Gordi's 2011 Silver Tacoma Build Thread

Well last weekend I finally took the plunge with @Speedytech7 and @SjTacoSharks tackling my front diff. Needle bearing vibrations and rear drive shaft vibrations. I borrowed the tools from a fellow TW who was a awesome dude and sent them to me and I covered shipping back. @Fox2011PM thanks a ton! Really not a bad install if you have the tools and watch the video. Also a second set of hands was needed for putting the axle back in as it's just kinda wonky. Next I cut the shit out of my cab mounts due to rubbing and also hammered out the pinch weld some. Had to grind with my good on bc the sparks kept burning my bald head haha. Between the rear 3degree shims and the cb drop and the diff bushing install my vibes r gone and no more noise. Worth noting I did the Toyota TSB diff needle and it lasted like 2000 miles. This fix is even quieter though. Very pleased. Thanks a lot @Speedytech7 for the garage space and the help.

 

Also got a welder for Christmas, Hobart handler 140 and have been practicing when I can with it. My diy skid plate had the bolts below not recessed and that always bothered me. So I got to cutting the wholes out and capping the tops with a washer. Also cut some gussets for the front bend just didn't get to it yet. The design is better and in the end my skid plate was like 60 bucks in material.

 

did you do the ECGS bearing?

 

Yes it's a bushing. Not a bearing.

 

Twas what I meant lol. I have the same. No vibes.

 

Ya I could feel mine in the floor lol. I'm so glad it's gone. Toyota fucked that one up Imo.

 

for sure. I recommend everybody change that out.

 

My driveline shims and stuff was a pure guess but it seems good now

 

Pics...

 

alright i need help @Crom and anyone else with driveline exp.


2011 dcsb trd sport 6 speed with 41k miles Lifted for about 18k miles

I have a 3 inch lift in the rear with dakars installed with one overload leaf removed. in the front i have 2.5inchs of life on fox 2.5 coilovers.
I have been having the stupid vibrations/drivelinehowl from 35-40 but i do not have take off vibes with the shim in.
I have tried tire balance and rotations alignments, Front diff needle bearing from ECGS which helped.
I had the OME CB drop just slapped in there which made no difference, then i added just 3 degree shims which seemed to maybe help.
Then i used washers on the CB drop and it seemed to get a tad better but still there.
So i got the angle finder and it still doesnt make sense.

I zeroed the angle finder off the transfer case shaft flange using a piece of flat bar.


First measurements with no shim in was 4.0 degrees a the rear differential


This was with nothing in the CB also. - vibes the worst

Next i added the 3 degree shim as i figures it would put me within 1 degree.

ya that makes sense......even further off from pointing at each other? This was with the pointy end forward.





Then i added a few washers to the CB



this seemed to make it a touch better but really not that great.

Am i missing something?

So what i understand is that both of the pinions need to be on the same slope or with in 3 degrees? also the drive shafts need to be the same slope or close and you use the CB drop or lift to make that happen. Obviously the rear pinion is the only one you can mess with as your not going to drop the transmission down, so with mine going up 3.5 more degrees should i flip it around so the thick part is to the front?

 

Well time for an update, not many of you know but aside from tacomaworld and my tacoma i am also a tri athlete, I am a local to Coeur D'alene Idaho where a Full and half Ironmans are held each year. This was my first year as a Ironman and i loved it. My half went really well for my first long triathlon at 5:45 for a finish and then my Full ironman was not only twice as hard but definitely a real test. The training and work and sacrifices put in to work up to it was something else! But I had a finish time of 13 hrs and 30 minutes which is where i expected to be, for my age group top 30% is cool with me. This is all of my family and co workers at the finish line, totally one of the best exp of my life. Excited to do another but not a full for awhile ha, i was getting burnt out and had to put so many things on hold.

 

After Ironman i knew that i had LOTS to do when i was done, but while doing it i shopped my ass off from here to boise to seattle and missoula looking for parts and pieces i wanted in the build. Scored in on a group buy for a ARB air compressor since i was tired of getting air from ben or zane. I cut a plate out of 11gauge and mounted it between the air intake and the brake lines. Then ran the switch to under the AC controls in the cab above the shifter.

I installed this before Ironman on a short workout weekend to "scratch my itch" according to my wife.

 

My next purchase was for a Roof Top tent, I had been hunting for one for months thats wasnt really used and I let alot of good ones go since i was in the position to low ball and wait on the seller to get desperate. I wasnt in a position where i could use the tent with my commitment to ironman. But after many offers and discussions the seller of a barely used Tepui kukenam ruggedized got desperate and told me that he wanted to sell his tent so that he could get rafting gear for him and his wife. DING! I low balled him and then stood my ground and after a few weeks he said fine if your buddy can be here with the cash today ill take it. So i called @m3bassman who was a local bro and got him cash and he went and got the tent. Strapped it to the durango daily and took it to his garage, he kept the tent in his garage for about 2 months. So now that i had a tent i needed a bed rack, I like simple and i can weld well enough, about 70 bucks later i had my bed rack built. Simple square tube .120 wall and some angle iron.

