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

I have went back and forth with taking mine off and on, but I think with my stiffer front suspension it's staying off for good. I have never really noticed any major difference driving on any of our winding mountain roads or passes here in CO. I was just trying to be funny and totally respect your reasoning for keeping it on.

 

Yeah, my biggest worry is that I was getting pretty decent bump-steer and some steering column jiggle. I didn't want to be going down berthoud pass to winter park and hit a pothole in icy conditions, get bump steer and then have to compensate for body roll too. The new steering rack bushings seems to have mostly fixed the bump-steer, but I am still feeling a lot of steering column jiggle when I hit a pothole or gap/spacer in the road. I can't figure out what's causing it and it's driving me nuts. It actually seems worse after the new bushings. I know I need a new suspension, so that's next. Maybe I'm just smashing the bumpstops every time since my coils and shocks are worn out? I have no idea. But I am trying to get it in tip top shape for ski season.

 

Just trying to explain what a differential locker does is hard enough.

That depends on how you look at it. Both wheels can receive power, but due to the inherent design of a differential (open, for the sake of this), only one will be putting the power to the ground at a time. So only 1 of those wheels is actually driving the vehicle. Even with perfect grip, you will never have both wheels driving the vehicle unless you have a limited-slip or a locker. Anyone who's been stuck in snow in a 2WD vehicle has had to learn this.
But I see what you're saying. The power is not being torque-vectored to one wheel or the other, disallowing the other to receive power. So both can drive the vehicle. And will, back and forth.

 

with an open diff both wheels are putting an equal amount of power to the ground.

 

Have you looked at the column? I've certainly worn out & had replaced the steering column in vehicles in my past.

 

My sway bar was technically disconnected while I waited for new endlinks and bushings. I have an OME suspension all around.

Hated the feeling of body roll. At the time I had to drive 285 from Denver to Bailey and back and it was not a fun feeling.

I'll take the feeling of it being a bit over-stiff (oh yeah) in road than feeling scared without it on.

 

My god I was hoping you'd post the Marisa Tomei scene in My Cousin Vinny. I <3 her.

 

Then you're still stuck with the rubber bushings that you're constantly twisting and trying to tear apart when you wheel. Especially with extended coil overs. Your twisting those bushings more than they were designed for, and they can inhibit movement.

Whiteline is the way to go if you wheel.

 

Hit it hard with tri flow, didnt make a difference. Thanks for The suggestion!

 

Do you have play in the steering column slip joint? Test by reaching up under dash and holding column, then try to move the wheel back and forth. Even a small amount of play is worth getting rid of. If you tack weld/roll pin the slip joint, it very nicely tightens up the column. Best 30 minute project I have done on my truck!!

 

how is the underside so clean??

 

I did something today


Not terrible for a 11$ Amazon cover and 45min off my day

 

When I had stock suspension(160ishk) I'd hut a pot hole and could damn near jump the whole lane.

Real suspension will help a lot or just a refresher even.

I don't miss my sway bars at all. Rides way better without it. Especially through bumps. Everyone is a little different though and anybody who says they don't notice it gone is lying. You do have to change driving style a bit. But not much with stiffer suspension

 

Saw the first picture and immediately thought

 

fresh paint

 

Replaced my shifter bulb, dome light and painted the center console, Maybe A mountain trip if I can get some homework done.

 

Not mine or a tacoma but a healthy reminder never stop searching for bad frames...

 

I haven't looked at it yet. I'll get around to checking that out next time I'm in there. I should be doing spark plugs and wires soon, and for christmas I'm buying myself new shocks all around (already have new coils).

 

Cool, I'm gonna wait and see what a new suspension does for me before I jump into any more serious repairs or replacements.

It was mentioned to may that maybe some of the jiggle i'm feeling in the column is the break-away shaft in case of a front-end collision so the steering column doesn't go through my chest. I'm not sure, but it's a work in progress so I'll keep upgrayyyeding and see how things go.

Appreciate everyone's thoughts and suggestions.

 

things like this make me happy I live in CA