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

.....and yes, I wish I had researched a bit more on the Dakars load carrying ability, was pretty disappointed in their ability to carry my camping weight this weekend. Was riding on my superbumps nearly the whole time. I'm a little concerned the AAL might not be quite enough for when I have the bed fully loaded, but should help. If I still need more I'll probably get some adjustable shackles for another inch or so.

 

I was concerned as well but with the aal i was fine weighted down this past weekend, was really concerned about flexing out with all that weight, but its a better leaf pack for the wheeling you do w the camping gear, rtt, etc with the AAL. I like to do the same kinda wheeling you do, so it will be fine. I am stoked with how it performed. When I did my AAL i also had both leafs off the axle, this also could explain why I had no issues with the shackles.

 

Dude, you're working way harder than you have too.

Next time do this:

Front hanger first.

Then rear hanger

Have a jack under the pumpkin and jack it up so its just starting to press the axle on the leafs. From there, pick a side and move it to line up with the axle pin. One it pops in, jack up the jack a pump or two. Then go to the other side and move it into place.

The axle should easily move into the pins holes as there is nothing really restricting it. If its too far back, thats due to the slip yoke so make sure the axle is balanced well on the jack and you wont have issues.

Trying to get the leaf springs in while attached to the axle...that sounds like a hellish way to do it. It should not be that hard to do leafs in the order i just told you.

 

Just got done with some small mods including new tweeters, dyeing the fabric on the doors, re-upholstering the back headboard, restoring the sun damaged light bar and protecting the new headlights. Here's the video I made! Subscribe if you want to follow my build.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OR-xygpiImM

 

I did everything you mentioned except for this part ^^^, I think that may have been what caused me so much headache. I had the pumpkin supported by my floor jack and adjusted it as needed but wasn't paying mind to the slip yoke. That and my driveway; the passenger side is the one I fought with for a couple hours. When I did my driver's side it bolted right up nicely.

 

I didn't install Dakars but I did put in new leafs. I did front main eye bolt first, then I popped the pin in the axle and u bolts, and then lined it up with the shackle. Took like 10 mins for this process. I had to pull down on the springs to line them up with my 1.5" lift shackle but it wasnt too hard.

 

@eon_blue this is exactly what i did

 

You must have had allot of weight back there. I've hauled 800lb atv in back no problem. Stock springs with aal I was on the bumps all the time. What shackle are you using?

 

With standard duty Dakars? You sure you don't have the HD version? 800lbs is more than I was carrying....my RTT (~140lbs) and camping gear + tools which maybe came out to another couple hundred, plus 10 gallons of gas and 6 gallons of water...and my bed rack. So maybe 500 - 600lbs or around there. On flat ground, they were sagging about an inch and a half, any flex or bounce at all and one side would be riding the bump stop.

Still on the stock shackles but probably going to upgrade to the greasable ones soon

 

They were not hd I'm pretty sure. I didn't know they even made anything but basic dakars and hd aal's. Shackles won't help, but i though maybe you had some extended length ones. Those will definitely reduce load capacity. I think I saw somebody running 2 aal's. I had a set of hd 4 inch springs on my 85 pickup. I hauled 2500lbs of sand a few times about a mile down the road. Springs only went down halfway to bumps, but truck wasnt happy.

 

Looks great, except now you can see your brake fluid....time for a flush.

 

Yeah I'm not sure they make an HD version either but I read somewhere here that they did, maybe it was for 2nd gens though. Going to put the AALs in this weekend, according to Headstrong's site they increase load capacity by 15% so I suspect that will help. Sitting level right now with my normal bed weight and I won't mind the 1" higher lift in the rear after the AAL, I actually prefer that stance. That way if it does sag a little with weight even afterward, it'll hopefully just be level. Riding around this weekend I had some major bro-lean going on, not cool

 

I need to clean my engine bay to. It's more dusty than anything

 

you might get 2 sets right away. It sucks to install them. Make sure you get 3 or 4 Cclamps on each spring before you cut the pin

 

Riding the edge in Moab

https://youtu.be/xZZWQ8eVtSA

 

Ordered 883's, 5100's up front, dakars and 5125's out back. Also got my front diff, axles, and manual hubs installed for my 4x4 swap

 

That would be nerve-wracking for me. Not a fan of heights. Beautiful views though.

 

And this is why I love being a student


Also I called my local Toyota stealership Monday May 21st about getting pricing for replacing the rear wheel bearings and I have yet to get a phone call back.... I'd do it myself if I had the time and trusted myself to get it back together and put on right, plus if they screw it up it'll be under their warranty

 

I felt that way once, but then Alcans.

I dunno if you can tell though

 

I ran stock springs with a set of ICON progressive AAL's for a few years. When I decided to ditch my stock springs I went with OME Dakars. I was very disappointed in them at first, my truck sat lower with them then it did before. So I decided to add my ICON progressive AAL's and I am now very happy with them.

There is an Optima battery, steel tool box, a large pelican case full of tools and recovery gear along with an onboard air compressor and air tank in the back as well.