Much like how the Urban Runner was an upgrade to the Sport Edition, the Trail Edition was an upgrade to an SR5. Hope the pup recovering as well. Sport Edition 4runners also have X-REAS suspension and model-specific seat fabric. Replacing a U-joint is usually a simple matter, and our technicians are standing by to assist. They also had Bilstein monotube shocks, 16 wheels from the FJ, waterproof fabric seats, and a detachable TomTom navigation unit. Alternatively, my Haynes Manual for the 2003-2009 Toyota 4Runner says that it should be done every 7,500 miles or every 6 months. Heres a breakdown of the differences between each 4runner model: The SR5 trim level was the entry level 4runner. It gets a hand calculated 12 MPG city and just shy of 20 MPG highway. best modifications to start out with for your 4th gen 4runner here: Why Are Toyota 4runners So Popular? When are U-Joints supposed to be replaced, btw? These are the cheapest and easiest to find on the used market. The Urban Runner was released this year. When you remove the snap rings/C-clips, it will secure the caps. Toyota 4Runner Forum - Largest 4Runner Forum, Classifieds - buy & sell (no commercial ads please), Engines / Suspension / Wheels / Tires / Audio / Accessories, European T4R & Hilux Surf Clubs (click to view), Asia & Oceania T4R & Hilux Surf Clubs (click to view), Africa & Middle East T4R & Hilux Surf Clubs (click to view), Latin America / Carribbean T4R & Hilux Surf Clubs (click to view), Question about replacing rear driveshaft u-joints. As cars do not move on super-flat surfaces, driveshafts have to be able to move up and down alongside the suspension while they rotate. Greasing or servicing the bearings will not do much to reduce the damage, but it may extend the service life. Other option is to run the truck on a lift(with the wheels hanging) so you can listen to the drivetrain. And then of course there will be others who use lithium grease in the spiders and lithium grease with moly in the slip yoke, and make the same kind of longevity claim. Find the right size press cup fit for the driveshaft yoke and position the cup on top of the threaded rod. This was the year the 4runner underwent a facelift. Heres a helpful video guide for you to check out to understand the working mechanism of u-joints. Make sure to double check that any 16 versions will clear the front brakes though. Ultimately, I suggest you do your own research and make a decision for what you believe is best for your vehicle. However, the squeak generally disappears when the vehicle goes faster than 5 to 10 mph because there are other environmental noises in play. As long as youve checked the VIN to see its accident history, any rust free 4runner (with documented service records preferably) will be a good purchase. 17 minimum. Hold the yoke assembly/U-joint by the joint cups and strike the yoke sharply. Once you decide the type of grease you want to use and where you want to use it, have your grease gun(s) ready with your grease(s) of choice. If you look at the set of three photos below, they are taken from the drivers side of the vehicle looking at the undercarriage. propeller shaft) is a key maintenance item on the 4th generation Toyota 4Runner that every owner should be doing. It is much more complicated than it sounds. The system is helpful when it works, but when it doesnt its a pain. It is necessary to inspect for transmission leakage. 2006 and newer models also came with 18 6 spoke wheels. This is Toyotas nifty shock system that diagonally links each corner of the truck. These can be a somewhat costly fix and could potentially leave you stranded in the event of a catastrophic failure. These are a nice compromise between the other two models. Paintscratch Automotive Touch Up Paint Review, Renting a Pickup Truck to Haul Getaround Review, CRC BRAKLEEN Brake Parts Cleaner Non-Flammable -19 Wt Oz (05089), Simple Green, SMP13012, Industrial Cleaner/Degreaser, 1 Each, White, How to Program a Remote Key Fob: 2nd Gen Acura CL (2001-2003) Including Type-S, Valve Cover Replacement (1GRE-FE 4.0L V6): 4th Gen Toyota 4Runner, Fixing Tire Rub on Front Fender Liners: 4th Gen Toyota 4Runner. Wipe everything away with shop towels/rags. Follow the same grease procedure as location 2. Announcements, Tips & Tricks, Site Feedback, Test Section, & Contact Us, Tech Write-Ups (Staging Area & More Articles In The Wiki), Staging Area For Tech Article Submissions, General Vehicle Related Topics (Non Year Related), General Electrical & Lighting Related Topics, 99+ Tundra, 00+ Sequoia, 98+ Land Cruiser/LX470, Off Road Tech, Fab Shop, Solid Axle Swaps, Tool Time, & Engine Swaps, Trip Planning, Trail Reports, Land Usage, 4Wheeling 101, Camping Gear, Off-Road Gourmet, & More, Off Road Trip Planning, Expeditions, Trips, & Events, Off Topic, Wiki Discussions, Fraudulent Vehicle Listings, & Stolen Rigs, Buying & Selling Advice - Feeler/Gauging Interest, Toyota Tacoma 4WD - Four Wheel Drive Guides, Replaced rear diff pinion seal, now I have a low rumble on deceleration. Is the noise alwayse there? Heres another question that seems to have a different