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

did you use Moog?

 

Moog was used last year, the grease boot tore almost right away so I saw it coming. All aftermarket parts are going back to OEM with the exception of the UCA hardware. Including the steering rack when it comes time.

 

I agree. I've made plate bumpers both front and rear and I dont think it should cost as much as it does to make one. Especially if you have a plasma table where all the parts are just cut out then you weld them together.

 

Anybody know what the stock lift height is at the wheel? I was at about 36" (wheel well) before I installed the ADS coilovers but I also have 31" tires which are slightly larger than stock.

I'm just about ready to dial in the front and rear lift heights and I'm not really sure where to set it for say 2" or 2.5" of target lift.

Also, what is considered a "level" reference line for OEM front-to-rear lift? I was thinking the top of the frame or perhaps the top of the bed rail. I had some bad sag in the rear so again I can't really say what it would normally be.

TIA

 

Making a part of the suspension takes a lot more work. The geometery is crucial. You also have to basically build jigs for everything to keep things from warping when welding them up. It takes a lot of work to make them right.

 

Set the front so the boots of the CVs don't rub. That's your best bet.

Stock has about 1'' of rake so if you want that look make the rear about 1-1.5'' higher than the front.

 

Not surprised. Moog sucks. Was not impressed with the LBJs i got from them. OEM was night and day difference.

 

That's true.

 

That's true.

 

x2

 

I started a thread for it. Maybe we can get some real traction going.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/stock-width-replacment-lca.392612/

 

I am definitely noticing the differences. Longevity for one. I don't expect the OEM parts to last 200,000 miles with a lift and spirited wheeling, but I would like to see 50,000 miles minimum out of them under normal to above normal use. Less than 20,000 miles on the aftermarket parts was pitiful at best. for an extra $50.00-$100.00 per part I feel it's worth it to get some time out of it. My time is worth something too.

 

FIFY

 

32x11.50

 

I have 1 1/4" lift set in the front(maybe an actual inch I forgot to measure before hand) and from ground to fender flare I have 36 3/4" & 37 and in the rear I have 1" of lift and 37 3/4 & 38". That's with 32" tall tires and rake. Shoot for same numbers front and rear for level. So if you want 2" of lift shoot for 37" all around.

 

Checked my valve shim clearance, only 1 was out of spec at 173k miles. I'm impressed. Not to mention happy that the thing is so clean inside. For an 03 with that many miles the PO really was on top of oil changes apparently. Should I worry about driving around with a .008 exhaust valve? I know it's not great but how bad is it really? All others were well withing spec.

 

I've had mine checked recently and I had a couple of the exhaust valves that were right at the lower end of spec. All of the rest were within spec.
I have 191,000 miles on the truck now and I'll check again at 200k.

 

Wow that is clean. You do a compression check?

 

My compression tester is really crap, and only goes past 154 when it wants to, not sure why it does that, but it does. So I did the check twice to get accurate readings when the gauge actually worked. With all the plugs out it read these #s on dry compression test. I really want to check the oil pressure but I hear rumors these things idle at like 5 lbs of pressure, and seeing that on a gauge would freak me out, so I haven't checked. I'm super anal engine maintenance wise, and seeing low numbers is my nightmare unless it's temperature or AF ratio under boost, but that's for my other rig, not the taco, sadly.
1: 175 psi
2: 168 psi < unsure of why that one is lower, it read lowest consistently. Not low enough to concern me really, but strange.
3: 178 psi
4: 173 psi

 

Looks really nice compared to what mine was a few weeks ago. You are fine with those numbers. My #2 was the lowest but I'm at 120 on my cyl 2. Head is coming off for me since the leak down was through the valve. I'm sure that cyl is just the hardest working one in the motor. I do abuse my motor pretty good though.