BigMike’s Big Journey: New 2016 Tacoma

January 28, 2018: Removed factory rack

That same weekend I discovered this!! Look at this crap!! My power steering pump is already leaking!! At only 15K miles!! Come awn Toyota. I wonder if this is covered under warranty?



Hard to tell if it's the input seal. The high press line is tight and does not appear to be leaking. After looking at this pics I realized I haven't investigated in detail if it's coming from above. The oil seems to spread out radially from the p/s pump....



Factory rack drained, lines disconnected, and on it's way out

 

Excellent, more failures

/me slowly rubs his hands together in a sinister fashion

Would you happen to have any pictures of each rack failure or additional details of what let loose? Were you able to drive home? Thanks

 

With the stock Rack out I was able to get all my measurements and test fit the new MarRack. But I had to get the truck back on the road in order to have it in our booth for the King Of The Hammers in less than a week so I quickly put it all back together minus the front differential (since I wouldn't be needing it unfortunately)

As these a-arms are only prototype pieces, I never bothered to paint them. In fact, I wasn't expecting to even use them for more than a few months. But more on this topic later. For now, it was quite easy to remove the lower arms and at least spray paint them like I should have when I first installed them. *idiot*



By this time my RCV Ultimate CV shafts were in transit back to Illinois to get new boots fitted, so in order to drive the truck down south I needed at least something installed at the hub. Knowing I have spare +2" inner chromo shafts but no joints, I purchased el-cheapo remanufactured CVs and promptly cut them up.



For now all that is of value to me is the outer CV. After I get the RCV shafts back I'll simply rebuild these remanuf. units with longer inners as trail spares



And wa-la! Everything back together minus axles and the front diff. Looks so much better with the lower a-arms painted *idiot*

 

Out of the shop for some pics



Here you can see the outer CVs installed. I spray painted them black so they won't rust



I think I haven't mentioned this either, but I'm not sporting our bling'n Billet MC Hawse Fairlead. I do plan to get a winch, but at the moment have larger fish to fry, and with the Crawler, a winch is a low priority

https://www.marlincrawler.com/accessories/recovery-parts/hawse-fairlead



It is very hard to walk away from this thing without being tempted to take more pictures!

 

February 4, 2018: Final KOH Prep

With only a day remaining until KOH, I did some interior work...

Finally got my Forward Facing Rock Crawling Camera switch installed to the far left of the lower row of dash switches using a simple three position mini toggle switch (sorry don't have a pic of it)



I also installed a nice dual USB port with DC digital volt display ordered from Amazon

$8 MICTUNING 2.1A Dual USB Charger Power Socket with Digital Voltmeter Blue LED Light for Smartphone iPhone iPad PDA Laptop GPS Replacement for Toyota

here. Crap, I don't have a photo of this either. Ok I'll have to update this post later with a couple more pics. The dual USB outlet fit very nice and I like the blue digital readout, however, it is NOT a 2.1 Amp charger as advertised on Amazon---it's only 1 Amp. For that reason I left a 1-star review



I also installed a Crux AVITY-01 HDMI to RCA input adapter kit that I got a smoke'n deal on last summer... I can now mirror my iPhone directly to the in-dash factory display. Very cool!



And finally, I got rid of the blasted key-in-ignition door open warning chime by simply disconnecting this one plug! (THANK YOU @PB FAB ! [source])



Just about ready to go!

 

February 5, 2018: Off to KOH!

I'll need to update my Trip Report thread with these, but for now I'll share smaller resolutions to push through the event here.

The Tacoma drives well on the open road with 40s. Once in the hills however I can see the 4.88s are definitely too high (no surprise).

Stock tires (30.6") with stock R&P (4.30) is a 7.116 ratio. Comparatively speaking, my 40s (measure about 39.5") with 4.88s is a 8.094 ratio or geared 13.7% too tall. At this point I was still working with Nitro in hopes they will make a 5.29:1 for the new larger 3rd gen rear differential, and if that happens then I'd only be geared 4.9% too tall. This would be f-a-r better than these 4.88s + 40" tires, 64% better in fact.

I still have not fixed my speedometer at this time and can only estimate my fuel mileage using published mileage/distances. I'm estimating at 70 MPH to be just over 15 MPG. More on this later.

Getting gas in Tehachapi



Wooooooooohoooooooooooooo!! New TacoBox sticker!! HELL YEAH!



Love this truck!





Finally inside of Hammer Town for the first time with the Tacoma!

 

I would have to dig through an old lap top for pics, although not really much to see. There was damaged and missing pieces on the outer most tube on the driver side. The symptoms which led me to replace the first rack were leaking main seals both sides at the tie rod end driver and passenger sides, resistance when turning the steering wheel in any direction even when wheels were of the ground. But the main problem was losing return to center. Something of note with the first rack. I had the AllPro HD steering system on that rack.

There is something not right internally with the current rack I have that has started recently with in the last few runs and it's kind of hard to explain. And I may think it started when I was bound up on Lions Butt when I broke the driver side halfshaft. Hitting a sharp edge bump just right while on the trail will make the steering wheel off center by a few degrees lets say 11 0'clock or 1 0'clock. So now the steering wheel is not centered I can make it center again. But only when aired down because I'm assuming this creates the right amount of resistance on pavement and stationary. If I jerk the steering wheel with force it will cause something to POP inside the rack, it's very audible and can be felt in the steering wheel. Once the POP happens the steering wheel is centered again. Still drives straight if the steering wheel is off center.

