Intro to GXOR! (1 Viewer)

[V8ctor]

Hey everyone! I upgraded to an 06 GX470 from an 05 4Runner. It’s technically my winter beater/daily driver while my camaro & motorcycle stay tucked away in the garage.

I got it about a month ago from a family friend for a steal, 133k miles no rust for 9k. It still has stock everything, including airbags. I’d like to get new ko2’s & a set of wheels eventually, but for now I’m focusing on preventative & scheduled maintenance.

I’m meticulous with my vehicles and I’d like to keep this one for several years. It’s also a chance to hone my DIY skills. I can’t wait til she’s ready to go see all 50 states!!
- timing belt & water pump
- alternator
- Radiator & hoses
- fluids change
- suspension
- power steering pump
- battery
- spark plugs
- brakes & rotors
- headers

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Welcome! That’s a big list of maintenance items.

Here’s another one to consider:

Rubber bushings all around the UCAs, LCAs, sway bars, and end links. They tend to crack and rip especially by this age.

And when you say headers you mean the headers with integrated catalytic converters? That’s a pricey preventive maintenance unless the headers are already cracked or cats throwing codes. And add the O2 sensors to the list in this case

 

[V8ctor]

Welcome! That’s a big list of maintenance items.

Here’s another one to consider:

Rubber bushings all around the UCAs, LCAs, sway bars, and end links. They tend to crack and rip especially by this age.

And when you say headers you mean the headers with integrated catalytic converters? That’s a pricey preventive maintenance unless the headers are already cracked or cats throwing codes. And add the O2 sensors to the list in this case

Hiya!

Technically there’s nothing wrong with the car as it sits (except for an ac compressor failing) but I have bad experiences from leaving stuff to fail before I replace them.

The rubber bushings don’t come with the suspension lifts from Dobinsons etc? Well darn I was mistaken.

I have the dreaded ticking. It’s not an important issue, but eventually I’d like to fix it. No codes though. I’ve heard good things about Doug thorley headers.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

I guess it depends on what’s your definition of suspension. If you go all out with say a stage 7 suspension upgrade, then that pretty much covers most of the bushings since you are replacing almost everything suspension related.

If you only replace shocks and springs, then there’s way more rubber bushings to look at.

 

[V8ctor]

I guess it depends on what’s your definition of suspension. If you go all out with say a stage 7 suspension upgrade, then that pretty much covers most of the bushings since you are replacing almost everything suspension related.

If you only replace shocks and springs, then there’s way more rubber bushings to look at.

Oooo the more you know..

Yeah I wasn’t thinking anything like that. Just a basic 2-2.5 inch lift for camping & road-trips. Maybe that’s a stage 1-2 suspension by those standards.

Someone on this forum recommended Rockauto, so I’ll go that route. Do you think I can replace those bushings at home with tools?

 

[HomersCanyonero]

The LCA bushings can be replaced at home with a bottle jack per YouTube.

I purchased new Toyota LCAs in 2017 so I didn’t replace those bushings myself.

you will have to search for other bushings and how to replace the ones that are busted

 

[greenscobie86]

Welcome fellow New Yorker! Nice GX!

 

[V8ctor]

Welcome fellow New Yorker! Nice GX!

Aha! It's great to find another enthusiast here in the sea of old man driven plain GX's

I'd love to talk more about our trucks; maybe you know something (ok definitely know more) I don't know, and vice versa.

 

[GXO]

Welcome

 

[V8ctor]

It's been awhile but I'm back (In this thread)!

I don't know if I should create a new build thread but here goes!

I've done a lot of work since I got this truck. I left swapping the tires & TB/WP job to my local shop.

- grinded away some surface rust & applied fluid film
- replaced a/c compressor
- 5 lightly used Goodyear wrangler duratracs 265/70/17
- complete timing belt/water pump job with new radiator/hoses/coolant, fan pulley, belt tensioner, idler pulley, serpentine belt, T-stat & seals, crank bolt, VVT sensor - all OEM
- installed new MBRP cutback exhaust.. meant for 5th gen 4runner, but it works on our trucks with slight modifications
- removed running boards
- got new spare key from yotamd
- fm transmitter for music
- replaced the battery & cleaned terminals

Next up is the front brake conversion to gx460. I assume I can order the powerstop z36 heavy truck & tow package for a 2012 gx460 and just install that right ..? I think I may have a seized caliper so definitely want to get that fixed before snow fall.

