My 2005 Tacoma Needs Some Work, Help Appreciated

Hi Everyone,

Just brought home my 2005 Tacoma and it needs some work. I am hoping you guys can push me in the right direction to get the work I need done. I had to get a safety inspection on it before I can register it and they came up with a few things and some I want to do myself.

First thing I need is to figure out how hard it is to replace the rear axle seals. Apparently both of them are leaking and now I need to replace all the brakes as well. I plan to do this myself and hoping someone has some experience with this and can lead me in the right direction.

Second thing that seems to be a bit of a job is the intermediate steering column is worn out and needs to be rebuilt or replaced.

Needs a new muffler. The guy that owned it before me thought it sounded better without. Sounds terrible. I hope I can do this myself but most likely going to be too hard with the age of the truck.

This is all I need done for the safety inspection. Problem is I have new bumpers for both front and rear I want to install right away but I am going to wait until its on the road legally.

Is there an area on here I can get a service manual? I am hoping to do a lot of work on this myself, TIME PERMITTING. I really want to get the safety over with so I can start installing bumpers over the Christmas Break.

Thanks in advance. And any tips or suggestions please let me know. This forum has been so great for information. The whole reason I purchased this Tacoma was from all the information I found on here.

 

Bump, I think.

 

Go to an auto parts store and buy a Haynes or Chilton manual, if available. They are not the greatest, but they contain the bulk of what you need to know, and they are not too expensive.

I have never pulled the axles on a Toyota, but as far as the brakes, buy a good set from a reputable company. The cheap brake shoes crack and separate, don't even bother with these. They are pretty straight forward to install, just remember where each component goes. Also, get a brake drum hardware kit. Brake springs stretch and corrode over time. Hardware kits are cheap and they contain all the springs, seats and pins for the job.

 

Thanks NM Lance.

 

The brake lines will need to be disconnected to remove the axles and the system will need to be bled once you are done.
Since you are in the rust belt like me, you may have problems with the bleeder screws being rusted and snapping off. Be prepared for this so when it happens, you won't be surprised. You can spray then down with your favorite penetrating fluid but you may need to deal with replacing a wheel cylinder. Not a big deal if you are already replacing the brake shoes.

 

Here instead of a chilton or haynes manual:

http://www.customtacos.com/tech.old/files/05FSM/repair.html

The rear axle seals are a bit of a pain in the rear since you have to press the wheel bearings off the axles. I'd pull the assemblies yourself, and have someone press them for you.

If stock exhaust is OK with you, look on Castanet of Kijiji classifieds - I've seen complete cat-back stock systems for dirt cheap quite a few times.

 

I know you from other forums, I think HuntingBC. I haven't been on there in a while.

Thanks for the info, I bookmarked that page. Great information.

I think the rear axle seals in the 2005 do not need to have the bearings pressed off. I think the generation before needed to have the bearings pressed off but the 2cnd gen do not. I just watched a youtube video and it looks pretty easy. I am going to give it a try this weekend I hope. If the wife gives me some time. We shall see. LOL!!!

I want a stock sound on this Tacoma. The guy that owned it before must have been deaf. It sounds terrible. I can't seem to find any exhaust on Castanet right now and I need to get this done for the out of province inspection. I might just pay to get it done.

Thanks for the reply and any tips or suggestions are greatly appreciated.

 

Yup, thought your username looked familiar. Maybe you're right on the seals - I haven't had to mess with mine, but did one on a first gen tundra last year and thought they were the same. Good luck.