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

Thanks man, I'm really happy how it turned out. I ordered the Toyota trim parts I quoted in my original post. There's a Youtube video that come's up when you type 2002 tacoma window trim, just followed the video. Super easy, just may need a pair of pliers to pull out your original trim and make sure the clips line up. If you worry about esthetics this is worth the $

 

You may have posted pics that I missed, but before you go replace the OTREs, I'd probably make sure they need replacement. I've replaced my LBJs 3 times now and never had to replace the OTREs... May depend on where the truck lived most of it's life - mine has always been on the west coast.

Anyway, I'd say that if you don't feel any play in the joint, and steering is still good, then save yourself the ~$120 on OTREs and just do the LBJs. Actually, it'll be more than that - because if you replace the OTREs, you need an alignment as well - so another $70-200, unless you've already got a lifetime deal somewhere. Or, unless you're doing more than LBJs and need an alignment anyway...

 

The tie rods I referenced do, ordered them 2 weeks ago

 

i was thinking about that too. i need new UCA soon anyways, so i might just hold onto OTRE and do them both right before i get an alignment. i wouldnt say my steering is bad, but i do have to work it a little to stay straight on the freeway, which could also be another issue, but for now im gonna see if all of this will help.

rad this will be an exciting project.

 

@turbodb brings up a good point too, it’s easy to get carried away thinking you need to change stuff cause you’re in there or you see other people do it.

I’m not trying to discourage you from doing it though, you know best what you need/want to change, just food for thought. Plus, these easier jobs help build your confidence working on your stuff, it definitely did for me. Ultimately it’s your truck at the end of the day so, as long as you’re stoked that’s all that counts

If you haven’t checked out @Timmah! vids on youtube I would do so. He has a tie rod and lbj one, really awesome videos start to finish

 

yup im gonna check everything tomorrow and make sure this quarantine doesn't have me spending more money than i need to lol. funny you brought up timmah, i literally just finished watching both videos just to get a general idea

 

Lift the tire off the ground, grab tire at 3 and 9, give it a shake and feel for play. If you find play try to figure out where it's coming from. With your hands in those positions it's likely inner tie rod, outer tie rod or steering rack. I personally don't believe in replacing parts just because I'm there, unless I'm really deep in something. If you have to do tie rods later it's a cake walk. Just remove the tire and pop the tie rod out of the lbj.

 

Should the rear output shaft/flange on the tcase have any kind of movement? Is there an acceptable amount of play that it can have?

I ask because I’m still chasing a vibration. Only odd thing I’ve found it I have in and out play on the rear tcase output shaft/flange

 

I prefer a heatgun and a plastic scraper. Hated the fishing line method.

 

This happened a week or two ago, just before doing my headlight retrofit, but I finally bit the bullet on the Prinsu rack when they had their one day flash sale. I definitely recommend the rivnut gun when installing one of these. I tried the traditional way of setting a rivnut and it just didn't seat the rivnuts at all. The measurements in the Prinsu instructions were spot on for aligning the rack on the cab. The thought of paying more for a roof rack than I did for a winch or front bumper kinda makes me a little sick though. lol. It wasn't "that much more," but... still. Anyways....

The traditional way...
The 2020 way...
The flush RivNuts

Glamour shots

 

I'd also like to publicly apologize for those absolutely gigantic pictures.

 

Good lucking truck man. It might be time for me to bust out the wax and clay bar on mine.

 

Thanks man! And don't let the pictures fool you, this is absolutely one of those "good from far..." situations. The p.o. did a terrible respray job on it and its not even factory super white anymore

 

I just got spammed by this on the internet... Looks like someone is trying to make a business out of a "modern material" based Wildernest, except it flips over the rear like the AT Habitat.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B-lTCPXgy4R/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B-QnUF9A01k/

https://www.instagram.com/p/B997mlqp70V/

 

It should have rotational play, backlash. In and out, should be little to none. I can pull up the tolerances in a bit.

 

That would be fantastic if you could! I’d appreciate it!

I picked up a new/used tcase today, it has a little play, but not sure if it’s the same or less than what’s in the truck now.

 

1997 Toyota Tacoma Limited
http://www.ksl.com/auto/listing/6366198


says it’s a V6, can say for sure

 

I finally got color matched all season mats. The interior looks much better.

https://youtu.be/S_xsIw1MwRI

 

Yeah that would be my preference as well. How did you remove the residue? I have some options

 

Put a new supercharger tensioner on today after the bearing start singing and found this decal in the box