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

This week I installed (weld on)1" recovery points to rear hitch

 

anyone running energy poly rack bushing experience creaking noise when turning? I replace rack bushing. Inner and outer tie rods and lower ball joints all at the same time a few weeks ago now I have this creak noise when turning

 

Did you grease them into the bejesus belt when installing? You have to use a tacky grease, like what they include- though much more than they include.
Try spraying them with silicone spray. You will have to do it about once a week for a while.

 

I swapped over an ES300 stalk to give me a wiper delay. I also moved my corners up and put in some projector LEDs for better lighting up front.

 

Retrofit with switchback led strips, clear corners, signals wired to a switch, blue demon eyes



I’m new here also from Atlanta, lmk if I’m doing anything the wrong way. Enjoy!

 

I didn’t grease them at all. The rack is not meant to move, why would I want them greased?

 

Yeah I didn't grease rack bushes either. No creaks. When I have creaks it's always the lower heim on the icons

 

Mine don’t creak or I guess it could just be that they creak quieter than all the other creaks, squeaks and rattles

 

So they don't make noise.

 

I greased them with the ES Formula 5 grease they came with. Not saying that's why yours are creaking though.

Everything I remember reading on the bushings back when I installed them (one of the first DIY maintenance projects I did), longer life seemed to be a consistent reason for greasing them. As for not moving, my rack had movement - but that was probably due to the bushings being original

 

My steering bushing packs never came with grease. I remember because I had to find the super lube to press in the one sleeve in the middle bushing

 

Honestly I don't recall but almost positive they came with a few of those little 1.5 use little tubes of grease.

I do know this, if I hadn't greased them it would've been a to get them pressed in (especially that middle one lol)

 

If the rack was not meant to move it wouldn't have bushings, it would be mounted steel to steel. It's not meant to move much, but it needs to move a little. Not saying it is suppose to move enough to make noise, or that you should greese the bushings, just that it is intended to move at least a little.

 

Today's items included -

Installed SPC UCAs




Installed my new TRD batt hold down (thanks @Coupe) - on the list, replace my aging MegaTron II (even though its still doing the job)




Replaced wires and plugs




and last checked off item today - made an appointment for Monday to do the alignment and have the new tires/wheels mounted

 

Those tires are still pretty hawt

 

Long weekend for me (yes, I'm finally working again. Yay?) so started on the rear bumper again after talking with Coastal and coming up with a game plan. Pretty much what I was going to do either way. Chopped about 1.5" off the bottom mounting plates so I could move them backwards to the proper position and drilled a new mounting hole. Works good and is still stronger than the OEM bumper was. Center section is all tacked together and i started doing the finish welding on it before I tackle the wings and tire carrier.

 

I greased mine. But was thinks ng this exact same thing. They don't move so they don't really need to be greased. And they aren't going to be the source of any creaking sounds.

 

My OEM bushings are now creaking every turn. Doing the energy suspension sway bar and steering rack this weekend. I'm replacing them more to make my passengers stop asking me what's wrong with my truck. I'll have to look into what grease I should use. If the creaking stays I'll be pretty stumped on what's left since I've replaced almost everything on the front end at this point.

 

I most likely missed it before in forum, but that tailgate is awesome!
Is iit like a cut up 3rd gen tailgate or?

 

Well... Got the rear end done.

Bilstein 5100s
1.5" Lift Add A Leaf from 4 Wheelers
Timbren Off-Road Bump Stops
New bushings for everything