Any Members in Arkansas?

Marking my calendar. If you see me down there. Here's a picture.

 

Happy 4th. Heading to the garage to install new inner and outer tie rod ends.

 

I've been using MOOG tie rods on all of my other cars for 10 years. All good experiences. I really liked the problem solver (PS) line and the grease zerks. No experience with them and the Taco. I'm replacing inner and outers today with some OEMs. Do you have a place to buy new OEMs at a discount?

I borrowed the tools for the inner 42mm from Advance. Then I picked up a set of the big open end "Service Tool Set" at Harbor for the 30/32mm.

Turns out the barrel on the advance tool is too small to clear the inner tie rod ball socket to reach the 42MM. Tractor Supply here I come for a BIG crescent wrench.

 

Rock on.

Most dealerships sell parts below MSRP online. ToyotaPartsDeal.com is a good source for discounted OEM parts as well. I typically search for parts on https://parts.villagetoyota.com/, and buy from Toyota Parts Deal.

 

Just finished the tie rod end replacement. It does drive better. I got lucky and landed on a perfect alignment setting. It tracks down the interstate perfectly if I take my hand off the wheel. I'm going to take it in for a check tomorrow and to get the wheel centered. I bought a lifetime alignment package from Firestone in Conway that lets me get it realigned without charge. It comes in handy if you're doing a lot of suspension upgrades.

I may get the tires balanced at Discount Tires on Capitol Ave in downtown LR. They have an actual "road force" balancer that does the best job I've found. I'll gladly drive from Conway down to get one of their good balancing jobs. Note: They are a local company that is not affiliated with Discount Tire in Sherwood.

 

I went ahead and got all OEM parts. I saved quite a bit by shopping online at Camelback Toyota’s website. Immediately after ordering, I went for a drive and my driver door lock started making a horrible noise when you lock the doors. Ugh.

 

If it ain't one thing, its something else.

 

For a mere 25 bucks a year I joined Razorback Land Cruisers and I get 25% discount at Landers on any parts. Worth it if you do a lot of your own work.

Oh and its nice to get the tee shirt and all the other benefits. Any Toyota with a transfer case can join the club.

 

That's a good deal.

I bought 99% of the parts for my build at McGeorge https://toyotaparts.mcgeorgetoyota.com/. They run 33% off. Shipping is not free but they don't stuff or stick it to you on subsequent parts additions to the same order. On a bunch of items I ordered, it turned out to be a good deal. They ship FedEx and I usually get the order in two days -- three days at the most. When I was gathering a bunch of parts, I would send them an email with a just a plain layman's description of what I needed and they would reply to the email with the parts list that I could verify and push through their site. Maybe it's just my location, but I try to avoid buying from vendors west of Texas that ship UPS. It seems like it takes a week to get UPS deliveries from the west where FedEx from the east happens in a couple of days.

 

I went to one of their meetings once

 

Saturday morning at 8:30 I've got to be at Discount Tire in Sherwood to get the new wheels installed and tires replaced. I'll swing by Burns afterward.

 

Awesome! See you there.

 

Plenty of photo ops....See ya Saturday...

 

That flipac lookin good boss!

 

I'll be in LR that morning and will stop by Burns. 'Looking forward to seeing some old mugs and meeting some new folks.

If any 2nd or 3rd gen folks with a short bed are in-need of an OEM bed mat, let me know and I can bring it with me. Fits 2005-2019.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...e-prov2-console-organizer-oem-bed-mat.617409/

 

SOLD

 

See y'all Saturday!

 

I might take that bed mat if it wasn't a shortie....I'll prolly be stoppin by too

 

The PC term is "vertically challenged."

 

I've never been PC, so I'm stickin with shawty