I have also replaced the power stwering pump a few months ago.

ACDelco has OEM reman pumps for cheap

 

Did you take the pic next to a Ridgeline on purpose?

 

Only gonna post a few KOH event pics to the build thread here

We had multiple people think the truck was 2WD beings it didn't have a front end or axles. Also had people informing me that there is no way the factory steering was gonna hold up to the 40s and how I should just SAS it and how much of an idiot I am for doing this and yadda yadda yadda. If they only knew!!







All done & heading home!







I'll update this post with a link to my Trip Report thread once I get it updated

 

This is the best thread on TW!!
Hope this don't end on a cliffhanger!!
Cliffhanger definition, adventure serial in which each installment ends in suspense in order to interest the reader or viewer in the next installment

 

MonkeyProof, sincerely appreciate the detailed reply. This is in line with what other have messaged me about. I'll probably just replace my pump. Pretty much after the very first mod to the truck it has never returned to the Dealer for any maintenance. I could just imagine some dealer techs going Ferris Bueller with the Tacoma and rolling it while attempting to drive over a Honda or something. Clearly with what I've done to the truck I've long accepted the fact that short of catastrophic engine failure under warranty, I'll fix whatever I've got going on myself.

Maybe I was examining how to fit it's IRS into the Tacoma

But I am sort of like the King of Build Thread Cliff Hangers though!

 

February 16, 2018: MarRack fitted

Back home from the Hammers, I must have installed & removed the MarRack over a dozen times figuring everything out. The simple nature of the upcoming photos does not express the amount of time and energy I've put into this steering project.

Removing the stock Rack again!





Here is a stock 2005+ Tacoma rack (no fluid):

 

And finally, Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the MarRack, soon to be the Strongest Street-legal Steering Upgrade Kit for the 6cyl 3rd gen Tacoma!!

Hopefully also (test-fit pending): All 2005+ Tacomas, 2003-09 4Runners, 2003-09 Lexus GX, and 2007-09 FJ Cruiser. In theory, it should be compatible with all these models, however, because I don't know the shapes and placement of the 2TR/1GR/2UZ oil pans/oil cooler lines/air conditioning lines/automatic transmission lines, we will need to test fit each application one-at-a-time to know what is and is not compatible. I'll say this much: It is a very tight fit beneath the 2GR.

The MarRack is being designed as the de facto IFS Steering Upgrade Kit for the daily driven serious IFS Rock Crawler:

• The internal rack itself is 54% stronger
• It has a much Larger Pinion Gear
• It is beefy at 49% heavier
• It has 142% Stronger Inner Tie Rods(!!)
• The Frame Mount Bolts are 63% Stronger(!!)
• It holds more fluid for a larger cooling capacity
• It has a full aluminum body for improved strength and heat dissipation
  • It's body is also wider, providing increased support for when the rack is at it's furthest extension / full steering lock in either direction
• Both bushing mounts are part of the large, one-piece aluminum body
  • No more silly half-welded stamped steel bushing clamps
• Because it is wider, it has 15% further rack movement for our choice of either increasing the maximum steering angle or reduced steering wheel effort

I'm claiming for it to be "at least" as good as the numbers say because when you consider all points as a complete system it is going to be night-and-day stronger than the factory setup. Moreover, I am leveraging to the Rock Crawler's advantage multiple geometry changes that otherwise cannot be done to really put together a package, as you will see, that blows the doors off anything on the road today.

Seriously guys the MarRack is not playing around. I fully expect it to be more than strong enough for 40" tires in the rocks and I'll be beating the hell out of it to verify my claim

 

for the 2nd gen fitment

 

Where the MarRack will attempt to make history!



It is very snug in there!



View from the back without the front differential assembly



Here is the only required frame modification: A new, large hole for the oversized passenger side mount

This will require a drill and welder to install an oversized inner frame tube welded from the bottom in the reverse manner as the factory mount's inner frame tube



This is a huge 14mm bolt replacing the factory 11mm factory bolt (minimum 62% stronger)



The driver side mount shares above the sub frame with the differential bolt. At 13mm, it is also larger than the factory 11mm driver side rack bolt. (Of course in these photos the front differential is not installed.)

 

WHEW LADS!! My truck has a nice Rack!



Installed (again, no front diff at this moment) (yes of course I've already verified fitment)

There is a lot more than meets the eye here. There is a good dozen custom components required to make everything jive, half of which are still prototypes, plus more this thread has not gotten to yet. Before we can offer this as an over-the-counter ready to install Kit, we'll need to start manufacturing parts. With all the other work I've got slated for this summer, it will be at the very least until later this year before production will be ready. But, you know, this is a good thing: I need to freak'n test it!! Currently all this talk is just proof of concept. Numbers don't mean jack crap until proven on the trail. I am quite happy to play the Guinea pig here

 

Looks like the diameter of the tierod is also larger?

 

That's a B I G 10-4 good buddy, from a ~14mm tie rod diameter to a ~22mm tie rod diameter. I won't be needing any finicky custom heim joint tie rods that have to be positioned just right so as to not bind, nor heim joint bolts tearing up rack boots. I've got much more coming by way of Tie Rod discussion, just you wait

 

Awesome Good for us IFS guys , Congradulation !!!! You might have just changed the rules for IFS Toyota"s for Rock crawling !

MarRack

 

I'm waiting because I've been eyeing them 1st gen Raptor racks every time they come in, always thinking about how I can cram one of those suckers in..