answer depending on who you ask: which grease should I be using on my driveshaft? The driveline would catch on every pothole and bump. In my opinion, the 2006 and newer facelifted models with the V8 are the most desirable. These tools have been tried and tested by our team, they are ideal for fixing your car at home. This is not a major problem at all. The V6 and V8 models both come with different trailer hitches. Grease this the same way you greased location 1. FWD vehicles come with CV joints or constant velocity joints. The 4.0L V6 has an EPA rating of 17 MPG city and 21 MPG highway. The drastic temperature changes from driving in cold weather are hard on them, not to mention the corrosion from all the road salt. The JBL Synthesis audio system was standard on the Limited. Interestingly, Canadian 4runners were only sold with 4 wheel drive. For an in depth comparison of the V6 and V8 engines, check out this article: The 44 system in the 4runner didnt change throughout the entire 4th generation. The Top 10 Reasons: Does Your Toyota 4runner Need A Trailer Brake Controller? This is really a trick question because you cant go wrong with any year 4th gen 4runner. After the vibrations stated above, if you still do not get your vehicle checked, the U-joint will move on to damaging the transmission tail shaft bushing and output shaft seal, which then causes transmission fuel leak. Just that some do and some don't. Terms of Service - Thats a pretty bold statement from someone who is possibly the most knowledgeable on the subject. By replacing it with another OEM part, chances are it will fail down the road again. The Trail Edition was essentially an FJ Cruiser with a 4runner body on it. See related guides and technical advice from our community experts: Last and only time I have ever bought Toyota U-joints I bought them from Jess over at High angle driveline. It shares this with the Lexus GX470, FJ Cruiser, Tacoma/Hilux, Land Cruiser Prado, 5th gen 4runner and Hilux Surf. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Its worth noting that this was the year the horsepower rating system was changed. Its especially helpful to have these cleaners around to clear all the built up grease and dirt at the zerk fittings. 2 lithium grease for both slip yoke and spider joints. Because of this and the fact that the owners manual and the Haynes manual allows for the use of lithium grease on both spiders and slide yokes, I feel comfortable using an NLGI No. Ive never had an issue with mine, but others online have. Never ignore the signs your car is giving you, especially if they may be related to a poor U-joint. slide yoke) and four zerk fittings for the spider joint (a.k.a. Inspect for binding on the installed joint. Upgrade your ride with the NEW Geniune TRD Bronze Wheel. *Free Ground Shipping coupon up to $200 Value. When the time finally came to make the switch, I chose a 4th gen Toyota 4runner. With adverse driving conditions, hard driving, and enough miles on the car, the universal joints may give up faster than expected. Use a pair of pliers to remove the inner snap ring from the yokes upper half, or the outer C-clip/snap ring from the lower cup. As you can see from the images below, there are two zerk fittings located towards the front of the transfer case. 2 nuts and bolts, alternatively, 4 four bolts are used to secure the rear yoke to the differential yoke a number that changes depending on the make, model, and year of the vehicle. OEM ujoints are not greasable and rely on this seal to keep water/moisture out, http://www.autozone.com/loan-a-tools/ball-joint-press, https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DOI8BDS/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1, Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics, Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world, Post your own photos in our Members Gallery. Again, this is a messy job and having plenty of shop towels on hand will aid in cleaning the work areas, but also with clearing away the pumped out old grease. If you have rear height control suspension on your 4Runner, make sure to adjust the mode to normal, turn the height control to off and then turn off the engine before raising the vehicle. 338 people have looked at this part recently. Sometimes the prolonged heat and UV rays from the sun are just too much for them to handle. Right now, Im performing this service every six months as it strikes a nice balance between convenience and adequate lubrication. Its very easy to get set up and it comes with two different reinforced nozzles for use with zerk fittings. Do Headers Add Horsepower Rev Up Your Car Today! 