1394CF58EA59.jpeg
 
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DRANGED said:
wait, low cost, with total chaos and icon??

;)
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Tru dat. Back in early 2017, there were less options for UCAs and the TC UCAs were $650/pair with no upfront taxes at MetalTech4x4. That's the current price for the low cost options nowadays, so I should have said low cost if you bought stuff in 2017! LOL.

Prices are inflated nowadays with the shortage of materials and the run-up on metal. I'm just glad I bought most of my upgrades/armor back in 2017.
 
Well, while I wait for my leather seat covers to arrive and promo sales on the rotopax 3 gallon containers and locking mounts, I had to take the GX470 into my indy shop for some repair work.

1. A whining noise from the idle pulley got bad enough that I need the idle pulley replaced. I had been hearing this noise for a while, but it wasn't bad until now.
2. Front brakes started making a grinding noise. Looks like my hearing is bad and I didn't catch them in time. Need new rotors in the front as well as new Akebono ceramic pads. Looks like front pads are 35K miles old with some offroading.
3. Front diff drain plug is shot. I need a new one as well a new front diff fluid. My notes don't show that I changed the front diff fluid since I purchased due to the locked front diff drain plug. It's been 42K miles since I got it. Not sure why I didn't change the front fluid on purchase. I usually do but didn't write it down.

So, the repairs continue...this GX470 is getting old in the tooth.
 
HomersCanyonero said:
Well, while I wait for my leather seat covers to arrive and promo sales on the rotopax 3 gallon containers and locking mounts, I had to take the GX470 into my indy shop for some repair work.

1. A whining noise from the idle pulley got bad enough that I need the idle pulley replaced. I had been hearing this noise for a while, but it wasn't bad until now.
2. Front brakes started making a grinding noise. Looks like my hearing is bad and I didn't catch them in time. Need new rotors in the front as well as new Akebono ceramic pads. Looks like front pads are 35K miles old with some offroading.
3. Front diff drain plug is shot. I need a new one as well a new front diff fluid. My notes don't show that I changed the front diff fluid since I purchased due to the locked front diff drain plug. It's been 42K miles since I got it. Not sure why I didn't change the front fluid on purchase. I usually do but didn't write it down.

So, the repairs continue...this GX470 is getting old in the tooth.
Click to expand...
Nice!

I can certainly identify with point number three. Was your shop able to get the plug out eventually? I'm in that boat, I tried to drain fluid but couldn't get the plug out reasonably and backed off before I ruined things far beyond my ability, plus don't really have a shop available locally that I trust 😐
PXL_20210726_213256557.jpg


Point number two, are you going 460 rotors and calipers? All the cool kids are. 🤣
 
DRANGED said:
Nice!

I can certainly identify with point number three. Was your shop able to get the plug out eventually? I'm in that boat, I tried to drain fluid but couldn't get the plug out reasonably and backed off before I ruined things far beyond my ability, plus don't really have a shop available locally that I trust 😐
View attachment 2812970

Point number two, are you going 460 rotors and calipers? All the cool kids are. 🤣
Click to expand...
I left the gx470 at the shop. They are super busy again with pent up demand for maintenance and repairs people have been putting off.

I will find out on Monday on the front diff drain plug. I have another car, so I left the gx470 there over the weekend. Mechanic has to order parts for me this time.

I was too lazy to pre-order all the parts except I already had the Akebono ceramic pads on hand front and rear.

I’m going standard new rotors and akebono brake pads. No upgrade to gx460 components. In the 80, the upgrade to 100 series pads way way easier. You only needed the new pads and thats it.

He asked me if I brought the rotors and other parts because I usually do. Unfortunately, my hearing is going bad and I didn’t hear the normal squealing prior to to grinding noises I heard.
 
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Got the gx470 back.

I ended up getting new rotors all around. New Brembos with Akebono ceramic brake pads for front and rear. Stayed with standard gx470 materials.

New toyota oem belt tensioner to remove the whining noise from the drive belt.

Mechanic recommends a new battery. He said it lost charge and he had to charge it. I thought my battery was new from last year and I checked my records and it’s from 2017. It matches the year on the sticker. I help maintain 3 cars and it was my son’s 80 that got a new battery last year and my 2008 ls460 that got a battery this year. Arghhh, new battery coming up.

So, two lessons learned.

First, it’s good to have someone else check your car.

Second, pay attention to your brake pad mileage so that they don’t ruin your rotors. I did not hear any noises coming from my brakes prior to hearing the grinding in the passenger front. Both front and rear were done 36k miles ago with new rotors and akebono brake pads in all 4 corners.

I could have saved a pretty penny if I had changed the pads at 30k max.
 
Oh and for @DRANGED the front diff plugs didn’t come off yet. It turns out I need to replace both the full and drain plugs. I need to get those prior to trying to remove.
 
FYI, amazon had a decent price for the 14mm hex drain plug (front) the other week. I ordered one and it was cheaper than LexusPartsNow with delivery.
 
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