Desertjunkie760's 2011 Not So Basic but Never a Bad Bitch Build Thread

That's a really intuitive idea. All Tacomas have the light in the dash? Interesting... wiring the factory switch would seem easier enough as long as you acquire an Off-Road schematic.

 

Yes, they all have the light + bulb in there in the dash cluster. If you look hard when it's bright out you can see it. ALL V6 trucks are even prewired for the locker dash switch. Using that one over the ARB would be so much cleaner! You just wouldn't have the flashing of the locker light that indicates the elocker trying to engage. It would be either on or off but that's good enough for me.
Just gotta figure out what each pin on the factory switch does so they can be mated to the ARB switch harness properly

 

Would have been nice to know before I took a dremel to my dash. Haha. All good though, because even a clean install on the locker would still leave the issue of the compressor switch. At least where I put it there are only 3 slots so it'll look uniform once I put the front locker in.

That brings a question up for the peeps who have the OR. When you engage your rear locker, do your electronic vehicle controls (VSC) turn off automatically? I ran into this today when testing. When I turned my locker on, I dissenguaged my VSC and the auto LSD still came on. Does the auto LSD still work, or try to, with an ARB installed? How do they affect each other.

 

I can neither confirm nor deny those allegations, yet 58 pages in and I cannot think of another appropriate word to describe it.

 

Yes, when the elocker is on all traction aids are automatically shut off by the ECU and the ABS dash light will be on. Look into the ABS kill switch mod if you want to have spool fun with your ARB locker. Your truck doesn't know you installed an ARB so your traction control will stay on tho it's not likely to kick in because with the locker engaged the system probably won't detect wheel slip (kinda the point hey? So the story goes anyway...).
But if you're like me and you like to go thru turns sideways with locker on and steering with the throttle it helps to be able to kill the nanny systems that would cut your power

 

So I talked to one of the members at the brewery meet tonight ( can't think of username) and he had mentioned that the front differential is not something most people are capable of messing with? He actually said that a lot of the local guys wouldn't even touch the clamshell design. First I had heard of it but I guess I have some research to do.

Any input? @Speed Freek

 

That would be me. Jason's offline through the weekend, check with Jeff (can't think of his username...duh). You could even check with ECGS and grease the skids for your upcoming order.

 

It's true. Special tools to disassemble. No problem in swapping built 3rd members from ECGS, but future local service may be an issue.

 

Thanks! I don't remember associating your username in our previous conversations. I'll give ECGS a call today and scope it out. There is also a local differential shop that I was referred to for the rear that I could give a call, but they still had a heafty labor fee.

@jeffz0rz may you have some insight on the matter?

 

Cool. Yeah, Jeff Orz is who I was referring to, I'm sure he'll be able to help.

 

So just talked with ECGS. Pretty much confirmed the matter. Said that it was much more time consuming than your standard diff setup but didn't specify any special tools.

I'll call the local shop when the world awakes and see what they say. Might be worth taking the front diff out sooner than later and seeing for myself.

 

Setting up gears is a definite a skilled job. I would set gears up for myself only because if I smoke a gear set it's on me. I'm not set up or comfortable doing 3rd members for anyone else yet. if not set up properly, Brand-new gears would only last you a few 100 miles.

 

If I remember correctly Jason only set up for the rear right now. Unless he got the parts for the front already

 

So just talked to the local differential shop. Priced $380 for the labor of the install. At that cost, in addition to the gears, I would be spending more than ECGS and that's not to include new bearings/seals.



@jberry813 maybe you have done front differential work before? Any insight on the job?

 

All roads are leading to ECGS.

 

Again...

 

Had a little fun with the group today and started a little project I have been wanting to work on for awhile.

@erice doing what he does best and making shit square.






@Dessertjunkie858 doin work...

 

It's a little late, but I found some old pics of the spindle gussets that I had @jeffz0rz do the welding to. Great work with the welding and took his time. If anyone is in the SD area south of the 8, I would highly suggest him. Just trying to keep the thread up to date!

 

Also found some pics of the TC cam tabs that I installed some time ago before putting the SCS Ray10s on. Had some frame work to do and couldn't get the truck aligned so these did wonders!