Oregon and Washington BS thread

Anybody got any leads for a good shop (PDX area) who does work on Toyota's? I am looking to replace my lower ball joints and inner & outer tie rods. Any references would be appreciated, as I don't have any weekends off for the next two weeks and i'd like it done before months end!

-Mason

 

Unless your mechanic is differentfrom the ones I've talked to, lower ball joints don't get replaced. Toyota instructions say throw the entire arm out and replace with new. That's why I tried doing it myself, and I've learned how big of a pain it is, mainly because the part is designed such that pressing out the BJ is difficult and dangerous. There's no real surface on the LCA to press against, and it doesn't fit in a regular shop press due to its weird shape (you can get it in there at an angle and hope the press doesn't shoot your part out sideways)

Looks like I now have a partner for the LCA quest

 

He's got a first gen which I believe were replaceable

 

Hey all, checking in from Western MT. Getting hitched in August and I think we're doing the honeymoon through Oregon, wondering if you guys have any tips on cool places to check out/off-road or trail ride/camp. We'll be starting in late August, I think we're gonna head West out of Missoula, make our way over toward Bend and stay a day or two, head West maybe through Eugene ending up in Newport. From there we figure we'll head back up along the coast North toward Cannon Beach or Seaside, probably clear up to Astora before meandering back East. Not exactly sure how we're proceeding from there - probably up toward Seattle and back East on I-90, or it seems like the more scenic route should be over across highway 12 to Yakima/Kennwick, back up through Spokane toward home.

Still need to iron out the route, not opposed to backroads/gravel/dirt roads or any of that, so if anyone has advice on routes, places to stop or camp, cool wheeling spots, that would be awesome. We have a couple sporadic reservations at hotels/bed and breakfasts so there's a few places we need to be at certain times but other than that want to wing it and see some cool shit in the PNW.
Thanks!

 

First gens are replaceable and in most peoples eyes a regular maintenance item around every 80k miles.

They are frustrating, but doable in a few hours easy (including tie rods)
just need a couple jacks and a few tools...

Probably could have done a mod day to do them when Mike did his tie rods.
as far as a reputable shop, I don't have any in the beav/hills/pdx area but if you are near scappoose, Warren Automotive and Dave's Automotive are good shops.

Warrens does alignments as well.


Speaking of mod day... anyone around savvy with metal work? I've basically exnayed a hard shell as it is just not reasonable for the price, unless i got a cheap one with a build around rack. but i don't fancy the look of that.

so i'm now thinking of a softtop with the build around rack... I already have a rack that I like but the mounting is not suitable for a soft shell. I would need to basically widen the footing to the outside edge of the bed rail instead of the inside, knowing how metal works I imagine this would weaken it.

So i'm guessing it would be best to sell my rack (goddamnit I really like it) and have a new one built?

 

Looking for suggestions on value of my truck for private party resale, going to be looking for an SUV in the next few months. If you have any ideas on places on TW I can post this to get some numbers I would appreciate it. 133k miles on truck, no hard wheeling, mostly a DD and a expo rig. Details below on truck:

Engine/Drivetrain:
3.4 V6
Automatic
K&N CAI (on when purchased)
Vortex throttle body spacer (on when purchased)
Stock gearing

Suspension:
Icon Coilovers Standard travel
REMOVED - Icon External Reservoir rear shocks
REMOVED - Icon AAL
REMOVED - All-Pro 3" leaf pack
OME Dakar Leaf pack
OME D6XL AAL
REMOVED - All-Pro 1.5" shackles
Daystar 1.25 inch shackles
BAMF BPV bracket
Wheelers extended rear brake line
Wheelers front brake lines
Trail gear U-Bolt flip kit
4 Crawler axle relocate
Front diff drop
OME sport rear shocks - relocated with new crossmember
REMOVED - Timbrens rear bumps (too big IMO)

Wheels/Tires:
285/75/16 Duratracs
Stock spare steelies painted black
1.25" BORA/Motorsport Tech wheel adapters
285/75/16 Duratrac spare

Armor/Protection:
Elite front winch bumper with local fabricator added hoops
BAMF kick out sliders
Crawl2Run Skids
CBI rear swingout bumper with Scepter gas can, Hi-Lift, fold out table, shovel

Interior Misc:
RAM mount GPS windshield mount
iPhone windshield mount
two fire extinguishers mounted beside rear seats
Wet Okole seat covers front/rear cordura seat cover
Wheelskins perforated steering wheel cover
seat belt cutter/glass breaker mounted on drivers door inside
Maglite
Paranoid Fabrication 6 switch under stereo mount for switches

Exterior Misc:
REMOVED - 40mm? ammo can secured to bed and locked closed for recovery gear and flares
REMOVED - Delta 32" truck box for tools, spare CV etc
47" toolbox in rear or bed
Small air compressor VIAIR 85P
Softopper soft top canopy
Wilderness trail roof rack
4 TREDs mounted on roof rack (now in toolbox)
Yakima roof rack bars
Grillcraft grill
Trail gear rear frame plates welded on
Trail gear rear box kit plates welded on

