OIl and Springs

[webe0358]

Hey Guys,

I've been a long time reader, but this if my first post. I have two questions for you guys, I recently bought my first car, a 1996 4runner SR5 160K, and have been going through and doing all the maintenance so that I know everything has been done right and the way I want it. The previous owner was pretty anal about it, he kept and excel sheet including every piece of information you can think of down to recording every fuel fill up its location the tire pressure at the time ECT. since the day he bough it, so everything was already in pretty darn good shape already but I'm just not happy until I've done it myself.

My first question is regarding oil, it has been running on synthetic since 100K, but I was wondering with an engine as well seasoned as this would it be appropriate to use a 0W-30? I live in MN and any help in the winter I'm sure the engine will appreciate, I just don't want to put in too light of an oil and have leak /burning issues. As of right now there are no leaks to speak of and it burns no oil.

The second question is, the rear is sagging, after a fully loaded trip up to the BWCA, she just did not rebound like I hoped. I have been reading as many of the post about suspension as I could find and am wondering, I do not want to lift it, should I start by replacing the shocks, the springs, or should I go ahead and replace both the springs and shocks. I am thinking about putting in OME896 PRADO 04/03+ REAR HD for springs and F4-BE5-2451-HO Bilstein for shocks. The fronts are fine as the were replaced 2 months before I purchased the runner.

I appreicate your time and any recommendations regarding the oil and rear suspension would be greatly appreciated. I know there are a lot of people on here who know there stuff well and I would appreciate anything you feel like sharing.

Enjoy the day guys.

[RunnerUp]

if 5w 30 is working right now, i wouldnt bother to change it, remember what they say, if it isnt broke, dont fix it.

anyways, if you get that rear suspension set up and dont replace your front, your going to be having some serious rake. at 160k, if your still on stock suspension, well its time to replace everything, INCLUDING bushings and the like. do it once, do it right...

[webe0358]

Thanks,

The front was replaced about 2 months ago, and looking through the records the back was as well, but it is sagging. I think that it is because I carried a lot of weight/people down a rather rough road. I had a guy look over the front and said everything looks great, but the back keeps bottoming out if I have any weight in the back.

[RunnerUp]

were the sway bar bushings and endlink bushings also replaced when they replaced the front shocks springs? as for the back, whatever you do it will settle some, so you can go for say 1-2" of lift and it will settle to be just a bit above stock.

[webe0358]

Yep all the bushings were replaced that was one of the first things I looked at. I am just a poor college student and I was worried that I might have to sell a kidney to have everything replaced. Any recommendations on what to go with for rear springs/shocks and how difficult is it to replace both of those? I have the tools to do it available to me.

[RunnerUp]

im a poor college student too, i just eat LOTS of ramen noodles

if you really dont want to lift it, i would say go for '99 4Runner coils and since you have billies up front, get them in the back as well...

while your back there, replace the sway bar bushings on that rear sway bar also, and look at your control arms, make sure the rubber isnt rotting away, because thats a 400$ fix if they are

[webe0358]

Got me worried I checked over everything in the rear all the bushings look good, no rot or tearing, just saggy bottom blues. Yea being poor does not go well with having a car that you want to make better and better. Unfortunatly besides changing all the fluids all I've been able to do is add a transmission cooler and do the deck plate mod. I'd just like to get the rear up to level with the front so that every time I hit a bump I don't bottom out.

[MillerPKA]

since he is anal he may have had it done already but its worth a shot. crawl up under the tailgate (or check his excel file) and see if he's had the bumpstops installed from a manufacturer's recall. since they are sagging it makes me think he hasn't had it done. anyways, the dealership will install bumpstops, and with them comes new coils. see how much it improves then make any decisions after that

[webe0358]

Could you explain the bumpstops, what they look like or a picture?

[4Runner202020]

the bump stop is the big cone shaped thing that sits inside the rear spring at the top. it helps limit your travel by hitting the axle when to compressed. and with saggy springs it is probably really close to your axle which is why your ride is so rough because every bump you hit the bump stop is hitting the axle and stopping the travel there. i will run out to my runner and try to gat acouple pictures for you.

bobby

[4Runner202020]

ok so i got some pictures.
it is the thing in the spring at the top is the bumpstop. remember i have 4 to 5in or rear lift so yours will be a lot closer to the axle. lol

http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s266/thisoneguy2020/DSC00523.jpg
http://i154.photobucket.com/albums/s266/thisoneguy2020/DSC00524.jpg

[webe0358]

Thanks, I've got those and you were right they were really close together, I hadn't noticed them. I also have rubber pads placed up on the frame where the axle hits, they look like a U and I can tell they have taken a few bumps as well. Any recommendations?

[Bob98SR5]

since he is anal he may have had it done already but its worth a shot. crawl up under the tailgate (or check his excel file) and see if he's had the bumpstops installed from a manufacturer's recall. since they are sagging it makes me think he hasn't had it done. anyways, the dealership will install bumpstops, and with them comes new coils. see how much it improves then make any decisions after that


follow miller's advice. but dont go to the dealership first. call toyota's 800 customer service # (google it) with your VIN handy and see if its been done or if its covered under their recall policy. if the answer is yes, see what they can do to make sure you get the job done at any toyota dealership.

oh, where do you live? the advice above may only apply to Toyota Motor Sales USA dealerships and not Gulf Sates Toyota or SE Toyota dealerships

[webe0358]

I live in Minnesota way up north, but real close to Amsoil headquarters. I'll give the 800 # a ring and see what they have to say. Thanks for the advice.