Kwik's Quick 3rd Gen 4Runner Budget Build

[Kwikvette]

Out with the Tacoma and in with the 4Runner, and with COVID keeping us indoors more often than we'd like, why not post a build thread?

2001 Tacoma Prerunner SR5

It was fun, and as much as I liked it, it left me wanting more -










1998 Toyota 4Runner Limited

The 4Runner just feels hands down much more solid, and comfortable, not to mention having the enclosed cargo space I really wanted. So it was a no brainer to switch my build to the 4R.

Here it is in all its former glory, sitting next to the Tacoma I got rid of shortly after -






Here is how it sits now -



Suspension

• King 2.5 Ext 600lb Fronts
• King 2.5 W/Reservoir Rears
• OME 906 Rear Springs
• Durobump Stops
• Factory E Locker Rear

Interior

• Kenwood DMX7706S HU
• Ultragauge

Pending Install

• Icon UCA
• Sonoran Steel Panhard Bar
• Harrop E Locker Front

Future stuff

• Nguyen Works Dual Swing Out bumper (ordered, being built)
• Sherpa Equipment Antero Roof Rack (ordered, being built)
• Resz Lower Rear Links (ordered, being built)
• OME 890 Rear Springs
• ARB Awning
• Sliders

 

[Kwikvette]

Fortunately for this build, I already had an idea of what I wanted and got the goodies right away.

First thing's first; the stock suspension has to go!



Decided to tackle the rear since this would prove to be easier. At this point in time, I had just got hit with sciatica so really I was in no shape to be doing any automotive work.

I said fuck it -



Unlike the Tacoma, the 4R sports a 4 link rear with panhard bar. Really, this setup is just so simple to work on!

That is of course, with the exception of the rear shock. Toyota decided to use this mount, and place it in the most awkward place you could think of. You're supposed to use an allen key on the top of the shock, and get a wrench to turn the bolt to loosen things up.



Fortunately, I was able to just man handle the shock body and unscrew it right off.

After undoing the sway bar end links, drop the rear end low enough to be able to pull the coils out.



New OME 906 going in place for the meanwhile; meant to give a 2" lift over stock payload -



It was only fitting to remove the rear bump stops while I was there; just a bolt for each one and out they come.

Here you can see how the stock rears compare with the Kings -



Those Durobumps sure look pretty -



But they're missing something...



I decided to try and tackle the front, which I started but didn't get to finish.

My sciatica was seriously kicking my ass, and the hard part while doing this was not having a long enough screw driver to twist the bottom of the shock to line up with my LCA's -



Ended up using my lift at work and after all was said and done, Kings were on -

 

[Kwikvette]

After the suspension was done, and Moab right around the corner, I was unsure if I wanted to use the 32" Falken Wildpeaks on the 4R, or mount up the 33" Cooper ST Maxx and use those.

Here you can see the size difference -





Still on stock tires, I had to make a decision quick. You can only get so far looking like this while being lifted -



Yet, with time running short, and the peanut gallery on my shoulder telling me what I should do, I got the 33's on -





Now that the tires were on, and it being aligned, I just had to yank off the running boards and sway bar and I was ready -

 

[Kwikvette]

Seeing as how the 4R had received everything from a timing belt 40k ago, steering rack 30k ago, and other odds and ends, this thing was ready to go off road!

With the help of several members here, I took the truck on a TW Meet out to Moab, Utah.

There's a whole other thread on that which you can check out here -

2020 Lunchtable Meet Moab, UT

Few wheeling and scenic pics -



Apparently, I like lifting the front wheels

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I will say, the Durobumps were really put through the paces. I can't imagine having left the stock bump stops on because I never felt the rear end even when I slammed on the bump stops hard.

Truck ran admirably through the 30 hour round trip, as well as through the trails we ran while we were out there.

 

[Kwikvette]

Oddly enough, I did have two issues that came about soon after coming back from Moab.

The first being that my truck would suddenly fail to start. Fortunately this was an easy fix as all it was, is the ECT sensor -







The next issue resulted in my CV axle boot tearing up. I had already ordered a set of O'Reilly 'extended' travel axles but was finding it hard to find time to install them.

Here's the torn boot -



And the new axles; only took one out for pictures -







Seeing as how I've been making quite the drive each week to see my significant other, I finally found the time to replace it a few weeks after -

 

[Kwikvette]

For off roading, I've been a co2 fan for obvious reasons; it's fast, it can reseat a tire, and you can use it for tools, etc.

The downfall being that it's fast to run out, especially a 5lb tank.

I love to venture out to the many fire roads near me, and found that it wasn't practical getting my co2 tank filled up every 2 months or so.

So based on a friend's recommendation, I got the Viair 400P -



Sad to say I'll most likely retire my Powertank, but only once I use up the co2 in it; it's full at the moment.

Other little oddities are the Ultragauge and Kenwood DMX7706S double din stereo I installed. I had the same stereo in the Tacoma and I liked it so much, I bought one for the 4R -

 

[Kwikvette]

Reserved