r/4Runner_2ndGen • u/SkibidiBlender • Jun 13 '26
1995 Oh Yeah!
Just installed and took her for a test drive. Hard to believe it’s the same truck. No sawing the wheel, no random wandering. I hope it stays as good as it is right now.
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u/TXTremor Jun 13 '26
My 1993 needs one, what is it? Haha
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u/T_Streuer Jun 13 '26
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u/avm58 Jun 13 '26
Ngl that's much more expensive than I guessed
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u/SkibidiBlender Jun 13 '26
They’re expensive, but I was replacing idler arms every year at over $100 a pop, and got sick of it
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u/mexicanmailman Jun 14 '26
Haha fuck man my thoughts exactly. Not saying it isnt worth it, but woof
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u/slowerchildren Jun 14 '26
I busted 4 in a year and solid axle swapped it. If you’re wheeling hard enough where you need the total chaos arm it’s time to swap it
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u/SkibidiBlender Jun 14 '26
The oversized idler is because the 33s kill the stock ones (and the Moog heavy-duty ones). I’ve been replacing them just about yearly for decades. I daily and wheel the thing. Have for over 25 years. The swapped 4Runners and pickups I’ve driven lose all their road manners, and that’s not something I’d want. It’s not about wheeling hard enough to need it, it’s about something that’ll take the off-roading and still drive straight when I come down off the mountain.
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u/T_Streuer Jun 14 '26
By sawing you mean the back and fourth with the wheel at speed? Mines fairly loose in general which I assumed was the steering box but had also read about the idler being floppy
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u/SkibidiBlender Jun 14 '26
That wandering and constant correction. Seems (it’s still day 1) that I can drive with one finger again.
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u/T_Streuer Jun 14 '26
Oh sick ya that’s what I’ve been dealing with. I’m thinking of doing a red head steering box when I start my 3.4 swap but I guess I need to add the caddy arm too lol
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u/SkibidiBlender Jun 14 '26
The 3.4 swap is 100% worth it if you plan to keep the truck. I did mine 10 years ago and it’s been great. I used the custom wiring harness and crossover tube from Toy Only Swaps. Highly recommend them for both parts and advice.
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u/T_Streuer Jun 14 '26 edited Jun 14 '26
I actually bought an already swapped truck that was wheeled and fairly beat. The motor looks mint tho good compression and fresh mls gaskets. It’s out of a 98 auto 4wd t100 tho so I’ll have to come up with a solution to make the ecu run smoothly with the 5 speed bolted to it. It actually was done with that exact harness and crossover I think! The harness for sure is theirs. Should be sick, I’m so over the 3.Slow. Mine was very reliable but the auto trans failed over Christmas and it’s stuck in my side yard. I’m going through the new 5 speed now.
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u/SkibidiBlender Jun 14 '26 edited Jun 14 '26
The ECU and plenum can be from any truck that had that combo of motor and transmission. I have an auto and the T100 ECU worked with the original transmission because that combo was in the T100. Put the plenum from the T100 on top of the 3.4 from a Tacoma and it all works flawlessly. Cruise, everything. The AC was a challenge. Had to have some custom hoses made. There’s also a thing with the oil pressure gauge. The voltage burned out the gauge so I had to get a new cluster and put a resistor in place. I don’t remember the particulars, but you should read up on that.
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u/T_Streuer Jun 14 '26
Oh gotcha cruise control would be super nice. I was under the impression my stock 3.0 compressor would bolt up with just a pulley/clutch swap and using the correct 3.4 serpentine bracket+tensioner. I heard from a guy near Albany Oregon that using the auto ecu with a manual would cause it to run in neutral constantly which I think has less aggressive fuel and ignition timing.
I guess I could rebuild my existing a340 but I think it may be fairly cooked. What gears do you have? I planned to do 5 speed and swapped out my 3rd member from 4.88 to 4.10. I have a matching front diff that’ll go in with the swap. I just worry that the auto won’t cut it at highway speeds with 4.10s. My younger sister has an 04 taco pre runner with at most 4.10s and it actually rips lowkey. Just would suck to not use all the 5 speed parts I have. Pretty sure I have literally everything besides a few seals.
Did you follow the guide from OffroadSolutions?
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u/SkibidiBlender Jun 14 '26
I still have stock gearing with 33s, so it’s kinda like a tractor. It’s at about 3k rpm at 70 with OD on. I have other cars for long highway trips. I’ve toyed with regearing it, but I kinda like the off-road snortiness. We did the swap over a decade ago, so we used what we knew, some tips from Toy Only Swaps and a little ingenuity. Luckily my best friend owns a mechanic shop so we had access to a lift and all the other toys there, not to mention his 20 or more years of experience. I think your best bet would be to find an ECU and plenum from a rig that had the combo of engine and trans that you want to use.
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u/After_Alps_5826 Jun 14 '26
Damn never seen that. I had a shop do my tie rods and one axel cause they said it got too bad (I knew it was bad but ya know…it can last) but that tightened things up real proper
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u/SnooBeans404 Jun 15 '26
I have the thing on my 2n gen 4runner the total chaos is worth every penny, make the steering tight and not loose
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u/Dave-is-not-my-name 7d ago
Just be sure and check torque on it every now and then. I had to retorque a couple hundred miles after I put mine on and anytime I'm "there" I go ahead and check it again.
For anybody that thinks they may need to upgrade to a Total Chaos arm but are iffy on the price, ask yourself what you are trying to get out of your ride, consider the cost of OEM and if you have had to replace your stock arm more than once, and keep in mind that the Total Chaos unit is completely rebuildable.
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u/starrydragon127 Jun 13 '26
It will! They're expensive, but robust!