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

You just aged your truck 35 years with that mod. Now you need faux wood strips on the outside to complete the Tacoma Squire look:

 

Now I know what is supposed to be there on my truck. I should check out the local stealerships.

 

I know I'm a bit partial to classics. Wifey started singing "I'm a lumberjack" song when she saw it.

 

Wow $40? They are worth twice that in aluminum scrap.

 

Do you park in the shade a lot? That's what really kills the rubber.

 

Yeah. Hell of a deal. I wasn't even looking to buy rims for my truck. I was looking for rims/wheels for my daughter's car. When these popped up on CL, I knew that I had to grab them.

 

Did my own satoshi grille with the help of my father. Gonna spray the emblem on today and install it!

 

So. Replaced my brake rotors and pads yesterday. Went smooth. Brakes work wayyyy better now. Actually, had to take some brake fluid out cause I added some a while back thinking it had lost it, when it actually just used more since the cylinders had to travel further. However, I discovered three things:

1. My driver side tire looks like it was made of playdoh. It's oddly shaped and worn. Most likely from the bad shocks. Which I had replaced one... But hadn't had the time to do the other yet.. So after I replace that shock, I'll buy a new tire. Lame.

2. The noise I've been hearing, which I first thought was my shock, then thought was my brakes, is actually my wheel bearing. As the flange makes a grinding sound when I turn it. It also wobbles. Unfortunately, after googling, YouTubing the crap out of it and reviewing the factory service manual. I've come to the conclusion it has to be replaced by a shop. As I lack the tools and - more importantly - the time to do it myself. It's gonna cost me over $500 bucks. Very upsetting.

3. I also need to replace the joints on my steering rack pinion. Both have some play and the one's rubber boot tore open. But no way I'm adding to the bill, I'll do those myself. Soonish.

I suppose this is what happens with a truck going on 289k miles, most of which were on a gravel and dirt road.

 

I have one, 2003.

 

Yes, the holes to mount the handle are behind the trim piece. I got the new trim piece and handle off eBay and did this a while back since my 01 also didn't come with a driver's side handle.

 

X2

 

So was this the rear end? I have been chasing a loud low speed rattle sound in the rear end for several months and I'm pretty sure I've isolated it to the rear wheel bearings.

 

This is my front passenger side wheel. Started out as an occasional rattle. Now it is loud and constant. Toyota made it a major bitch to fix too.

 

Rotated my tires Friday, got a little bit of shake in the steering wheel at about 45+. Probably gonna rotate em how they were and see if they straighten out.

 

Changed out my idler pulley bearing. $7 thru Amazon. 15 minutes to remove pulley, punch out old bearing, punch in new bearing and install rebuilt pulley.

Only specialized tools needed is a snap ring plyer.

 

I think I might have to change mine. It's squeaking a lot. That's on the same belt as the power steering pump right?

 

Yes it is. Its easy to reach from the bottom. You might have to remove the section of fan shroud on the bottom. I took mine off years ago.

 

Thanks for the heads up. It's one of the things o the list.

 

Ditto

 

Well, I just kinda wasted an hour.

I was going to finally do the dash LEDs.

I got as far as removing the cluster trim panel and couldnt complete.
The @#$@#$@#$ POS aftermarket CC stalk is about an inch inboard on the left side upper trim panel for the steering column.
The lever is stopping me from removing the cluster trim panel.
I will have to remove it before I do the dash LEDs.

I did order a salvage wheel with CC this week.

On the positive side"

1) It isnt that hard
2) I got experience doing it
2.5) I left a few screws loose to ease the work next time. Of course this means I will lose then and curse myself for being an idiot later.
3) I removed the remnant of the aftermarket lights the PO had installed, that being a switch sticktaped to the fuse panel and some wires going to the engine compartment, including the ground wire. So now I know where have an interior grounding location,
4) I also removed the ashtray mount, since a Paranoid switch plate is going in there.
5) I might have found the issue with the aftermarket mike on the Pioneer unit. The connector was a little bit loose, I will test it later.