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

Probably better than new haha

 

Haha, maybe.

It is a funky design. I suspect it will happen again.

 

So I got around to installing the suspension lift this weekend. Without further ado, here's some pics.


My little helper



This bolt caused much problems. Couldn't get it out. Tried heat and everything. I had to leave due to fire fighter obligations and my friend cut it out while I was away. However, in the process he nicked the boot! Had I known that tons of grease would gush out of it on the way home I would have tried harder to patch it at his house. Needless to say, it's now wrapped in duct tape. Sometimes you gotta learn the hard way.


Other side went a lot smoother.




I read somewhere that the All-pro leafs rust up pretty quick so I gave them a coat of rocker guard Saturday night.


Old broken leaf pack


New vs. Old




All done for this weekend. Still need to do the BAMF bvp bracket, braided brake line, and now a new CV boot! (Yes, I know that the tube running boards suck and can actually cause lots of damage but the wife insists on keeping them on. Some day I will get sliders...someday.)

Big thanks to my little helper, Pat, and The Gear Shop and anyone who's write-ups I've read to figure out how to do all this.


Notes:
-Pre-install measurements were 37" in the front and 36.5" in the rear from floor to fender. Post-install measurements were 37" in the front (had a 2" leveling lift before) and 39" in the back. The truck has quite a bit of rake.
-The ride is VERY smooth . It doesn't feel like the same truck!
-Had to cut out one of the front spring eye bolts. Had purchased some knowing that it might come to this.
-Broke one of the grease nipples on the OME greasable shackles tightening it in. D'OH! Will need to find a new one.
-Found that the bottom bolt on the sway bar links were easier to remove than the top bolt.

 

Here's a few wheeling pics from this weekend and a few things I learned:
1. Need LCA skids. On several occasions, I hit and nicked my LCA's. Thankfully, there was no real damage but that's something waiting to happen.
2. When I regear, need to look at an ARB for the rear. Having a non-TRD hasn't limited me yet but there are a few pics and videos where I have a front tire off the ground spinning. I also got stuck in one area when my open diffs left me spinning my tires.
3. High clearance bumpers and a winch. I rubbed my front bumper in a few areas and the rear hitch slammed down on a few rocks. Adding approach and departure clearances will help alot with that.
4. The OME lift flexes very nice. The rear has a very nice amount of flex and the IFS isn't too bad but there were occasions where I left a tire in the air.

 

Hell, let's just trade trucks. That will solve the issues.

 

Tempting but then again, everything on my truck works.

 

I installed a Dakota Digital SGI-5c to correct my speedometer. It read 60mph, GPS said 69. Install was daunting at first but it was easier than expected. It is dead on now, great product but the instructions aren't taComa specific. I used the following write up, took about 2 hours due to reading, wrenching and programming. I also fixed my steering play and rattle. It was very annoying to feel that bump and shake of the steering wheel every time I backed out of the drive way or hit a pothole or something. I used this write up (post #43 shorcut). Total time 45 min. My truck's steering feels brand new! Highly recommend this one for every taComa.

 

Why not just change out the gear in the transfer case? $20 part from Toyota and takes 5 minutes to change.

 

This is what I've always wondered but haven't had a need to research it yet. On my TJ, all I needed to do to recalibrate my speedometer was to swap a plastic gear in the t-case which read the rear output shaft for speed.

 

A long story short, it was easier in the end.

Long story longer, I'm a Rook! Upon buying my truck I did a quick search and found that this would work and many other taComa owners had done the same. So I bought one and finally got around to it this weekend. I read a couple of days later (after purchasing the unit online) that you could achieve the same results by changing the gear you speak of. I stopped in at the local Yota dealer, after talking with the young lady at the desk and I sat in the customer service area for 20 min or so waiting for someone who knew what I was talking about to come out and tell her what part I needed. Their ASE Master mechanic came out and said I would need a different gear but he wasn't sure which one due to the non stock tires (33's). He couldn't even say that it would be accurate. He was impatient and grumbled about lifting trucks brings more problems, yada yada yada So I stuck with the DD.

 

Post #42 shortcut, for anyone looking.

 

I attempted to fit a 33 tooth gear in the transfer case. It was a no-go. Haven't tried a 32 tooth yet but I'd still be sitting high on the speedo with my 285/75r16s and 4.56 gears, by about 1.5%.

 

tomtom, what is the make of your front bumper! That thing is sharp!

 

Went from this:


To this:


Because of this:


I've read all over this forum and others that you don't need to replace the rear brake line if you do a lift in the back (bull crap). The deavers in the rear (with one leaf removed) articulate enough that the axle was pulling the stock brake line tight.

So for all those out there that don't think you need to replace the rear brake line after lifting it...double check it and make sure you are right. Maybe mine was special, but this is a pretty common lift (deavers and OME shocks in the rear).

 

I swapped gears in my 97. I had to "tap" the gear into the transfer case, but it worked great. I have 4.56 gears and 33s as well. Look at my build for # of teeth.

 

Elite offroad.

Good luck ever getting one haha

 

It seems they are busy, as they should be with great looking bumpers like ya'lls. Maybe they'll catch up on orders or whatever else has stopped/slowed the production.

 

Very true aha glad I got my piece of history

 

This was yesterday, but swapped the Wheeler's 5 pack for Dakars. Stance is back where I need it for loads and towing (about an inch + of rake), less body roll, and the consistency between front (881) and rear ride quality is outstanding.

And squeaks gone.

And I didn't put the rear flaps back on yet. Still need to swap in a different BPV relocate, and will finally do the rear diff breather mod before the trip.