2006-2022, ToyotaPartsDeal.com by Genuine Parts Source, Inc. Search by Part Number, Part Name, Description. It is fairly simple and requires one to one and a half hours at the most. These have become rather rare finds nowadays and can be quite sought after. If you have owned a car for a while now, you probably came across the term U-joint, otherwise known as Universal Joint. I have had issues with 2 calipers within a year. Turn the tool around and redo the process to remove the opposite cap as well as the cross of the U-joint. Think my 04 has clips that hold the u joint cups in. If the original universal joint provided decent mileage, it is best to replace it with an OEM option. X-REAS was only available on the Sport Edition and Limited models. Learn how your comment data is processed. This will stop the fluid leaking from the transmission. through, do not create a new one, contact staff for help via the "Contact Us" Fortunately, you can buy U-joints in a greasable design for most vehicles. Would suspect a bearing or tires. Install the clamps to fasten the U-joint to the yoke and secure the bolts and nuts. When you start, make sure you have your grease gun loaded up with plenty of grease, have a lot of blue shop towels or rags, and a cleaner to clean the areas surrounding the zerk fittings. The V6 is more of a bumper-pull and tucks up nice and high. Some people might tell you this only applies to earlier years of the 4th gen 4runner, but thats not true. Type above and press Enter to search. Personally, I find it a bit troublesome to either using one grease gun and changing out between two different types of grease or having two separate grease guns just for the sake of greasing my driveline. Check the universal joints after every oil change. All 4th gen 4runners have independent front suspension and a solid rear axle. Some vehicles wont work at all without a properly functioning U-joint. But that is not the case with U-joints. I share what I believe are the best modifications to start out with for your 4th gen 4runner here: The Sport Editions also have bigger brakes than the sr5. Your email address will not be published. U joints typically dont growl when failing. 2022 Vibration across the whole vehicle typically means that the U-joints have done enough damage to the driveshaft and it is now unbalanced. The V8 hitch hangs lower and mounts directly to the frame. That first reason is the biggest one for me. I'm Scott and I run The Track Ahead. If you have a 2WD 4th gen 4Runner, your driveline is not serviceable and therefore there will be no zerk fittings for you to grease. I replaced mine with these Fox 2.0 coilovers. Since the rear wheels and rear axle of the vehicles move independently of the other parts of the vehicle, a direct driveshaft originating from the engine would not work. Sometimes you cant even tell where the zerks are because its been caked up with so much dirt and grease. Made modifications or gotten a bigger engine to improve your vehicles horsepower? This is more expensive than a normal system to replace because both diagonally matching shocks have to be replaced at the same time. For more info on towing with a Toyota 4runner, check out this article: 4runners are not particularly fuel efficient vehicles regardless of what engine you choose. This was sort of an oddball year that bridged the gap between the pre and post facelift 4runners. If you have a 4WD 4th gen 4Runner, youll have two zerk fittings for the slip yoke (a.k.a. Discussion in '4th Gen 4Runners (2003-2009)' started by golfguy, Aug 7, 2019. All Rights Reserved. This one has been reported as a clunk sound accompanied by the feeling of something pushing the truck forward when coming to a complete stop. Gently resting it against the latch will allow the electric motor to pull it closed the final inch, While driving with the moonroof open, the wind deflector automatically drops when you hit 57mph and rises back up below 45mph. Examine driveshaft alignment post lifting to ensure functionality inside the specs. Thus, they need to be replaced more frequently than with a regular drive. We shift from 4 high to 4 low as well as lock/unlock the transfer case once a month. This is the only model its available on. Move to the differential end and lift the tail of the driveshaft to get it into place. A lot of damage can be involved in all the cases. Armed with a grease gun and appropriate grease, it is easy to grease up the driveshaft and keep your driveline working properly. The 4.7L V8 has an EPA rating of 15 MPG city and 19 MPG highway. Wipe away the excess grease. REXBETI Grease Gun, Pistol Grip Grease Gun Set with 18 Inch Flex Hose. Want to know everything there is to know about towing with a 4runner? All Rights Reserved. Insert the grease nozzle into the zerk fitting as shown in the below photos. It was actually designed by Yamaha. Free Ground Shipping on Orders Over $75 Sitewide when using code: FREESHIP (up to $200 value). It is best to have the transmission inspected to decide which changes are necessary. Also, these posts are based off my own experiences. Models with the 4.7L V8 can tow 7,000 lbs (7,300 for 2WD versions). So I jacked up the car, placed jack stands, and chocked the wheels. Its a 32 valve quad cam engine with a cast iron block and aluminum heads. My 2003 Toyota 4Runner owners manual, as well as my Haynes Manual (for 2003-2009 Toyota 4Runners) says that an NLGI #2 lithium base chassis grease is to be used on the driveshaft for lubrication. The Toyota 4runner is one of the most loved SUVs on the planet. The 4 speed