The Getaway...Crom's build and adventures

got pics?

 

wait.... people pay $50 for steelies??? i got a bunch lying around!

 

I found you!

As it turns out, the Death Valley trip loosened the passenger core support / radiator bushing bolt. I also missed these bolts prior to my departure, so they never got retorqued or the paint pen treatment. Fawk!

Symptoms were dull thuds and pops while chassis flexing while turning in and out of sloped driveways, some speed bumps, etc.

I tightened it good and tight and my truck drives like a million bucks again!

These are the radiator support bushings I put in last August. I love these things so much, that if I could only recommend one mod for under $30, this would be it.



These are the tore up factory ones that came out.

 

I have the bushings on the bench and need to install them. There's a lot of discussion on what way to approach the installation meaning large one on top or on the bottom. I'm going to try to get it done this weekend. Thanks.

 

Look! Popcorn in a truck! I'd wheel it!

I will if I can, I think.

Even with all the feedback I've gotten from others. I am still not sure it will work.

I've been in contact with Total Chaos and they've invited me to their shop to test fit the wheel. But they're 100 miles away.

So still working on it.

Yes he does, and it looks really cool!

Sold one in the last two years for $50, I got a lot of calls for the ad I ran on Craigslist. Hoping this next one goes fast too.

 

Let me know what you want for the stock rims. I might be interested in taking them off your hands.

 

Total Chaos tour!

 

So after seeing this post I decided to order some speed bleeders but the pictures are misleading. I ordered the brass ones and they only come one to a box not 2 per package like shown lol

 

Nice. I got derekabrahams (old member in SDO) set for the same price, no rash, just crappy center caps like that I refinished....

 

I've ran the ES universal bushings both ways. My advice is to run it with the bigger bushing on top, with the bigger washer on top.

I skipped the big washer on my install, and nothing bad has happened to my truck and I've really pushed the truck off road. Because of the debate/discussion about the universal bushings I talked to ES support over the phone and I asked them why the washer on top, they said something to the effect that it was there to protect the urethane. When I pressed them further for details, the rep didn't really have any more answers.

I always encourage everyone to do their own research, I can tell you that I have spoke to Energy Suspension and Prothane tech support about body bushings, and both DO NOT recommend applying lube to the bushings where they touch the washer. However, you can grease the internal metal sleeves if you desire.

Now let's take a bit of time to look at why my bolt self loosened. Years ago I absorbed a bit of knowledge from a site called boltscience.com They've published a fantastic article on why threaded fasteners self loosen. I highly recommend it.

Here is a relevant quote:

This is exactly the type of joint where the objects being clamped together, will vibrate and try to move parallel to the bolt / nut face.

Anyways, the bushings are a huge upgrade over stock.

Roger that!

I'd give them a phone call and see what's up. Those pics were from the packs I got when I did mine, so maybe they changed something.

 

Amazing restoration of the caps! What technique did you use? I've been pondering what to do about them. I remember Derek and his funny avatar too.

 

This is getting higher on my list. I hate the stock...things...in the rails, and was wondering if this would be a straight swap without much fuss. Of course, securing the cap with a differ style of J hook would be necessary.

 

It was Duplicolor + clear. I think I have more pics somewhere that includes the cans/codes. I'll have to look for them tonight. It was a bitch trying to match that silver, and I agonized over two different shades in the parking lot at Autozone for 10 minutes. I think the shade I chose ended up being a tad lighter than I would have liked, but I am probably the only one who will notice it after staring too long.

 

I'm half that distance away from them and have stock wheels available. Are you trying to test fit the stock wheel or the 4R wheel you just got?

 

Very good, thanks for the link!! Looking forward to seeing your tires mounted up on your new wheels. I've been checking out the 16x7.5 - 6 spoke TRD FJ wheels. I like sticking with OEM Toyota wheels. Thanks again for the bushing advice.

 

It will probably will never happen for me, but if you can manage the time (lol ) , do what ModoDave did on his Tundra: MotoDave on ExPo, in his Tundra - Bed Rail Alternative thread.

Thanks. I was going to be lazy and try without the caps, and if that's unsightly / ugly, then rattle can them black. But your post has given me hope. Did you sand them a little bit before painting?

Thanks. It's the 4runner wheels.

Thanks. I ordered all new Denso TPMS sensors to go in the wheels. I found them for $31 each and I'm good with that.

Once those arrive I'll get tires swapped over and things trimmed.


In other news.... I talked to James at the SD Truck Shop and got a quote ($250) for the mighty SD Truck shop spindle reinforcement. Surprisingly, if I brought the spindles in, my cost isn't that much more compared to the TC + welding cost.

They might be overkill for my rig... But sometimes, that's not a bad thing.



Thank you Chris, @nfs257 Matt, @lembowski

 

Yes, I'm sure I did, I was concerned that given their location and wear, there would be all sort of mystery stuff on them at a molecular level that could lead to coating failure.

I think I sanded with something pretty fine (3M auto stuff), then used alcohol to clean, especially inside the logo/ring where sanding is pretty much impossible but the coating was still basically intact. I like to think that I also used adhesion promoter, then primer, then at least two coats of paint if not three, then 3 coats of clear, again, given their environment close to the road surface and flying debris.

I hope I caught some of this in my other pics. I usually try to.

EDIT. Also, thanks again for the track link, added to my list in my build.

 

This is how I'll walk into my job interview on Monday. Srsly.

https://youtu.be/rLBUd3r1y3I

 

Hope it goes well Crom!! Wish ya luck!!