Andrew's 88' 4Runner

Skinny KM2s for the win!  We'll be twins and stuff.  Will you braid my hair?   

I'm probably going to change down from 16 on my next tires too.  The 33x10.5r15 are lots cheaper than my utterly expo 255/85r16, and only a hair smaller.

So is this going to get registered as a full size ATV now?

I thought about it, but those full-sized ATVs still aren't legal on the Interstates. I'm really close to getting it street legal, anyway.

So now that our Moab trip is quickly approaching, I decided to tear into the beast. The front axle is getting retrofitted for an e-locker. Notice the shocks are just sitting there fully collapsed with no attempt to extend...yeah...they're old. So, I ordered a new set of shocks front and rear. Fronts will get the Rancho 5000 RS5112 (10" stroke) and the rears are getting Rancho 5000 RS5297 (12.37" stroke).

Steve is helping me mod the housing, just waiting for my final parts to come in.

Housing modified and ready for Monday.

elocker 3rd is installed!  Steve was a great help last night.  We got the axle welded, drilled, and tapped.  If that wasn't enough, he helped me get it cleaned up and the 3rd installed.  It was nice to have an extra set of hands.  Looks like it mounted flush, without any clearance issues.  Next step is to replace some of the actuator bolts with button heads.  I may still have to grind them down a bit to clear the springs.  I did grind down the 3rd itself so that the u-bolts would fit.  I'll get the axle back under the 4runner tonight and start putting the axles back in and getting the rest put back together.  It's going to be messy...

I told Mike I'd help him put his new lift on the Cherokee Thursday night, but if you need help Friday night wrestling things around let me know.

Nice work man! I feel like a royal dick. I've had a lot of help getting my rig going, yet I have been unable to return the favors.

I got the axle back under the truck last night and started to put the u-bolts back in place. I clearanced the 3rd and the u-bolt slides in, but not square. It goes in at an angle and I can't get the plate that goes on the top of the axle to stay flat. Royally screwed. One option is to tear everything apart again and grind down the 3rd more, but I don't have time for that. I'm going to see what else I can clearance to get the u-bolt to go in straight...

Success!  I only had to grind about 50% of the u-bolt away.  Hahaha...just kidding.  I was able to lower the axle from the springs and cut a small wedge in the pad.  Using pry bars and steel chisels, I managed to push the corner back into the pad and create enough clearance to get the u-bolt mostly straight.  I was only about 1/2" inch off at that point.  Using a BFH, I managed to get the u-bolt pretty dang straight and get the top plate to clear the center pin in the leafs.  Took a little convincing, but it's all fitting now.  I'll finish tightening the u-bolts and then it's reassembly time.  

It's been over 10 years since I've done a Toyota front axle, so Kevin, if you are available Friday night, I'll gladly use an extra set of hands.  It's the messy part so if you have some rubber gloves, bring them.  Not sure yet if I'll completely disassemble the knuckle and replace the wheel bearings, but since there doesn't seem anything wrong with them, I'll probably just clean things up and re-assemble.  If you can bring your fish scale, that would be great...so we can set the knuckle pre-load.

Hopefully next week I'll get the wiring all installed and then take it out to make sure the locker actually works...

Oh...and we leave 2 weeks from today. 

You'll want a good set of c-clip pliers too. I can bring some, but they suck, I normally end up using screwdrivers and pliers. Do you have a hub nut socket and a bearing packer?

Kevin wrote:You'll want a good set of c-clip pliers too.  I can bring some, but they suck, I normally end up using screwdrivers and pliers.  Do you have a hub nut socket and a bearing packer?

Hub nut socket, yes...bearing packer, no. Last time I packed front bearings was by hand.

Well, front axle is almost done. Got both knuckles back on.

ToDo List:

1. Torque front u-bolts
2. Put front brake calipers back on - bleed brakes
3. Fill front diff with gear oil
4. Wire up locker
5. Clearance front driveshaft

There is light at the end of the tunnel..

ToDo List:

1. Bleed brakes
2. Replace passenger's side locking hub
3. Pack up and go!

Andrew wrote:ToDo List:

1. Bleed brakes
2. Replace passenger's side locking hub
3. Pack up and go!

Good to hear!  I was going to offer to come out and help tomorrow, but it looks like you've got it under control.

Thanks, I appreciate the offer. I still haven't driven it yet, which concerns me. That will be the true test.

New locking hub arrived today! About 30 minutes later I get sent this picture. My wife went ahead and installed it for me...  

That's a good wife!!!!

Your wife is my hero  

She's alive!!!! And haunted!   

Andrew wrote:She's alive!!!! And haunted!   

Dude that is BAD ASS!! It makes me want to start saving for a crawl box! Or why not just go all out and put my Dana 60s in with a doubles? $$$$$$$ thats why!

Super jealous  

Andrew wrote:New locking hub arrived today!  About 30 minutes later I get sent this picture.  My wife went ahead and installed it for me...  

That's actually kinda hot. I need to have a talk with my wife.

The 4Runner did awesome this week. I only engaged the elocker once and that's only because the rocks were wet and I didn't want to slide off them and flop it. As many of you saw, the lurching is still there and almost seems like it's getting worse. Since I flat-towed the 4Runner to Moab and the rear driveline is already out, I am going to pull my rear third and replace it with the spare I have sitting here. Then I'll take it out and see if it still lurches.

Did you use the front locker on that first big ditch on Kane Creek?

Yup, that's the one.