transmission that accompanied it was carried over from the 3rd gen 4runner. It all comes down to personal preference. Does Toyota recommend replacing the TB tensioner when replacing the TB. They are parts of a system designed to enable the rotating crankshaft to deliver rotating energy to the rear wheels (applicable for rear-wheel-drive vehicles). As mentioned multiple times before, lack of lubrication is harmful to the health of U-joints. There are endless options for grease guns out there, but this is the one I used. Their function is similar to that of universal joints. Mark the yoke and driveshaft sides that will have the new U-joint replacement installed. FRONT PROPELLER SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT; REAR PROPELLER SHAFT UNIVERSAL JOINT; UNIVERSAL JOINT(FOR PROPELLER SHAFT). Scott 75130 Shop Towels, 55 Towels (12 rolls). There are two to three U-joints in a regular rear-wheel-drive vehicle. If you can see grease coming from under the seal at each cup on the u joint when you grease them, thats probably not your problem. Unlike the V6 though, the V8 requires the timing belt to be changed approximately every 100,000 miles (160,000 kms). Lubricating the driveshaft (a.k.a. The Limited 4runner is the top of the line with all of the bells and whistles. And finally, I dont personally have a shop manual but many folks online have said that the shop manual recommends using molybdenum disulphide lithium base chassis grease NLGI #2 for the slip yokes and regular lithium based NLGI #2 for the spider joints. The X-REAS suspension is great when it works. The rear coil springs are replaced with air bags that can raise and lower the rear of the vehicle. The mechanic can be expected to choose high-quality replacement U-joints featuring a grease fitting. Many people believe this is one of Toyotas most legendary engines in terms of durability (second to the 2JZ found in the Supra). All prices are Manufacturers Suggested Retail Prices and do not include any applicable tax and/or installation charges. The knock sensors will pull timing which will lower the power and keep the engine safe if any knock is present. But, the majority of times, the problem can be linked to a lack of greasing of the bearing, rough driving, or modifications made to vehicles which can affect driveshaft speed or angle. The transfer case actuator that shifts from 4WD to 4 low can seize up if not used for a long period of time. This isnt something that will leave you stranded on the side of the road so if you can live with the sound, you arent forced to fix it. Examine the U-joints with a flashlight. A car with a faulty U-joint will not run for long. Its been noted on the forums that the early (03/04) model V6 4runners had some issues with head gaskets. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. The Trail Edition 4runner was only available in 2009 (the final year of production). Many believe (myself included) that this version of the 4runner is the best of all. Lift the car into the air, either with the front lower than the rear or level. How long will a 4th Gen 4runner last? Make sure to check out that buyers guide here: A forum user mentioned that a head Toyota engineer once told him that in his opinion: the 4th gen 4runner was the best 44 Toyota had ever produced in terms of reliability, longevity, and durability. Horsepower jumped from 235hp to 270hp, and torque went from 320 ft lbs to 330 ft lbs. These received a few mechanical upgrades but kept the same styling from the older models. You may have to tap it properly to loosen the binding. I'm assuming the tires are in reasonable condition. It came in three colors white, silver and black. The differences between these were based on comfort and appearance options. Position the U-joint tool against the yoke. Wheels from the FJ Cruiser, GX470, 1st gen Tundra, 1st gen Sequoia and Tacoma will all fit the 4runner. Dealer sets actual price. This ensures an uninterrupted supply of power to the drive wheels. The only changes for 2009 were the location of the rear power window switch from the dash to the center console and the shape of the overhead console. Fawk. Universal joints or U-joints are X-shaped components generally made of steel featuring a bearing cap on each end. Under normal operation, it sends 40% to the front wheels and 60% to the rear. At the same time, remove the 2 other caps and push the U-joints polished end into the openings of the yoke. If your account does not go With the grease gun I purchased, I simply had to unscrew the grease gun cap (the side where the grip is located), remove the cap to the grease tube, crank the grease gun handle back all the way, insert the tube with the open side up, screw the grease gun cap back on, then pull back on the handle while releasing the stop so that the handle presses into the grease tube. Despite being the base model, they still offered plenty of features. Smack the yoke using a hammer to release any tension on the snap ring/C clip. The more the number of U-joints, the higher the chance of failure. Toyota offered two special new models in 2008 and 2009.