Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

Replaced the front brakes today. There was maybe 3mm of pad left, but with the couple of trips in the next couple of months, I figured I didn't want a pad disintegrating somewhere on a trail. Rotors looked good but were worn, I didn't bother to measure.

edit: 105k...it was time.

 

Yep that's my first guess.

Normal for first run vehicles. Happened with the Tundra too.

Originals are 3mm? That's pretty good! Mine were at... Um.... Damn near 0mm at 80,000

 

When you drop the spare turn it over so the valve points down.

 

I don't use my brakes much, brakes only slow you down. When I do, it tends to be short, fairly hard bursts. I've said it before, I drive like an asshole.

 

Yup! Same reason, same place-thats why I did mine last weekend

 

Mine at 80,000. For some stupid reason these have been on the workbench for 3 months

 

Based on a few things I've read on the 4Runner forum, the neutral safety switch sounds like good possibility.

What are the odds that is also what's causing the display on the dash (gear indicator)to act up?

The part that supports the tire doesn't fit if it's face down.

 

They have asbestos in them. Best to yeet them into the trash.

Lot of lights on the dash will illuminate if signal is lost elsewhere. Safety feature, lot of systems will disable if something related to them isn't working or getting signal.

 

The tire is round how does the "support" know if its this way or that?

 

The "pretty side" has the recesses for the lug nuts. The back side is flat. The support doesn't fit in the recesses.

 

The pretty side of the wheel has recesses for the lug nuts and pretty bits. The backside is flat. The support doesn't fit in the recesses on the pretty side.

 

I could have sworn that part was the same part as the tundra, taco and Highlander. Apparently it's different on the 4Runner?

 

I guess I've never actually tried. But, the support has a tab that fits into the back side of a lug opening. I don't think it would fit as nicely in the larger opening on the front of the wheel.

Either way, it's no big deal to drop the spare to top it off. And, it's a good idea to lower it occasionally to check that the mechanism is working properly.

 

Right. But, the issue with the dash not displaying the selection gear has been on and off for awhile, and the other lights just came on yesterday afternoon. So, I wasn't sure if it was related, or two separate issues.

Have you replaced a neutral safety switch on these? I'm curious how big/small of a job it is.

 

I've done a few on other vehicles, including several Nissan's. Was never a huge deal.

 

If you guys had matching spare and did a 5 way rotation this wouldn't be a problem... Or, like 35's man! This.

 

Sounds like it's time to trade up.

 

Yerp

 

I have a matching spare and I do a 5 tire rotate. Spare gets aired-up to 42 psi before being tucked away. The chain support and gear gizmo gets a shot of fluid film to ensure the damn thing keeps on keepin' on.

 

I do have a matching spare. I'll pass on the 5 wheel rotation, though.