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

I might not be using the right term...the hangar toward the back of the truck that holds the leaf spring, there's a plate that pops off when you unbolt the 2 bolts. I put the new leaf pack in and now that plate won't line back up with the 2 bolts, I'll post a pic...

 

The only way that can happen is if it is slightly bent down, just push the leafs up a bit and it should pop on.

 

I'll give it a shot, I've tried moving the axle in all different directions but it doesn't matter, I'll try doing it via the spring pack.

 

This is what I mean, been fighting this for 2 hours

 

And yes I desperately need to relocate my exhaust after this

 

It's upside down...

 

...not according to how it's mounted on the other side (still my old stock pack), wider side on the bottom

 

Well, everything looks to be right otherwise and there's really no way it can get out of whack. You should just give flipping it a shot

 

Yeah it's weird. Here's a better pic of it, looks like it's bent but when I remove the bolts they're straight.



It's the pack itself that's slightly twisted, moved the axle in every direction and it won't line up.

 

That pic helps a lot, your shackle stud is backing out so it is bending upward a bit, either pry the leaf down by the shackle or maybe rig your jack to push it down. Even releasing your other side of your axle will help, it is just pushed too far sideways. Youre flexing it and it isnt helping

 

@eon_blue reread my post i added stuff

 

You need to cut a 2 x 4 block into a wedge and pound it in that narrow side.

 

Too late, lol. I ordered all new decals from Miller, just waiting on those. Safety Blue by Rustoleum matches the Miller Blue perfect.

 

How hard is it to do the water pump, and how long do those things typically last?

I swear I thought the same, but a pry bar and some elbow grease should lower that bolt. @eon_blue

 

FUCK YA I GOT IT!!!

Feels like I just won a battle, haha. Had to rig up a pulley system with ratchet straps going around the floor jack while it supported the weight of the truck, was sketchy but I managed to just barely get it to line up enough to slam it home with a mallet. Now on to the next side.....

 

You didn't put the ubolts on before the shackles right?

 

Loosely yeah, believe me I read 100 different ways to make it work from different threads on here, half said U bolts on half said off...tried with them off and it wouldn't line up either. @Speedytech7 was right, there was a small amount of flex in the back and it was throwing it off...my driveway isn't level from side to side which was the culprit I think.

 

I would of put the shakles on before i did the axel but thats me.

 

Tips and tricks for cleaning the engine bay? Sounds dumb, but I am asking for a friend, apparently he has never cleaned his engine bay