Randy’s mod day

Slim-Whitey

Canadian hoser, Eh?
Know it all snowfake
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Also careful with back flushing old cooling systems unless you want a plugged heater core or a water pump/thermostat issue. If your radiator was corroded and full of shit it can break loose and get lodged somewhere in the block too. Best to flush stuff separately

Yep.
Always isolate the thing you're flushing.
 
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@4runner DOA Danny, I was able to do my radiator today. The upper tank WAS cracked, but a hairline from the way it looked.

Still have to do my upper ball joints though.

I have minor "cleanup work" for the radiator portion, but it is done.

I gotta get my breaker bars back and my ratchet, but no real rush.

I really haven't been driving the truck much because I don't want to tear up my, basically, new tires.

Annnnnyways, just letting you know.
 

4runner DOA

Hold my beer
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@4runner DOA Danny, I was able to do my radiator today. The upper tank WAS cracked, but a hairline from the way it looked.

Still have to do my upper ball joints though.

I have minor "cleanup work" for the radiator portion, but it is done.

I gotta get my breaker bars back and my ratchet, but no real rush.

I really haven't been driving the truck much because I don't want to tear up my, basically, new tires.

Annnnnyways, just letting you know.

Was just thinking about you earlier. I believe I'll be around most of next weekend if you wanna come by.
 
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Was just thinking about you earlier. I believe I'll be around most of next weekend if you wanna come by.
Okay... I'll try to stop by on my way home from my sister's on Sunday afternoon, if that is okay?

People here at the apt complex, mostly Vietnamese, were looking at me, but I don't know if they're going to mention anything to the mgr??? I had to take that chance because I just can't let my truck sit?

Anyways, going to attempt, at least, one of the ball joints in a couple of weeks. HAHAHAHAHAHA, need to build up that confidence because I've never done one before and it looks a bit involved? :noidea: But really though, just waiting to see if property mgr is going to say anything? I'm guessing not, but the last place I was at was pretty bad. For sure, I couldn't do shi* over there!!! :deadbanana: I left virtually NO MESS doing this. Found a broken down cardboard box in the dumpster that was "brand new" for a washing machine or something so I grabbed that and away I went with working on the truck.

Btw, I have a ball joint press along with some receiver tubes that I recently bought. Not really that expensive and I'll likely be using it again for the lowers. Right now, the uppers is what I want to take care of first. The lowers look shot as well though... I mean, it was pretty obvious with how the grease boots looked. :doh:

Other than that, it really is finally coming around though. Sounds like alot, but it really is not.
 
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@GreenMachine Chucky, let me know about that CB install... :thumbsup:

I'll bring my "radio box" along with some cable and connectors. I have crimping tools just in case we need to snip off one end to feed throughout the truck and re-crimp. We had to do that with Kevin's radio cable.
 
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4runner DOA

Hold my beer
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Okay... I'll try to stop by on my way home from my sister's on Sunday afternoon, if that is okay?

People here at the apt complex, mostly Vietnamese, were looking at me, but I don't know if they're going to mention anything to the mgr??? I had to take that chance because I just can't let my truck sit?

Anyways, going to attempt, at least, one of the ball joints in a couple of weeks. HAHAHAHAHAHA, need to build up that confidence because I've never done one before and it looks a bit involved? :noidea: But really though, just waiting to see if property mgr is going to say anything? I'm guessing not, but the last place I was at was pretty bad. For sure, I couldn't do shi* over there!!! :deadbanana: I left virtually NO MESS doing this. Found a broken down cardboard box in the dumpster that was "brand new" for a washing machine or something so I grabbed that and away I went with working on the truck.

Btw, I have a ball joint press along with some receiver tubes that I recently bought. Not really that expensive and I'll likely be using it again for the lowers. Right now, the uppers is what I want to take care of first. The lowers look shot as well though... I mean, it was pretty obvious with how the grease boots looked. :doh:

Other than that, it really is finally coming around though. Sounds like alot, but it really is not.

