The Getaway...Crom's build and adventures

Hey Crom! I'm going to follow up on the poly bearing when I get home, but do you recall seeing an option for us 1st Gen guys? Thanks in advance!

 

Did it work on the rear for you too @Crom ?

 

I would if I wasn't - great stuff! Thanks

 

I don't know.

I seem to recall a first gen using the poly bearing in the IEDLS thread. Search thread by title using IEDLS to find it. Was on one of the last pages...

Yes. All four came out that way for me. Roasted them for about 3 full minutes, even heating the seat, pencil torch propane tip. As I recall they start to smoke a little and buldge before they released.

Sorry yours didn't.

Best

 

My current view. . Ahhhhh.

 

Thanks, Nick! I just wrapped up my wrenching for the day, so I'll check it out in a few!

 

Good evening Crom. I noticed you put 5.4 quarts of new oil in when doing a oil change. The book calls for 5.5. I know it's not much of a difference but I was curious why.

 

I took a square to the bed upgrights, and they are good. I have tailgate seal all around the edge of the bed so if there are any stress cracks they are concealed.

When I load out heavy I carry 125 lbs on the roof rack. So I would say, thus far I have not experienced any structural problems that I know about.

I looked in detail at the TC bed stiffeners for peace of mind. They appear to be side specific. Detailed photos here.

Excuse the mess, just coming off a trip.

Thanks, good catch.

I think I wrote it wrong. 5.5qt. is right for 4x4 V6.

Post corrected.

 

I measured my drive line angles.

The way I did it was put my digital angle finder on the transfer case flange and set the unit to "Zero". That's my reference point.

• Then hang the angle finder on the first shaft. The angle of the first shaft in my truck is 5.05* down. This is also the angle of the first u-joint.

• Then hang the angle finder on the second shaft. In my case it was 5.75* down, Subtracting the two slopes I get 0.7* for the second u-joint.

• Then using the a flat bar I measured the flange of the pinion and got 2.95*. The angle of the third u-joint is 2.8*.

Now comparing the slope of the first shaft 5.05*, minus the pinion angle 2.95*, it looks like my pinyon is -2.1* down relative to the first shaft.

Pinion angle should really match slope of first shaft.

EDIT: 11/1/2016 - Measured again after modifying spring pack:

• First u-joint operating angle (OA), closest to xfer case: 4.85° Down,
• Second u-joint: 2.35° Down,
• Third u-joint angle is somewhere between 2.45° - 3.9° Down

Which means Pinion angle is within 0.10° - 1.55° Down, of first shaft.
I can't get more accurate on the pinion without putting rear axle on jack stands.

Note: Universal joint angles can change significantly in a loaded situation. Therefore, check vehicle loaded and unloaded to achieve the accepted angle cancellation.


Here is some tech that I'm using to help me:

From the factory the Tacoma has a two piece drive shaft. According to Dana who manufactured the center support bearing and shafts, I would want the pinion angle to match the output shaft of the transfer case.

I snipped this picture out of their documentation.


But there is more to the story, in practice, a lot of *performance* shops will make the pinion 1*-2* negative. The reason for this is because, when accelerating, the pinion will rotate up because of torque. In theory, when it's under load it will match or be very close to the slope of the first shaft.

This is a good article with references to recognized industry experts and explains what they do in setting up built vehicles.

 

I put 5.5 quarts in and it shows a little over full on the dip stick. Not sure if that amount goes in the filter at start up. The OEM filters come with a check valve that should keep oil in the filter. Since my first vehicle I always go by the amount recommend in the owners manual. When shopping for my new on the lot '04 Taco I checked the oil before I test drove it and the stick was dry. They brought out a tech and the end result was the truck had the wrong dip stick in it from the factory. Also I've heard folks putting 6 quarts in our V6's. A lot of dealership do that.

 

I bet you're right. The owners manual even specifies different amount for non filter change.

 

This thread is awesome I like coming back every couple weeks and seeing there are a couple pages of more knowledge of this thread was able to be a book I would buy it in a heartbeat with as much knowledge is I here... Oh and plus the endless list of mods you make me want to do to my truck great work @Crom

 

@Crom , it's probably worth looking into bed side stiffeners even if yours are square. Mine are square too (most of the time), but it looks like I will have issues soon. Here's my 2014 with 36,000 miles:
Edit: I first noticed varying gaps on the sides of the tailgate when I was flexing to test tire clearances, so I guess that brace is moving a little with the frame flex.

 

That's a crack right there?

Shoot. I wonder if I should pull up the tailgate seal a little on mine take a look...

Either way, I think you're right.

The stresses to the bed uprights are amplified with loaded bed racks and shells, I would think.

Thanks for the pic.

Are you thinking of use the TC ones? Seems like an easy part to fab if the integrated tie downs aren't needed.

 

I use a loaded rack sometimes which I'm sure is the cause. It's not cracked yet, but it will soon. I plan to fab something up myself.

 

This picture of my truck last year shows how much movement you can get. Check out that gap.

 

Thanks for the complement. I think I will write a book, because books are cool! Been thinking about it for a while.

 

Spent the cash to buy the TC ones, it will be replacing a couple of tie downs. I have had the sides tweeked from a few rear enders, one caused the 2 sides to pull in so the Gate wouldn't close, the body shop got it back in position but was worried about cracking the corners. In hindsight I should have had them replace the bed, since I wasn't paying.

I have a small gap on the DS and a larger gap on the ps. I am hoping this will even it out.

 

I have a lot of constant weight (shell, RTT). I will take delivery of TC brackets this week.