The Getaway...Crom's build and adventures

I believe it is the aux port. Mine failed and there is a fix on YouTube.

I switched to a bluetooth FM transmitter.

 

Awesome! Found it. I'm give it a shot. Thanks!

https://youtu.be/JpQhX7fvjko

 

Yep, that's the clip.

This is what I'm using. I like it because it is small and doesn't emit a ton of light. Need to preserve the night vision even at noon.

$18 Bluetooth 5.0 FM Transmitter for Car, 3.0 Wireless Bluetooth FM Radio Adapter Music Player FM Transmitter/Car Kit with Hands-Free Calling and 2 USB Ports Charger Support USB Drive

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B07F2RTN5Z/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

Cool! Good deal that it can fast charge your phone too! Thanks. I got FM transmitter in my beater car. No fast charge but has an SD card slot that I pushed in flash card with MP3's on it.

For the truck I got one of these

TaoTronics Bluetooth Receiver/Car Kit, Portable Wireless Audio Adapter 3.5mm Aux Stereo Output (Bluetooth 4.2, A2DP, Built-in Microphone) for Home Audio Music Streaming Sound System https://www.amazon.com/dp/B013QJ0W8Q/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_7NyfDbWZRSQBG

I'm happy to try the aux repair soon. The days are long and full of light so I should be able to do a light truck task.

 

LOL I have that item in my cart for my beater. The aux port works on the Honda.

 

Happy Independence Day America!!!



I got some light maintenance done on the truck and repaired camping gear.

• Installed a
  $9 RV Designer L663 Cam for T Handle and L Handle Lock, 2-3/4"
  metal Cam for T and L-Handle Lock - 2-3/4" for the rear shell door. The A.R.E. factory composite one exploded into infinity. Slight modification of metal one in bench vice made for a nice snug fit. Blue lock-tighted everything
• Performed unscheduled maintenance on my ABS pipe hold down hardware. Pipe was slipping as one of the nuts became loose on the bindings. Repositioned pipe and blue lock-tighted and torqued everything down. I may end up replacing the pipe as its showing stress cracks due to wear and tear. Have replacement pipe already, just need to cut to fit and install new end cap.
• Installed replacement mechanical test plug on ABS pipe
• Repaired Exped Megamat by reinstalling recovered silicone one-way-gasket in deflate port.

Still have to fix the Aux port, and I think I may grease suspension bushings. I also want to build a custom wood kitchen tote and ditch my last rubbermade one.

 

I'm going to tackle Bushing maintenance in the next two weeks. My UCA's have been on the truck for 3-years, and about 10K miles. I think they are just now starting to squeak. Going to do the LCA's too, which are much more of a pain in the ass as there are no zerk grease fittings.

Total Chaos made this nice video on how to do UCA bush maintenance. They also show why owners need to do it right.

https://youtu.be/xvMdAX2uybs

 

..i was thinking about this the other day. I used TC install video several years ago which was perfect for my need. thanks for the reminder to do this.

 

Thanks for creating such an awesome thread Crom. I went with the early 4runner rims based on your recommendation and they've worked out perfectly for me, with zero rubbing issues with my 285/75/16 tires. You commented at one point in your thread that you were considering spraying them black. I'm a big fan of the stock finish but with my black winch bumper and black rock sliders, I decided to Cerakote mine black to match. I thought I'd share the finished product so you can get an idea of how yours would look if you decided to go black. Thanks again for the awesome thread and write-ups! I've benefited from your contributions on the site on more than one occasion.

 

They look great in black. How did you do the centercaps?

 

Thanks man. On the center-caps, I put plastic bumper filler in the stock logo cutout and sanded it smooth. I used some Rustoleum paint that was recommended for plastic to spray them black. Then I ordered some TRD decals off E-bay in a high-quality vinyl that were 4" in diameter and ordered the option of red lettering on a black background to go with the trucks paint color. The final clear coat of Cerakote is a matte finish which I sprayed on the wheels and center caps so they'd both have an extra coat of protection and the same amount of gloss. I opted for the air-dry Cerakote on the clear coat so I didn't have to worry about the center-caps deforming from the heat. Air-dry Cerakote takes about 5 days to fully cure but for heat-sensitive things, it's the perfect option. The wheels were done in the Cerakote graphite black that I baked at the usual, 250 degrees for 2 hours.
I started out Cerakoting guns and motorcycle parts but thought it would be fun to try something a little bigger. I'm pleased with how they turned out.

 

That looks amazing! Very well done. The colors do compliment your build. Thanks for sharing! I think @scocar would be impressed as well.

Much appreciated!

 

Truck is down for the moment.

I went in to grease urethane bushings, which was a good decision as the LCA's really needed it.

However I found that the driver side shock bushing sleeve has torn itself from the rubber and bush will need to be replaced.

For my loss Bilstein told me the wrong part no for the replacement bushing which was a waste of my time and money.

I'd accept a poly replacement if I could find one.

Also, the zinc washers that Whiteline bushings ship with are almost all bent / warped and I want to replace those as well.

What a pain.
















Bent / warped Whiteleine washers for Poly Bushings





[/URL]

 

...sorry for your pain there. i'm going back to figure where you placed those washers that are bent previously

 

LCA installed in December 2016. Pics here

Refurbed LCA pics here

The washers are zinc plated steel, but not hardened. Maybe they are designed to be soft. I don't know. But I think it's very poor form to have suspension components deform on install. The reason for the deformation is that they are bent when LCA cams are torqued to spec.

I put just a little over 10K on them. Bushings appear fine, just a smidgen of melting on one. haven't pulled pass side apart yet. Waiting on more parts.

Contemplating just tossing in my old factory take off once I get the shock worked out.

 

..agree, i don't like that washer deform, that is an expensive bushing kit, i'd expect more, but then as you say, maybe 'supposed to deform'??

 

..did this yesterday...what a difference. front end was singing squeaks while steering wheels thru multi-point turns and small bumps..much better today.

 

Do you run limit straps and are you running a swaybar? example...

"... the distorted lower eye bushing of the Bilstein 5100 indicated the shock was acting as the droop-stop (at least in part), instead of the anti-roll bar that we’d suspected."

https://www.drivingline.com/articles/how-to-protect-your-ifs-with-limit-straps/

 

Good to hear! I'm gonna take care of mine later today.

Also got new LCA washers coming to me. Reassemble truck and vacate to mountains, forest soon.

No sway bar. No limit straps. Good article. Thanks. My truck could probably benefit from them. As a work around, I did a quick search for a poly bushing to fit the Bilstein but wasn't successful.

Replacement rubber one will be here soon.

 

I just read that article too. As I no longer run a sway bar, I guess I will be adding limit straps...

Does it ever end?