Truck Surgery has commenced :)

Many of you have probably been seeing some of my posts about my bad ball joints, tires, suspension, etc. Well, now after a few months of hard work and saving, I'm finally starting to bandage my truck's wounds . First off, I ordered a set of Moog ball joints from RockAuto and they just came in the mail today. Hope to get them put on tomorrow. I also have my oxygen sensor coming tomorrow and will be throwing that on that day (got tired of seeing the CEL and the stinky exhaust). But that's just small stuff. The real big thing is the suspension. Going to be ordering the full OME kit from Wheelers in about a week or two. 883 coils, nitrochargers, and Dakar leafs. Going to be doing it myself and will try to take pics. I kind of want this thread to be about my road to having a better truck. Coming from when I first got it, I've gone a long way and hope to continue fixing and upgrading in the future. Here's my ball joints:

 

How did you know you had bad ball joints? Also I would love to see pictures/ a walk through on changing them, I think I might need new ones.

Sounds like the makes for a good thread!

 

Here are mine. As you can see, there is grease leaking from them because the boots have dry rotted/ split. I get a feeling of the wheel jumping as I drive on the interstate. Loose play in steering can also be a sign I believe.

 

Good luck dude, hope everything goes well for ya!

 

Not to pimp it but here's my ebay auction for some Moog complete heavy duty strut assemblies for our Tacomas. They are beefy. I had a customer ride on them for a week while we waited on his remote res Billies and All Pro bumpers to come in.

I'd be willing to work with you on price if you're game.

 

Lol, thanks but no thanks. Heavy duty = Harsh ride to me. And my truck already rides like shit.

 

Thank you sir!

 

No worries. Good luck with building your truck. Wish I had the cash to upgrade some stuff.

 

So this is a build thread correct ?? ( & glad your doing the ball joints first )

 

Technically yes lol. And yea I think you were the one to suggest me changing them first. I was looking at pics of cars with broken bj's and looking at how mine look, I didnt want that to happen. Sadly, I dont have the time to do the ball joints myself. I have a family mechanic doing them, but everything else will be done myself. Going to try to get as many pics as possible

 

Well with me being 19, I dont really have anything to pay for other than stuff for my truck and gas lol. So really I dont have much. But its all needed as everything is original with 181k miles on them

 

Yeah good on you tho' dude, seen too many guys (myself included) ignore & put off shit like that only to pay a high price, another member here nelsonTmatt had the lower balls drop out on him ON THE FREEWAY GOING about 70mph i think he said , A scarier ride i can't imagine

 

I was always skeptical about taking mine on the interstate, esp with the bad shaking at high speeds. I stick to city only, unless its necessary to take the interstate. Yea, my mpg sucks doing that, but I'd rather have something go out on me 30-40 mph rather than 65-75 mph.

 

Just got my o2 sensor in the mail today. Installing tomorrow after work with pictures of the procedure

 

Yours didnt look quite as bad as mine did! haha

It shouldnt be to hard for lowers! just changed mine out today and went smooth other than a seized bolt hopefully you dont have that happen

 

Did yours ride stupidly? Cause mine feels downright dangerous to drive when I hit bumps or go on the interstate

 

Nah mine wasn't that bad feeling hahah I drove everyday to school at 65 with the.

 

I'm scared to drive mine at 65. Feels like the wheel is playing hop scotch lol

 

3 hours later, and I have a replaced oxygen sensor So, what you'll need is:

• A jack (nice proper jack is recommended, but a normal one will do just fine
• Work light
• PB Blaster
• Wire brush
• Shop towels
• New O2 sensor
• 12mm socket and rachet (or equivalent sized wrench)
• New nuts for O2 sensor (if yours are bad)
• Threadlock
• And a nice beverage

Step 1) Disconnect a battery terminal. There is a possibility to fry something! Also, it will reset your computer to remove the code.

Step 2) Spray the nuts with PB blaster if you haven't changed the sensor in a while. This will help with getting them off, esp if they are rusted away like mine. People say to spray it the night before but I didn't find that necessary.

Step 3) Jack up the right front/ side of the truck. Probably better to put the jack on the frame on the side, however I put it under the lower control arm. You'll need the working room if you're a bigger person like me lol.

Step 4) Grab your 12mm socket and rachet and take off the nuts holding the sensor on. Taking the sensor out of the exhaust will allow you to better disconnect the harness.

Step 5) Once you take the sensor out of the exhaust, pull it down and disconnect the harness. There's a release clip you push down. Can be difficult at first. Just be patient and it will come out. (Note: I also removed the screw keeping the harness from hitting the transmission as there is little work room in that area. This will allow the harness to swing even more freely. Just make sure to put it back when finished)

Step 6) By now, your sensor should be completely off the truck. Go ahead and take the old gasket off as you DO NOT want to put the new gasket on top of the old. If it doesn't come off easy, take a flathead screw driver and hit it loose and pull off by hand. Be careful not to damage the threads.

Step 7) Take your wire brush, and clean off the surface of the hole for the O2 sensor. Doesn't have to be perfect, just try to get most of the debris from there as you don't want it doing through your exhaust. Then take a shop towel/wrag/paper towel and wipe off excess debris.

Step 8) Grab your new sensor and put the sensor itself. Easier to work with the harness if the sensor isn't swinging around. If you can re-use the nuts, you can use them, however I would suggest new nuts. I also used lock washers to make sure they don't come off. Connect the harness after.

Step 9) Lower your truck, put your tools up, and start up your engine. Check engine light will be off and you'll be a happy person. Let it run for a little while and let the computer adjust itself and to make sure your CEL doesn't come on again.

Step 10) Step back, crack open your beverage of choice, and feel accomplished

 

Couldn't figure out how to put the pictures as part of the body of the text, so here they are