What Have You Done To Your 2nd Gen Tacoma Today?

The Wolves · Dec 10, 2020

TacoTuesday1 said: ↑

Bolts make noise when they are loose. I do not understand how a bolt that is too tight would make a noise.

Those are supposed to fit loosely. The CV shaft is smooth and rides inside of a bushing where it goes into the diff. They're held vaguely in position with a circlip at the inner end.

Tacoma's are not like certain passenger cars where when a component clunks, it can easily be found by hand. I don't know if dial measure indicator precise type tools are needed, but let me put it this way. If you have a clunk on an old Benz, you can find it by wiggling the wheel, looking at parts, and prying ball joints with pliers until you find the loose one.

2nd gen Tacoma doesn't work that way. You can have a failed part that still does not have detectable play by hand, but makes noise when driving the big heavy truck. Like lower ball joints. Because those should have been replaced anyway around 100k miles. But people don't. Then they clunk driving. But you can't feel it wiggling the tire by hand. So it's harder to figure out.
It is not a bad start to begin by replacing cheap parts that should be replaced anyway for other reasons such as reaching the end of their service life interval of miles/time. LBJ's are like $60/pair.
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thanks for all the info!

Key-Rei · Dec 10, 2020

kidsmoke said: ↑

Thanks. Dirty truck and a half done job there, I'll get some better pics of her all spit shined.

That last point is the point. Midwest winter driving means snow, and the headlights will often create nothing but a wall of white 18" in front of your grill. Also, Midwest creek hollers hold their fog well...in both of those situations the headlights hurt more than help. Between these awesome lights, their color and location, and the 'anytime' mod that allows me to cut out the headlight completely, I feel I just made the truck a much safer vehicle for very little scratch....and the fact that they look great is a bonus.
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I also like that I can cut off my headlights and just run my RIGID SAE legal fog pods, (thanks Crashburn) my switchbacks come on too and they are also amber give a little more light without the fog or snow reflection.

Question though, I visit snow but I don't live there, so from your white winter experience I would like to know, would lowering air pressure from say 33 to 25 give more traction and stopping power in powder and ice on the road without being unsafe?

CraigF · Dec 10, 2020

Key-Rei said: ↑

Question though, I visit snow but I don't live there, so from your white winter experience I would like to know, would lowering air pressure from say 33 to 25 give more traction and stopping power in powder and ice on the road without being unsafe?
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No, better to get a set of chains

deekyn · Dec 10, 2020

The Wolves said: ↑

Gonna have to hit up one of the LA based guys on here to help my out with this one it seems.
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Guess so, if I was out there I’d be all over it. I’ve been having a great time tearing apart my truck and figuring this stuff out. Good luck

Jimmy92870 · Dec 10, 2020

Got new wheels and tires

Old ones for sale if anyone's interested lol

justcuz · Dec 10, 2020

Did some color matching to body color

Toysareus · Dec 10, 2020

Top step pad arrived today. Bumper completed.

Gen2Tacoma · Dec 10, 2020

Toysareus said: ↑

Top step pad arrived today. Bumper completed.

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This is my last project for de-chroming! It looks great BTW! I'm assuming this is painted and not just primed. You got a part number or link?

Boco10 · Dec 10, 2020

Working on my front diff actuator. Any suggestions on getting the last bolt off?

[KD] · Dec 10, 2020

[KD] said: ↑

Just adding my two cents. I also had a hell of a time getting the actuator off. I couldn't see getting to the to two bolts any of the other ways described in this thread, going in from below seemed to be my only option but a regular socket was too short to reach the bolts and a deep socket was too long as my steering rack is right there. Enter SST no.1! I figured all I needed was a socket in between the regular and the deep so I cut the drive off a spare extension I had laying around and welded it on to a spare 12mm. Then I realised that was still slightly too long so I had to cut some off (left ugly in the pic). Once the bolts were loose of course the ratchet wouldn't engage but I couldn't get my fingers on to the bolt or turn the socket so enter SST no.2 (right ugly in the pic) - I cut the gear head out of an old ratchet and welded on the other end of the extension I cut up earlier. Viola! Something to get a grip of
Also found out, NAPA brake clean is awesome for getting rid of old RTV - not sure if that's been mentioned and pro tip - disconnect the electrical connector before going doing anything else because it's real hard to do once the actuator is hanging down dripping gear oil everywhere. Oh and drain your diff, it deserves a fresh fill.

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TLDR - cut down a deep socket to fit

boogie3478 · Dec 10, 2020

Loving the frame caps from Squareone Creations and @Nimble9

Toysareus · Dec 10, 2020

Gen2Tacoma said: ↑

This is my last project for de-chroming! It looks great BTW! I'm assuming this is painted and not just primed. You got a part number or link?
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The bumper is no longer available. It was a cyber Monday special from a Toyota dealer. I don’t think they had many, as they were gone in less than an hour. I didn’t even know about this sale. I got lucky. I think this was the part #
52151-04051.
I asked if it was just primered, and they said no. The bumper has numbers on it along with a Toyota number on the inside. On the bottom stamped into the bumper is Toyota and some other number. Came in Genuine Toyota box with the dealers name on it. Not sure where it was made, but box said made in USA. I was told it could be painted to any color I want, but that it didn’t need to be painted—it’s a satin black, just what I was looking for.

if you break the tabs on the top step pad here’s the number
52162-04011 Step Pad

You can go with non-o.e.m. parts for less money on eBay or Amazon. Because of the sale prices, I didn’t pay much more for o.e.m.

Full_enchilada · Dec 10, 2020

Boco10 said: ↑

Working on my front diff actuator. Any suggestions on getting the last bolt off?
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one of those universal joint sockets and a TON of patience and some short sockets. was super frustrating when I did it.

deekyn · Dec 10, 2020

Not what I did with my tacoma, but what I did with something I carry in my Tacoma...

Just jumped a dude in the grocery store parking lot with my Noco. This is like the best invention. So much faster that jumper cables. A couple jumps per charge, and you can just charge it in the car while you’re driving. You do, of course have to remember to keep it charged.

The Wolves · Dec 10, 2020

deekyn said: ↑

Guess so, if I was out there I’d be all over it. I’ve been having a great time tearing apart my truck and figuring this stuff out. Good luck
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I want to learn for sure. Just currently feel more comfortable having someone help me out to begin so I can eventually do this stuff myself! I have a cross country road trip coming hopefully this spring. So I want everything to check out and be done right before that.

Dmeezy333 · Dec 10, 2020

singletrack_ftw said: ↑

Hauled a crap ton of wood home after work for a table I’m going to build.

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What rock lights you running?

Nimble9 · Dec 10, 2020

boogie3478 said: ↑

Loving the frame caps from Squareone Creations and @Nimble9

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Love how the new caps stand out amongst the dirty truck

tacomaboy15 · Dec 10, 2020

mmarrrnold said: ↑

Last parts finally came in the mail so a busy weekend ahead for me. New UCAs, coilovers, leafs, shocks, brake lines, wheels. Basically everything. Wish me luck!
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if you need any help, I'm in Oceanside as well and I've got experience if you need another set of hands this weekend.

Anthony 82 · Dec 10, 2020

tacomaboy15 said: ↑

After my Front End rebuild needed to get my new headlights. Finally installed them and loving the HID projectors. Makes the front end look so mean.

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Looks awesome! What size tires you got on there?

tacomaboy15 · Dec 10, 2020

Anthony 82 said: ↑

Looks awesome! What size tires you got on there?
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howdy! I went with 265/75/16 BFG Ko2's.

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