Starting the sound proofing
09/24/2022
A few days after the suspension install, I finally got the 4Runner aligned. The steering wheel was straight again, the front suspension was back within spec, and after putting roughly 100 miles on the new setup, I felt comfortable calling the lift officially complete.
At least for now.
Overall, I was pretty happy with it. The truck looked dramatically better, drove well, and didn't have any obvious issues. There would be plenty of time later to obsess over suspension geometry, ride quality, and whether I had chosen the right springs. For the moment, I was just enjoying it.
With the lift checked off the list, I started the day the same way many of my projects seem to begin: wandering around a junkyard looking for parts.
A local yard had a 2001 4Runner in inventory, and I was still hunting for factory fog lights. Unfortunately, I struck out on the fog lights but didn't leave empty-handed. I managed to grab a set of Limited fender flares and a pair of taillights that looked significantly better than mine. Or so I thought.
After getting them home, cleaning them up, and spending some time buffing the lenses, I discovered that Toyota had changed the bulb configuration for the later model years. Rather than creating a wiring project for myself, I decided these would probably end up on eBay instead.
The fender flares were another story. I wasn't entirely sure how I was going to mount them, and after holding them up to the truck, I began to suspect the Limited flares weren't actually what I wanted. The Sport Edition flares were probably the better choice, but at least these gave me something to experiment with while I figured out the direction I wanted to go.
Back at home, I turned my attention to a box that had been sitting unopened in the garage for over a week. Sound deadening material.
The more I drove the 4Runner, the more I realized that Toyota's definition of "sound insulation" in the late 1990s was a little different than mine. Road noise wasn't terrible, but there was definitely room for improvement. I started with the front doors, applying sound deadening material to every reasonably accessible panel while making sure not to cover drain holes, fasteners, or anything else I might need later. A roller handled the larger flat areas, while a trim tool helped press material into the tighter corners. Once the sound deadening was installed, I moved on to the closed-cell foam.
This was my first time working with it, and if I'm being honest, I probably should have spent more time researching installation techniques before getting started. I used smaller sections and patches rather than larger continuous pieces, which may not have been the most effective approach. Still, even if it wasn't perfect, it certainly wasn't going to make things worse. By the time I finished the front doors, I was out of both energy and motivation. The rear doors, cargo area, and everything else would have to wait for another day.