bump530

Well I changed the rear bushings on the front springs yesterday so I can start driving the 4runner again. I still haven't heard back from Dave'z on the new shackles (its been 3 weeks). Heres some pics of the old bushings that barely have any miles on them.





Although its a little aggravating waiting on Dave'z, that's no longer my big issue. On the way to work this morning, this happened:



Im assuming the brake caliper came loose or the bolts fell out and the caliper wedged in the wheel and shattered the rotor. I know I tightened the caliper bolts. When I got that axle from my uncle, that side (Im pretty sure its that side, ill verify when I get it home) had helicoils in the bolt holes for the caliper. Im wondering if those came loose. So now I have more ahead of me lol.

wberry85

Wow at everything lol

Davez is taking his sweet time with my front driveshaft too. Killing me not having 4wd...

I bet that made a nice sound when that caliper came loose and broke off that rotor.

bump530

A driveshaft I can see taking a little more time, but not a set of shackles lol. I finally did get an email back. They apologized for over looking the email and would give me an update soon. I was about to go buy some material to build a driveshaft, but Im gonna hold off now.

And yes...it make some nice sounds. Also shook the 4runner pretty good. I went to town at lunch to try to find fittings to plug the line with no luck. So I bought a pair of vice grips (can always use an extra pair lol) and brake fluid. Im going to pinch off the hard line and drive it home lol.

wberry85

Just curious...Did you have a bracket between the hard line and braided line or did you just have a hard line coming out of the caliper screwed in to the soft line? Mine was rubbing on my tire and I was wondering if maybe a tire lug snagged your line?

bump530

I really don't think the tire grabbed the line. The bolts fell out.

Here's how I got it back


Now time to order a new caliper, rotor, and brake line.

James Woods

iTrader: (1)

Looks like you are on the right path with the shackles but, yes, without a sleeve, when you tighten down that bolt for the shackle, it will split the bushings, not just the TG bushings, it will ruin any of them.

bump530

I agree, but I would also think they would last longer than a couple hundred miles.

Well yesterday as I was pulling back up to work from lunch, I saw the brake caliper laying in the ditch. To my surprise, its in good shape. Just needs a little paint and some new pads. So it looks like Ill get back on the road by replacing the rotor, brake line, and pads.

bump530

Covered up the hole in the floor today. I ordered a shifted boot for it. I also ordered a new rotor and brake line. I'll be on business trip this week. Hopefully all that will be in waiting for me when I get home

bump530

I got my rotor and brake line in yesterday so I started to tear down the driver side to change it out. I ended up finding that the helicoil on one of the bolt holes is messed up. I tried to fix it, but no luck. I decided instead of trying to doing something different, I would just replace the knuckle. Ive got another axle at the house so I started tearing it down. So glad I get to work with the nasty mess of unserviced knuckle lol.







The shifter boot I ordered the tcase shifter came in. Its going to work out perfect.



And I finally got a tracking number from Dave'z on my front shackles. Which is great, because the new bushings I put in the springs are already in bad shape and I only have 30 miles or so on them (one trip to work).

rattlewagon

Holy hell on that rotor!

bump530

Yeah tell me about it. Crap happens tho.

I got the new knuckle cleaned up. Ill pick up some paint today and get it painted.

rustED

iTrader: (2)

that sucks about all the setbacks, but looks like you're getting close to getting her back on the road, looks good. By the way, who did you order the shifter boots through?

bump530

Thanks. Yea it does suck, but that's all part of it sometimes.

The shifter boot I ordered from Amazon. Its a Mr. Gasket shifter boot part # 9648. Its the smallest one I found.

wberry85

You ever thought about doing the 5th stud mod? Now would be a good time.

bump530

I have thought about it. And Ill probably regret not doing it now, but Im going to hold off. Im not so sure I wont just step up to 6 shooters or just bigger axles lol.

bump530

Well I got the "new" knuckle installed and everything back together. I also check the torque on all the important bolts and nuts. I also got my Dave'z shackles installed.

And just because I like pictures, heres a pic of the new shackles lol


Im going to be pretty busy at work for the next couple weeks, but the next step is to build a front driveshaft.

wberry85

Let us know how those bushings hold up.

bump530

Will do. If the shoulder of the bushing is still intact after driving home from work today, then I will already be ahead by a lot. The shoulder of the last bushings I put in there didn't last a 30 mile round trip to work. I looked at the bushings on the front of the front spring yesterday. The shoulders on them are gone. Ill probably be putting a sleeve in those bushings as well. The only TG bushings that still looked good is the ones frame tube.

bump530

Well another set of TG spring bushings trashed. This time is the front. Ordered some Energy Suspension bushings that should work. I am probably going to put a sleeve and run a 1/2" bolt like the shackles use just to keep everything the same.



Other than that, the 4runner is doing good.

RoBatt

Are the bushings going out that quickly normal on a TG SAS? It seems like I would have heard/ read someone else complaining about them if this was a recurring issue.

Looking good.