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

I honestly cant wrap my head around why these have been such a popular topic for discussion here lately. I mean, its a hook. If it gets used, the zinc plating will wear off and it will corrode. Dont like it, bedline it off or on the truck and install stainless M8-1.25 bolts. Not much to it really.

 

i thought they are/were made of some alloy!
... have never really been able to use them before, had to finger feed string/rope back in there behind plastic liner if i did have to use them


using my google diploma:
a metal made by combining two or more metallic elements, especially to give greater strength or resistance to corrosion.

 

Looks like galvanized/zinc plated steel to me.

 

i wonder if one of those fabricators on TW can make a big batch of aluminum ones and group buy, is there much interest in that?

 

Aluminum would make a horrible tie down. Would break pretty easy with constant use. Just stick with the steel, bedline it if you dont like rust. Any other finish is gonna rub off with use.

 

I haven't run ES, but I really like my Whitelines over the worn out stock ones lol.

Both ES and Whiteline are Polyurethane.

I didn't like the fact that you have to burn out the rubber and re-use the stock bushing shell with ES... seems hokie to me.

 

Especially something as small as a tie down...can only imagine how easily they'd bend if you had to ratchet strap something heavy with them

 

I can hear the snap now. Then shards of aluminum are launched into your eyeball.

 

I had one ES poly bushing in my passenger leaf main eye. (Long stort as to why only one, but to keep it simple, dont buy cheap leafs) Anywho, I lubed it heavily with super lube while struggling to install it, gave up on installing the other ones and just ran with the one. Stupid thing creaked like crazy after 2 months when 20 degree days became the norm. Never again will I install poly bushings, Ill stick to rubber.

 

The Daystar poly bushings I have creak like crazy too, even with the zerks and after pumping them with grease regularly.

 

Thank goodness I saved the stock rubber bushing. I reinstalled it last time I had the leafs out, no more creaking. Say what you want about rubber bushings, but their danged quiet when their newish.

 

My Whitelines squeak from time to time on the trail... not on normal roads, or when daily driving.

 

Every morning when backing out of the driveway Id get a loud pop from the poly. Really triggered it if it was cold outside.

 

looks like i failed chemistry class

perhaps aircraft grade stainless steel?

 

My sanity has been saved. I have been hunting for a rattle/pecking noise for a while. Only happened on the highway above about 55-60. Couldn't determine if it was behind the passenger side dash, but in that general vicinity. I taped up several things with gaffer tape, stuffed foam here and there, both inside and under the hood/front end. No luck. Today my wife drove, and I flopped in with my head under the dash, ass in the seat. No mean feat for a fat, old man. Got a good idea of the location. Turns out one of the push-in fasteners for the flexible trim in the wheel well had popped out and once there was sufficient air flow, would begin flapping and the fastener would hit the frame. Such blessed quiet now!!!

 

i have been having similar problem! can you see it with the glove box out?
a pic would be helpful so i can get on top of it soon if this is one of the same noises I have at the speed
i am also having weird noises at 2.1k rpm in 2nd 3rd 4th 5th gear but ONLY under certain situations (so far)

 

Oh, this turned out to just be a loose piece of the trim that goes between the inner fender down to the frame, out in the wheel well.

 

@drr you have some unique bed tie downs that seemingly bolted right in. I remember them being a marine part

 

ok i will check it out on mine, do you drive with your fresh air or recirc air on?
I have been experimenting with this as well to see if the noise is coming in thru the ducts

 

Just finished the final bits a few minutes ago - and of course the first thing you do (after eating) is post it.

I had never done any suspension work in my life, until yesterday. Put in new custom Alcan Leafs, greaseable shackles and greaseable front eyes; then today new MCM Fab UCAs and ADS coilovers. Love the look now when you glance past the tire into the wheel well.

Today took me WAYYYY too long, and I learned a lot about pressing out ball joints, etc. Would have maybe gone faster with a second set of hands. I know the second side certainly went way faster. Thankful to the forum and folks like @turbodb for the help and inspiration.

Next up, rear shock relocation!

Cheers