I slapped a few LED light bars on it and a water proof switch and ran my wire along the frame.

Then After ironman was over and a week or two went by i planned to head to boise to get the tent. I left work at about 330pm, haha boss needed help until then, go to boise like 7.5hrs later. Crashed at a buddies place then went to get the tent. We threw it up on the bed rack and it was perfect height and held my fat ass.

After a fun weekend of drinks and good food with @m3bassman and @SjTacoSharks I left early sunday morning and headed back home as i had the wifes Grandmas 80th bday that night.

I did start to get a creak sound and a pop on the front right driver side in turns and bumps, we will get to that later, The LBJ boot had torn at some point from before i got about 20k miles before now.
But the truck rides great with some rear weight finally and the tent height is great in the wind. Smiles per gallon all the way home.

 

I had contacted Bruteforce Fab for some bumper action, i knew it was about 14 week lead time, so i placed my order in july and then forgot about it until after ironman was over. Billy was a fucking blast to talk with and a hell of a fabricator. His welds are legit and hes a one man band which i respect the hell out of compared to the sell outs on here now. I orderd a hybrid front and high clearance rear with no swing out, i really am trying to not make this thing super heavy and i like the tube look all tied together.

I did test fit the bumpers front and back, i didnt want to pay for powder if i had to drill holes in it later. I added a TRS single row 22inch in the middle, one cube on each side and a smitty built synthetic 9500 winch.
Ha cutting the bedsides was not as bad as i thought with a 6inch disc, but the idea of once you cut you cant go back was a little worry some.

Then I took them to a buddy who does sand blasting and powder coating, He had them Two weeks so i drove around with no pants on as my wife would say.

I did some pre work before the bumpers were done, I moved the winch solenoid to under the hood and wired in in cab controls also.
Then i made sure to have a master power on/off for the winch
Dont mind all my colors for wires it looks a little plane with all the black and red

Then I figured i wanted to replace the poor quality from radiator support mounts ( 41k miles )

I also ordered a new black tent cover since i broke the zipper on my tent lol first try, I wanted a new one anyways that was cleaner and darker after i cleaned and made my tent super clean in and out.
I got photos but only with the bumpers on.

 

Next was i got the call about the bumpers being done, my buddy said that shop dogs that drive a tacoma were drooling over them. I went and picked them up and had to bolt the front bumper on there to carry it and put the rear in the bed. I spent a good sunday finishing up my winch wiring and making all my lights quick disconnects and waterproof so removing the bumpers in future would be easier. Then my brother met me in a neighborhood nearby and let me spool the winch up off his truck and all went well.



Just sexy.....but this led to some issues i had expected, after lots of advice from my friends they all said slap the bumpers on and then decide if you need stiffer coils.....the rake and 1 inch of front lift vs 3 in the rear let me know i needed the springs.

 

When's the diesel swap?

 

Now you all remember that LBJ on the passenger side from the drive back with the tent ? Well it got way louder and annoying and I knew it was time to replace it, thankfully toyota just make you replace the whole lower arm. Then i figured new cams and bolts would be a good plan. So I figured ill do this when i swap the coils on my foxes to handle the weight of the new bumper, I really was worn out and busy and called a shop pr twp around here who wanted 400 or more to swap the coils only and thats with my parts. Hard pass on that price, one of my patients own a local auto shop and drives a tacoma so i asked if he would swap the coils with his wall mount if i brought them in. He said sure and came in on sunday to do the swap, took about 20 miuntes total and was free.


14inchx 650lbsx 3.0 coils. After driving around and bumps and stuff, it sits at about 2.5 inch lift in the front and no nose dive but not harsh. 1.5inch of threads showing.

Now that fucking LBJ, i tried everything i could to get those god damn cam bolts out which looked fine from the outside but had rusted together like a stage five clinger. Ended up having to use a sawzall cutter to take them off.


So the next was get that castle nut off the buckle that bolts the LBJ to the spindle, god himself put that fucker on. After like 30 min penetrating oil soak, torch heat, and a 5 ft breaker it finally came loose.
Looks like grease from the BJ but its the melted rubber from the torch lol.


Then putting the lower back on i coated every contact surface with anti seize in order to prolong them. Ill do the other side next summer probably.
Now i need an alignment and photos of the finished product.

Really happy with how it rides and all the parts and function, no more squeaks and shit either so im pleased, now i need to let the bank recoup and just camp and enjoy it.

 

never!!!!!!!! but a blower would be cool.....

 

Ugghh why am I subbed then. Compromise, blower from a Detroit 8V-71 Diesel

 

Do you have a contact for Billy? I think I want a full plate from him for my truck.