What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

Got the lifetime alignment done at my local Firestone. Buddy is a tech there and had no problem doing it even with Light Racing upper control arms.

 

New brake pads?

 

I thought they were included as well. Dan emailed me saying they are installed on the springs, but I don't see them. I see what looks like a bushing, but it's only about an 1/8" thick. Maybe that's it and I'm dumb, but I don't see how it would be snug on the shackle bolt that way.

 

? Nope, this is about grinding the caliper to clear most 15" rims on a 2003 Tacoma.

 

Yeah, not too impressed by their sidewall durability that's for sure. Had a set of Duratracs prior that i had run on these trails 5-6 times without issue at lower PSI.

Dropped the tire off at the local Discount Tire, i'm out $33 for a new warranty on the replacement, and 3-4 days of driving on the spare while i wait for the new one to arrive and be siped.

 

I have just about the exact same setup with 15x8 wheels but with 33x12.50 KM2's. I put 1/4" wheels spacers up front but I'd much prefer to just slightly grind the caliper. Could you take a pic of your calipers by any chance?

 

If you grind the rimsthemselfs you won't have to worry about replacing a frozen caliper. Won't effect balancing and if you paint them right they won't rust.

 

Depending on the kind of shackle, they will come with a metal sleeve that goes over the bolt. Are your shackles greasable?

 

I feel like I'd prefer to do the caliper as it would be a lot easier. If I did the wheel I'd have to grind a whole lot more, plus I'd have to do all 4 wheels just so I can rotate the tires versus grinding a little bit on 2 calipers.

 

Yea takes more time now. 15 mins a wheel. But get a frozen caliper and try to change it on a trail. I feel its worth the extra time to be able to just slap stock parts on and never worry about it.

 

yeah you can take a grinder to your wheels all you want. I would rather take my chances with a caliper failing rather than my rim failing doing 70 down the highway

 

I know of several people killing Duratrac sidewalls though. I'm still impressed with mine and have seen them take beatings. I just had some bad luck and took damage in the same spot twice. I'm going for the kevlar sidewalls next though just to see how they hold up. A lot of people like the MTR's better than the KM2's.

 

Rims are solid steel your grinding the dimple on the back. The reason the pro comps don't rub is they cut out the hole. Cragar uses a dimple die. There is no way in hell it would structurally effect the wheel. However bringing your caliper to thin could cause it to fail. I'd rather put in time than lose pressure in my brakes. Where you grind is very thin and many people have gone through and hit oil. I don't like fucking with safety systems.

 

I wanted to grind my calipers down to fit 15's but have never been brave enough to even attempt it... I am also a 2nd gen so I have more grinding to do than you guys...

 

Yep they're greasable with zerk fittings. I'll double check when I get off work.

 

you see brakes as a safty system, I see wheel structure as an important feature. but ill just keep my mickey thompsons and never worry about this

 

Nothing beats the correct rim for sure. But im just saying that trimming a tenth of an inch off of the back of dimple on a wheel that adds to zero structural integrity is better than brakes.

 

Someone should just make low profile brakes for these trucks

 

EDIT: nevermind.

 

A dual caliper setup that was more low-profile would allow 15's to clear without hurting braking power I imagine. Would be a pain to install though I bet. haha