Shoot me a text to remind me, but Sunday should be fine.
 
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I'll text you. :thumbsup:

So, are upper ball joints hard to do? I got this and have been watching YT vids with these very same sets of tools. It LOOKS somewhat easy, but still... watching and doing is two separate things.

Anyways, this is what I recently bought. Should help with the lowers when I tackle those as well.
IMG_20200223_223846418~2.jpg

I still have to get a new radiator cap and my swaybar endlinks.

Other than that, doing pretty good.

Again, thanks to @Bigbarlo Chan and EVERYONE I am able to focus on much needed repairs!!!

I'm sorry Danny, for constantly saying this, but just still BLOWN AWAY with the help from everyone!!! :sad: <--- not sad, just so HAPPY, if that makes any sense???

Anyways, I'll text you, okay.

Btw, I have SOME funds coming back from my taxes. Going to buy the All Pro Off Road wrap around rear bumper.
Screenshot_20200129-175659.png
Screenshot_20200129-175752.png
Screenshot_20200129-175906.png

I've always liked the look, plus it kinda complements the sliders. :thumbsup:
 
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@4runner DOA Danny, first off, sorry for the confusion today. :sorry:

When we were discussing the lower ball joints today, I'm torn between these two... see the links

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mog-k90258/year/1998/make/toyota/model/tacoma

https://www.autozone.com/suspension...t-ball-joint-fa2158/574688_16003_11395_171485

I've had Moog parts before and have been satisfied with their build quality. I've also had fairly good experiences with Duralast (AutoZone) parts in the past. The only recent Duralast part though was my recent radiator replacement where I BOUGHT the correct radiator/core part number, but the brackets were WAY off by roughly 1/16in on either side like I was telling you. The radiator core itself was pretty spot on with dimensions to my old one that I took out. The new brackets that came with the new radiator was correct as far as location, but the mounting positions were off by about that much as mentioned above. No big deal as I just re-used my old brackets, but the fact remains as far as build.

So, the cost difference is NOT the worry as it's only a few bucks difference with the exception of shipping (Summit Racing), but I'm more wondering if MOOG would be an overall better choice? Again, I've been pretty satisfied with MOOG in the past, but never really had any issues, overall, with Duralast either. My rear drums are Duralast, for example.

Your opinion or anyones?
 

Dezert4Runner

Pineapples belong on pizza
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Oct 23, 2018
Messages
1,172
For 1st gen Tacos/ 3rd gen T4R’s, Moog are literally the last ball joints I would use. They have had numerous documented failures within 10-20k miles after install. Plenty of threads on T4R if you look around.

The Sankei 555 brand (made in Japan) from Napa were a popular choice for people that didn’t want to pay OEM prices or needed them same day, but “OEM only” is preached a lot on T4R. I tend to agree that with the design of the LBJ for these vehicles, OEM is the safest bet for a quality part. Since it’s a safety issue, I have no problem paying a little extra for a better product. I ran the Sankei 555 after a LBJ failure on my old ‘96 T4R for about 50k miles before selling it when I picked up my 2000 4WD T4R, so I can vouch for them being a decent option to OEM. Unfortunately, they were within $10 each of OEM when I bought them because I couldn’t wait for Camelback Toyota or whoever else had them for under MSRP to be delivered since the ‘96 was my DD and I needed it to get to work and felt that since the part was Japanese made, it was probably the best non OEM option I had at the time. My local Toyota Carlsbad/ Toyota of Escondido wouldn’t price match anyone except local dealerships, who were all over MSRP. Buncha crooks. The cost difference between the Napa Sankei 555’s and local Toyota dealerships was around $25 a side and I just couldn’t swing it at the time.

All that being said, I replaced my LBJ’s in my 2000 runner with OEM in late 2018 and never looked back. The peace of mind for a wheeler makes OEM an easy decision for me, personally.
 
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