Lighting/Electrical:
Rats nest of wiring under hood
REMOVED - PIAA fogs in bumper
AVEC Optiks series spot lights in front bumper
REMOVED Hella 700FF lights on bumper with 130 watt bulbs
AVEC 19" lightbar on front bumper
Hella Module 70 back up lights in rear bumper
REMOVED Hella Module 70's on roof rack pointed to rear/side
AVEC 6 LED pods on roof rack pointed to rear/side
In cab winch controls
OTRATTW laser etched switches
Pioneer HU with dual usb input, iPod and iPhone
Uniden 520XL CB in ashtray location
4' Firestik antenna
dual power outlets in bed (now in toolbox)
Inverter
REMOVED - SlimCubby HID's
REMOVED - AVEC LED headlights
REMOVED - Sylvania SilverStar headlights
Philips X-treme Ultinon LED Bulb headlights
AVEC LED turnsignals, brake lights, 3rd brake lights, parking lights, reverse lights, dome lights, nav lights

Recovery Gear:
Tree strap
Tow strap
Snap recovery strap
Warn M8000 winch
Steel hawse fairlead
Multiple sections of chain
Snatch block
shackles - 8-10 too many
rear receiver shackle mount
48" Hi Lift
Shovel
Axe
Tire plug kit

Future Plans:
4 crawler 1" body lift, sitting in box in garage....
Skygear Bussman relay/accessory fuse box, sitting in box in garage
Paranoid Fabrication bussman mount plate for 1st gen, sitting in box in garage
MilSpec battery terminals, sitting in box in garage
Breaker for between battery and bussman box, sitting in box in garage
5 gallon Scepter plastic jerry can for water for bed of truck with mount

Recent pics:

 

Not going to say I have the most accurate number, but start about $13-15k

 

Thanks Zach!

 

Your welcome. If you can, try to sell your truck to somebody who is looking to get a trail ready rig without having to do all the work, like you did. You can probably sell higher priced for it that way. You gave put about $10k into aftermarket and upgraded stuff, so people who know what they want can have it already put together. People too stupid to know what is there means you ask for higher price

 

when are you planning on selling?

 

for sure, no one would want this truck unless they wanted a built truck, no grandpas will be buying this thing.

 

probably in the next 2-3 months, maybe sooner.

 

@munkel Your truck is pure sex on ecstacy.

 

Thanks Joe, I think....

 

Can I use that quote in my ad when I do post it for sale?

 

Why would you need to sell those, unless you are going heim? I also heard that early batches of these were non-stainless balls, I assume you don't have those based on you getting some of the last run batches (I'm not sure why they stopped producing them, maybe because it's cheaper to just sell DKs). Send me a PM with some details and it will give me something to think about, I need to start putting in an order soon. I am hoping to get working on these on the 30th, but might delay it because it also makes sense for me to do TC cam tabs (Firestone already bent the tabs once).

Is it just me, or can you only buy Dirt King from Dirt King or DSM? Rebel Offroad's page is messed up, and they are the only people I haven't looked at in my 'address book' of shops.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Also, for anyone else's benefit:

I had a few more minutes to look at stuff, and I'm pretty sold on Dirt Kings - looks to be less cost than TC for a better product (TC lowers don't have steering stops, for starters).
Also did a cost breakdown. Prices are all from DK's site for easy comparison:

• Base package $2198
  • DK UCA bushing control arms ($699)
  • DK LCA performance ($1499)
• Heimed uppers package
  • add $50 to base package. Not completely interested because I think it will add confusion to whoever is doing alignment, and I want to make their job basic. Fewer headaches for me.
• LT package $3734
  • Contains Heimed arms
  • Extras: limit straps, extended brake lines
  • Same lowers as base??
  • I assume OEM spindles are OK?
  • Needs custom CVs ($975 after core deposit)
  • do you need extended outer tie rods?

So from the breakdown, an LT kit before my questions are answered is still $1536 added cost with the issue that if I ever busted a CV, I could only go to DK for a replacement. Not really wanting that extra cost with extra exclusivity.

I looked into Bajakits and it looks to be the same UCA as DK for an extra 300 some odd dollars. Blue label instead of black, zerk on top instead of bottom. Whee.

 

Rebels website is trash for tacomas but i believe his name is Matt, he has a 2nd gen and has told me that if i needed something he probably could do it

 

Their site used to be better. I had excellent customer service, even helping with a manufacturing error from King.

 

Dirt King LT is only a +3.5" kit, they don't make a +2" so you'll need glass fenders for that too.
TC has caster added into the making of the UCA and DK doesn't.

 

So in other words I'd be looking more at TC uppers with a DK lower?

EDIT: Wait, you are talking about multiple things

• For LT, yes I would have to worry about glass as well, probably new rims, and probably more, further exacerbating costs.
• As for DK, they do indeed have increased caster, as per what the website mentions