"Yoda' '08 4Runner

[ScottyB]

The 3.5 liter D4S engines are trash. Along with the rest of what they're paired to in the Tacoma. Those engines are notorious for valve seat failure. Toyota really managed to fuck them up when they brought out the 3rd generation.

valve seats? really? that's super dissapointing. i guess that's a result of the crazy cam overlap the atkinson cycle tries to do.

[Tyler.M]

Thoughts and opinions on doing a small lift? I'm thinking of doing a 1 inch on bilstien 5100's or something but I'm worried it might become a money pit as it will put stress on other suspension parts and a simple lift will turn into a complete overhaul.

[NTIman]

The 3.5 liter D4S engines are trash. Along with the rest of what they're paired to in the Tacoma. Those engines are notorious for valve seat failure. Toyota really managed to fuck them up when they brought out the 3rd generation.

BUT. The 3.5 liters also suck in the Highlanders, Camrys, Avalons, and Siennas. And don't get me started on Toyotas new 8-speed transmission. 

I swear I'm pretty sure that after the collapse of GM and Chrysler during the Great Recession, Toyota scooped up their "finest" engineers, because our quality has gone to the shitter, and problems that used to be fixed nearly immediately go unresolved for years now.

Tell me more about the 3.5 and 8AT combo. I liked it in the Camry TRD but was infuriated by the transmission's programming in what is supposed to be a vaguely sporty car.

They slip. They lock up completely. We had one two weeks ago that would randomly go into TC lockup while idling and shut the engine off. They leak from the side cover. These problems can happen even in an extremely low mileage car.

On the other hand, I did have a lot of fun rolling in neutral down a hill from the dealer next door hoping that I could make it into the shop. I didn't.

And yeah, the valve seats just randomly drop and cause a misfire. They also had a problem with cam towers that were machined wrong and leaked from the top of the valve covers. They also leak from the front cover (where ever other GR family engine leaks from). Early on the engines would just cut off due to a faulty crankposition sensor.

In the last four years I've done more repairs on Tacomas than I had in the previous 10.

And do the 5100s with the adjustable perch in the front. It's a great set up. I want to do the same thing on my Tacoma.

[Senor_Taylor]

Yup, I ran the adjustable 5100s in the front on my Taco. Was fine.

[Tyler.M]

Yup, I ran the adjustable 5100s in the front on my Taco. Was fine.

Would you do that again or what would you do instead?

[Senor_Taylor]

Yup, I ran the adjustable 5100s in the front on my Taco. Was fine.

Would you do that again or what would you do instead?

For the price, there's not much else to do.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

[V1GiLaNtE]

Yup, I ran the adjustable 5100s in the front on my Taco. Was fine.

Would you do that again or what would you do instead?

For the price, there's not much else to do.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

Tacoma sus swap. You can pickup the front struts and rear shocks for next to nothing. Replace bushings in rear shocks and grab a set of 5th gen 4runner springs or FJ coils. I ran that on T4R for at least a year. Close to a 1" of lift. Enough to clear 265/65r18.

Only concern is it's gonna be a little soft, but still better than your blown out stock suspension.

[Tyler.M]

Yup, I ran the adjustable 5100s in the front on my Taco. Was fine.

Would you do that again or what would you do instead?

For the price, there's not much else to do.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

Tacoma sus swap. You can pickup the front struts and rear shocks for next to nothing. Replace bushings in rear shocks and grab a set of 5th gen 4runner springs or FJ coils. I ran that on T4R for at least a year. Close to a 1" of lift. Enough to clear 265/65r18.

Only concern is it's gonna be a little soft, but still better than your blown out stock suspension.

Oh sheesh that sounds like a lot of work. Maybe if I get another vehicle that I can daily or something. I don't know if I have that much interest to do something that extensive.

[NTIman]

Yup, I ran the adjustable 5100s in the front on my Taco. Was fine.

Would you do that again or what would you do instead?

For the price, there's not much else to do.

Sent from my Pixel 3 XL using Tapatalk

Tacoma sus swap. You can pickup the front struts and rear shocks for next to nothing. Replace bushings in rear shocks and grab a set of 5th gen 4runner springs or FJ coils. I ran that on T4R for at least a year. Close to a 1" of lift. Enough to clear 265/65r18.

Only concern is it's gonna be a little soft, but still better than your blown out stock suspension.

Oh sheesh that sounds like a lot of work. Maybe if I get another vehicle that I can daily or something. I don't know if I have that much interest to do something that extensive.

It's not bad. The worst part is sourcing the parts, but even then people are upgrading their Tacomas and 4Runners all the time, so they're readily available.

One word of caution though, the front control arm eccentric bolts are infamous for seizing, and that requires cutting the arms off and replacing them. If you're going to lift it, those will likely need adjusted to get the alignment in spec.

[Tyler.M]

Oil changed at 190,135.