Also ordered Eibach stage 1 lift kit which should ship late December, and I decided on the freedom Offroad UCA.

 

[V8ctor]

Not the best picture, but it's the most recent one

 

[10sec]

In that picture, above that rear wheel at about 11am and 10am, could you take a picture? You might be able to prevent the rust holes before they start.

 

[V8ctor]

In that picture, above that rear wheel at about 11am and 10am, could you take a picture? You might be able to prevent the rust holes before they start.

 

[V8ctor]

In that picture, above that rear wheel at about 11am and 10am, could you take a picture? You might be able to prevent the rust holes before they start.

I took a few pictures ranging from 10 - 2 going clockwise around the rear wheel. Bless me with the knowledge please

 

[10sec]

I took a few pictures ranging from 10 - 2 going clockwise around the rear wheel. Bless me with the knowledge please

It's hard to tell if yours has started rotting. If you look at your second picture right above the sunlight shinning there's that little square shape, which is where the seat mount is located. Every GX I've looked at in the salt belt around me has started rotting right there. I will post a few pictures of mine, I've fixed mine but it was close to too late. Yours might be good, like I said it's really hard to tell. One thing you can do to make sure it's not rotting is yank off the panel inside the truck over that wheel well and see if there's any rust poking through. It's really easy to pull that panel.



And while you're in there you can see if the foam around your subwoofer is still good.

 

[V8ctor]

It's hard to tell if yours has started rotting. If you look at your second picture right above the sunlight shinning there's that little square shape, which is where the seat mount is located. Every GX I've looked at in the salt belt around me has started rotting right there. I will post a few pictures of mine, I've fixed mine but it was close to too late. Yours might be good, like I said it's really hard to tell. One thing you can do to make sure it's not rotting is yank off the panel inside the truck over that wheel well and see if there's any rust poking through. It's really easy to pull that panel.



And while you're in there you can see if the foam around your subwoofer is still good.

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View attachment 3173689

Ooooooooo

Thank you very much! I watched the video but I haven't had the chance to check the truck yet. Seems simple enough. I caught a respiratory cold & the holidays have stopped me from dedicating some time to it. I WILL update with pictures once I feel good enough to get under it. Maybe the fan heater from Harbor Freight would entice me... hmmm..

 

[V8ctor]

Speaking of bad rust, I did find it in 2 places. When I removed the running boards, I had to cut off the last bolt with an angle grinder (right behind the front driver side wheel). I read that the passenger side is prone to rust, but mine was in great condition!

The second place would be the rear crossmember. There isn't any rot, but it definitely isn't pretty. Photos are BEFORE I wire wheeled & applied fluid film.

 

[10sec]

The best you can do is slow it down as much as you can. I personally think the paint on POR-15 is the best option, it's quite expensive but it works so well.

Amazon product ASIN B00H2VVQNU
That stuff is the real deal. For your holes you could temporarily seal them up with some hand cut pieces of your choice metal, and use copious amounts of seam sealer to stick it on and seal it to the existing metal. Before and afterwards I would apply 2-3 coats of POR. That should last long enough for the rest of the truck to start rotting away, there's just no way to avoid it unless you did a frame off dip and started with a frame that has very light surface rust or no rust at all. Even then, the salt will find something else to rot away.

 

[10sec]

Correction, use panel bond to attach it to the existing metal and seal it with seam sealer. Here's a video about how well POR-15 works against others.

 

[V8ctor]

I'm back for a 2023 update on the build.

I'd like to preface this by saying I am NOT mechanically inclined, but I do love mechanical engineering. What started as a simple front brake upgrade has turned into a full blown suspension rebuild... my truck has been on jack stands for nearly a month as I reevaluate my life choices, and try to manage with the little free time I have.

Passenger side brakes were done in an hour!

Driver side was a nightmare. One of the caliper mounting bolts snapped whilst turning it. I tried everything... left handed drill bits, extractors, pb blaster, mapp torch, screwdriver & a hammer. Ok so I ordered 2 new mounting bolts from Toyota.