Millenium Falcon Taco Build

Back from not being around for 3 months.
Some updates.
- Vibrations. I have different rims and tires for winter conditions. After put my winter rims and tires on, 90% of my vibrations have vanished.
- Fuel Un-economy. After having calibrated the ultra gauge and using it for 3 months I've discovered that my mpg is even worse then I had thought. My highway MPG is about 15.5 and City or mixed is less than 14MPG. I have not changed the air filter, fuel filter, spark plug wires or cleaned the MAF.
- My steering seems to have gotten rather sloppy on the highway. I've ordered some Moog inner and outer tie rod ends from rock auto.
Will be replacing those and going in for an alignment. I'll get some pictures of the procedure, post them & share the results.
- I have an unusual electrical issue. I'm supposed to be the expert at fixing this stuff but I'm coming up short.
Issue: Drivers LED tail light had stopped working. I picked up some OEM Toyota 1st gen tail light assemblies from a pick'n pull, installed them and ended up with some issues. 1:When I press on the brake the left turn signal dash light comes on at partial intensity. 2. When I have the park lights on press the brake and have my left turn signal on, the signal flashed fast as if a bulb is burned out. The front and rear signal lights both flash and are not burned out. If I have the park lights turned off, the brake pressed and have the left turn signal on, the signal light flashes fast but not as fast as when the park lights are on. After some troubleshooting I decided I would have to pull the bed to inspect the wiring further and I was in no way interested in doing that.

That's all I've got for now guys and gals.

 

Doing some Maintenance and Repair today.
Picked up some MAF Sensor cleaner and cleaned the MAF Sensor.
When I replaced the steering rack with the one off the do or tacoma I noticed that all of the tie rod ends were a bit floppy.
Since I've been having some random front end vibrations that are coming through the steering wheel while at speed on the highway and at times under braking I figured I would replace the inner and outter tiebrod ends with Moog Problem Solver ones. I also figured I would pick up some new lower ball joints as well for three reasons. 1- I've had to disassemble the front end a few times and I've just pounded them out with a prong instead of using a puller. 2- The ones I had originally installed in there were crappy ChassyPro ones. 3- I'm going to need an alignment after doing the tie rods and I didn't want to replace the lower ball joints after and throw off the alignment for some reason.
So I ordered some Moog Problem Solver lower ball joints.
All the parts came in a week or so ago and they look spectacular.
Made in Japan....Sweet!

Now, I know all new parts look nice next to old ones but these parts go a bit beyond the regular niceness.

 

Moog are ok but they use an inferior design.

The one on the left is what Moog uses, on the right, OEM. If you get premium Napa (not sure if you have Napa in Canada), it uses the same design as OEM.

 

More here:

Lower ball joints brand?

Redundancy here:

check your ball joints

 

Kool!
We have NAPA yes.
Inferior design or not they are better than what I had and it's what I have now. Not really going to change them at this point, they're on the truck. lol

 

You're all not going to like hearing this but I'm desperately looking forward to getting a new third gen taco.
I'm just keeping the truck respectable while I have it, so no buying absolute crap parts and no buying OEM toyota parts that are expensive.

 

I do honestly appreciate the detailed info. Thank You

 

No fun with those. To even SEE the motor, you need to take off the plastic skirt and panties on your engine. Might as well be a chastity belts for your truck.

 

Meh
I love driving a new vehicle and I love up to date factory tech and comforts.
I love driving my wife's year old Juke. I want the same feeling driving my vehicle.
I don't have that with a vehicle this old.
Time to sell the 4Runner and Tacoma.

 

I love my 2016. The heated seats and mirrors are definitely features you'll use.

 

Nice to find someone who isn't a 3rd gen hater.
(Not directed toward StAndrew)

 

Some more pics of the work on the taco!

 

FYI to everyone, don't bother rebuilding axles, buy new ones.

 

FYI, I wouldn't rebuild the calliper again. Just buy a rebuild or one from toyota.
I got an alignment done to the truck today and they told be the drivers calliper (the one I rebuilt) is sticking.
So, I replaced it, the rotor and the pads today.
Lost my lock nut key for the second time today. Left it on the lock nut and drove away....Not cool.
Gotta go to Toyota to order a replacement, again.

 

You're just getting tired of it all, aren't you? Truthfully, I don't blame you. I wouldn't mind owning a newer truck either. But wishing isn't going to put more money in my bank account, so I press onwards....

 

That is part of it for sure. When things don't work as originally intended by the manufacturer it bothers me constantly.
So I try to change what is needed to make it so. Really I won't be able to do that because it'll never be a new truck, not without spending way too much money on it.

 

Precisely. If you're gonna spend that much money, just get a new truck.

But keep the old one for wheeling!

 

I don't do any wheeling.
I'll need to sell the taco to help finance the new one.

 

I signed up just to say you are doing a awesome job on your truck ! got to page 27 before my eyes were done !

 

Hey Jon, thanks for the kind words. And a Newfy to boot!