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

45K for a new Patrol + all the offload ARB Goodies you can get from AUS, and its still half the price as the LC.

I don't want another 200, since 300 series is right around the corner, and given my lease is up in a few more months, I need to get something.

 

Yep, Toyota is such a money making car manufacturer because they do complete redesigns almost half as often as most other manufacturers. Some people see it as bland, but I love it. Makes it very nice for the DIY'ers.
200 series is 'old' news now, you can't get one of those again, . #firstworldproblems

And you definitely can't break protocol and get an Armada.... Eeeeewwwwwww.

 

Is there a recommended axle or is oem my best bet? I have 2.5/3 inch lift and this is my daily driver/work vehicle and I don't have the time or knowledge to replace it myself. I see a lot of people go with cheap ones with the lifetime warranty but I'd imagine it's because they're capable of replacing them and not taking their truck to a shop. I'd rather bite the bullet once and spend the money on a quality product and not have to worry about it being reliable.

 

Better go OEM then. $$$$
Aftermarket works, I have them (NAPA rebuilds). The aftermarket ones may not have the same angle of operation that the stock ones do, meaning they may bind at full droop where the OEM doesn't. I have noticed a small amount of bind with mine. It hasn't been a problem yet.
If you don't wheel often or that extreme, then the aftermarket will be just fine.
If you routinely get wheels in the air and abuse your sliders, then you may want to reconsider.

 

It sounds like, in this case, not being a DIY'er will force you into going the best route, lol. I'd only go with OEM, especially with lift because of the increased angles placed on the cv axles. Some have said that they got remanned axles from somewhere online and have worked out, while others it hasn't worked long term as a solution. If going reman like that, see if they can verify that the axle is an OEM axle that's been remanned. Maybe they only reman OEM axles and so it's a moot point, I don't know. Maybe someone else who does know will chime in.

 

CVJ only remans OEM axles... that's about all I know other than I am running a Napa reman and an orielly reman

 

If you can take the tire off then you can change your axle. There's like 6 more bolts required to pull the axle out. Just buy a reman, no need to spend extra money on OEM. Hundreds of us run Napa or whatever axles, lifetime warranties, no issues.

 

CVJ....online they will "build" the axle with a longer inner boot for the lifted application, and they only use OEM axles

 

I'd have to disagree that it's not as "easy as changing a tire." Gotta make sure you have a brass punch (preferably), a high torque torque wrench, and 2 pry bars to pop the axle out.

 

I had a feeling the cost of the oem axle would be pretty pricey and the added cost of labor might be a little much for me. I just hate the thought of not doing it right the first time but I am no rich man. Maybe it's time for me to get my hands dirty and do the work myself over the weekend when I'm off work. I have always wanted to work on my vehicle but it being my only one intimidates me and am afraid of not being able to complete it once started. I appreciate your responses and info greatly!

 

Brass punch to pop it out of the hub side, and two pry bars to pop it out of the diff. At least that's how I've done it.

 

That and rust if you live anywhere else but here

 

Yup. Mine just push out.

 

Should be no rust on those splines.

Actually a little tip is you can run a bead of silicon around the outer cover before installing to make sure nothing gets in there

 

Should be... But alas I've pulled axles out of all manner of vehicle and there the damn stuff is. I like to put the tiniest coating of anti seize on. Luckily with manual hubs I am not affected anyway.

 

I needed a brass drift as well for tapping the cv's out of the hub. This was on a second gen, haven't done a first gen yet, but I'll bet it's very similar.

 

Holy shit, thought just crossed my mind as I was reading a post. I'm blown away by the amount of knowledge people here on the forum have in automotive technology in general, let alone specific to Tacoma... But anyways, could you imagine the desert racer this forum could put together? Like to run the Baja or something? Would be damn cool to see a TW truck running in a race! Anyways, just realized the combined detailed knowledge and experience here is absolutely awesome.

 

wow thats ballsy.

 

mine have always slipped right out with not a lot of force ... the torque from running it in 4wd a lot keeps the splines clean and well worn...
be sure to grease the splines real heavy before putting them in tho- I galled the splines once by being hasty and ommiting this step and have regretted it every time I have had to work on it since.

 

Finally got the cb in. Also got the the GTA pure Bluetooth mounted.