1999 Tacoma SR5 TRD Imperial Jade Build, Sweat and Tears

Before


After (not all that noticeable)



Heres the numbers
Front Driver Before 35 7/8 Front Driver After 35 3/4

Front Passenger Before 35 5/8 Front Passenger After 36 1/2



Makes no sense, the driver front is now lower even though its lifted? I double checked and they are both on the 2nd clip from the bottom. We shall see when I put the Dakars in.

Did a ride around the block with only the front changed and its a massive difference. Much better. One thing I did notice is that Im getting some sound from the springs when I turn right and left. Is that because the lower perch where the spring rests move on the 5100s?

 

Awesome build so far! We have the exact same truck too! Year, model, color, everything! The only difference is I have the superior gray interior. Can't wait to see where your build goes!

 

Thanks. Just looked through yours, it looks like yours needs cab bushings too.

 

Well, it looks like I was right. Heres from a dead cold start in the morning. These numbers should be the same. Looks like IAT is reading about 10 degrees hotter then it really should be. Not really great for power or MPG. Now I have to find a MAF.

 

Decided to roll the dice and get a brand new Denso MAF. Was really hoping I wasn't gonna blow $100.

I did the same route twice. Keep in mind its like 105-110 degrees out (F).

Also as a side note, I need to see why my coolant temps are that high. Gonna hose out the condenser and radiator. Maybe the fan clutch is going bad too. Also need to check the coolant level.

Took the photos in the same spot on the route.

This is with the Delphi MAF currently in the truck. IAT 127F.



With the new Denso MAF. IAT 118F.



I won't know for sure till I get that reading in the morning and see if its even with the water temp. But so far id say that its fixed and not reading 10 degrees too high.

 

Ah man the last 2 days working on this thing have been hell.

Last night i attempted to swap out the top part of my steering rack which was leaking and I found a non leaking top. Tired without jacking it up and tires on

Spent 3 hours and failed. Had the whole thing unbolted and the top part off. Couldnt get the 17mm lines off coming from the rez. I didnt know the line are bolted to the frame. For some reason there wasnt mathcing tie rod ends and one of the castle nuts was a 25mm which I dont have. Gave up around 1:30am and put everyhing back.

This morning I jacked it up and pulled the tires. Realized my ball joint tool was too small and I didnt have a crescent big enough for inner tie rods. Went and got the stuff and got it out. Went to swap the top part of the rack with the rack off the truck. For some reason the gear crushed the top of the needle bearings inside the rack. Was pretty much hating life.




Decided to bomb it to the junk yard to see if I could find anything because I need my truck up and running. Lucked out big time! Found the newer stlye (2001+) rack on a 4runner with no signs of leaking and somone already pulled the motor so it was easy access.






Got back and started taking taking the bushing out of the 01 rack. Mine were still good so I swaped them over. Kind of a pain in the ass to press these out.

Then pulled the inner and out tie rods because I have new Moog ones.


Whoever worked on my truck before is an idoit. I tried to take my tie rod ends apart so i could get the measuement on how to set up the new ones. The ones off my truck might as well of been welded together. Eventually I got it. Pretty much every corner I turned on this whole thing was a nightmare.

Got it all in and together. The wheel was slightly off so I took apart the steering joints and got it lined up.

The steering is super tight now. There was inches of play before.



The Moog tie rods.



Also while I was down there I found this. It looks like I'm missing a cover. Maybe someone can tell me. Is there supposed to be a cover on the front of the manual trans?

 

Starting to get burned out working on this thing. So far its been hours almost everyday since I got it.

Tomorrow the OME Dakars are supposed to show up since UPS screwed me and didn't leave them Friday. Looks like Ill be putting those in tomorrow and getting a alignment, plus taking this thing back to get smogged.

 

UPS brought the Dakars.



Gonna take a guess and say whoever worked on this mounted the parking brake cable the wrong way.




Had to use two straps to get the pin to seat into the axel. One to pull in forward and one to pull it sideways


Also whoever did the suspension last only used one bushing per side on the shackles. WTF. What is wrong with people.




Pretty much looks terrible IMO. The back is comically high. Its easily over 3 inches. I ordered the medium Dakars and the lift is even way over the heavys.

Does anyone know how to identify the difference between the medium and heavy Dakars? Mine has 7 springs. I hope it really settles a lot or Im going to pull a leaf and make it light duty.


Before

 

For light load applications, the 2nd leaf from the bottom of the spring pack can be removed for improved ride comfort, this is straight off the Toytec website but have seen it other places too.

 

I spoke with ARB today and they said to never do that and that its not recommend by them, but Ive seen it a few different places now like 4wdparts. I still might do it. Its too damn high for me.

 

That's interesting that they would have that stance since the two bottom leafs are overload leafs. There are several companies like Deaver as an example that don't even have them. If you do decide to do it post up some pics so we can all see the diference.

Another option would be to raise the front another notch.

 

Thanks for posting this very interesting and informative write-up with pics. Gave me some motivation and some ideas I'm going to build into my taco.

I have the same model year, same interior but repainted mine for the later year cement color. Did the paint job with a friend over at his spacious plastic sheet tented in garage.

That Forerunner map light swap out is a really great idea.

BTW, I installed an alarm system awhile back and just had remote power door locks added in to the setup.

 

Gonna decided what Im going to do soon. But right now every time I look at the truck I hate it. I don't really want to go higher with the front to even it up. I don't really want it that high and Im don't really want to diff drop either. The way it was, was high enough for me. It still offroaded pretty damn good.

 

Do you have a build page here?

 

First leg. Los Angeles to Park City Utah.


Still hating the hell out of my reverse prerunner lift.

 

104 degrees. Pretty sure it was hotter.




Solar farm




$50 on pump 96 please (living that reverse prerunner life)




Got lucky, the cop pulled the person behind me over.

 

The truck wasn't liking driving through the blistering desert up hills and cars blocking the wind over the radiator. Water temps were around 212, a little higher then I care for. Not really looking to toast a head gasket. Was getting tired of running the heater on hills and not running the AC. Process of elimination step one. Stopped in Vegas first and check the coolant level, even attempt to see if the system was full bleed. Strike one. The decided to pull over in Arizona and put a new fan clutch in the 110 degree heat. Only knocked it down a couple of degrees. Strike two (I don't like using cheap parts, but pretty much no choice on this one).






Back on the road






Chasing a semi for a draft for about 20 miles going 87 mph. Had a hard time keeping up.


My steering started acting weird at about this point and my front diff was leaking like crazy between the front diff and CV. If you care, you can read about it here https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/front-diff-steering-problems-need-help-on-road-trip.676231/ Still in the process of figuring it out.

 

With messed up steering and a sieve for a front diff, I still decided to take a couple pics.

 

Here a couple bonus ones from when I stopped after to check my power steering fluid.









I only have 1 day in Utah and I wanted to spend it taking photos but I ended up spending it chasing problems with my truck down. I think these issues might kill photos for the trip if I can't sort them out. I might just have to got straight to my destination instead of adventuring around.

 

Really regreting putting the Dakars in. Its not settling and all. I had no idea it would be this ridicliously high. I should of waited till I had a shell or was done with the road trip. Its even a b to sleep in the back even on level ground its so slanted forward.