What have you done to your 5th Gen 4Runner today?

Finally did a tranny fluid change but I’m not liking what I see. I used the bucket method where you drain into a bucket then mark the level. Fill the trans with 3-4 quarts. Pull off the return line and attach a hose then run it to the bucket. Run the engine until the level drained gets to the mark (30 seconds in my case) then turn the engine off and fill the trans with another 3-4 quarts. Of course everything when wrong for me while doing it. My Motive Poverfill hose burst and I had to remove all my skids to do the work but had to anyway to repaint them and do the diffs. All in all I changed 3 gallons. The AT hoses are weird because they come from the trans, go up then back down to the cooler. The lower hose from the rear of the trans is the return and I just followed it. I’m at like 93K miles on the first change because I was lazy.

Mess:



Bucket line:



Return line:



Fluid condition after 2 cycles:

Hi everyone, I just ordered my last part for the lift kit and Im about to install it. I have a question and would love to hear your opinion...

I have a Toyota certified technician who will install the kit with me! However, I will not be able to do the alignment same day. In fact, I will have to wait 3 days to do it. Is it ok to drive it home super slow, park it for 3 days and drive it to the alignment center slow also? do you see a major problem doing that?

My second option is there is also and certified technician at a different Toyota location and he will install it at the shop after hours but he wants me to leave the car there for 3 days or more but he will do the alignment as soon as he installs the lift kit. I don't want to leave my car for 3 or more days in the shop because,
A) I want to know and see how the kit is installed
B) I will need to rent while the car is in the shop and it will cost me +$200 extra.

What do you think? is it ok to install it with the first guy and then do the alignment in another time frame?

There are plenty of opinions out there, but you know what they say about opinions...
Some say do it right away, some say do it whenever you get around to it. The most common response I have seen though is drive it to settle the springs about 100-200 miles. I don't know if there is any real data behind that. Just the most common response I've seen. Obviously, if there are driveability issues, don't drive it til you align. In the end it's your call

yes you’ll be fine. Mark the cam alignment bolts before loosening things up so you can get it back to where it was prelift to get you by for the 3 days. Did the same with mine when i did the lift kit in my garage. I did put 100 miles on the new lift before taking it for alignment. Just my $.02