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

LOL... I'm going on 4 years with my ES poly bushings. I just looked at them when I was eliminating my alignment cams and installing the LCA skids. They've seen work, no doubt, but don't look at all like they need replacement.

 

I replaced both entire LCA's a year ago, had some cracks in the originals. The clunk was there before I took it to the shop, that's what pushed me to change the other parts initially. I'll get a chance to go in and check torque on the steering rack bolts and everything else this weekend and get an update in here.

 

I know a couple people that have been through multiple sets of the ES rack bushings. They don't last.
My TC ones have held up great to a lot of hard wheeling and use. Have turned multiple people onto them and they've had no issues with them since switching.

 

I wonder how/why some can have completely different results with the same product.

Lot's of people have said they've had their ES bushings wear out quickly. Which I'm not questioning or doubting. I actually started looking around for other options because of the reports that ES bushings wear out quickly. But as stated before, I just don't see the wear everyone talks about with mine.

I'll probably end up switching mine out this winter, (as more of a preventative measure) but I think I'm going to go with Whiteline. They recently started offering the rack bushings for ours. With as much better their LCA bushing are, over ES, I'm thinking the rack bushings should be pretty good.

 

I’ve gone through 3 sets of ES bushings in like 40k miles. I’ve had the TC ones on there for a good 10-15k and they look like new still

 

Right on... But again. I don't get the difference. I've got about 60K on the ES bushings on my rack, They're worn, but not really in need of replacement. I'm just wondering what would cause such a difference in results.

 

Quality assurance? Got lucky? You might be the only person I know that has had a positive result from them.

 

I wouldn't really call it a positive result lol. It just is what it is.

I'm just baffled though. Those bushings don't even really do anything. They're more isolators than "bushings."

I'm not understanding what would even cause them to fail so quickly.

As far as a difference between ES, TC and even Whiteline... I would have been willing to bet Poly is Poly and it's all the same repackaged shit from the same manufacturer. (obviously that must not be the case if ES bushing really can be that much worse than TC for example)

I do know, I put a metric shit ton of Poly grease on Poly Bushings. I keep entire tubs of that shit on hand. I'd say I put at least 5 times more grease on Poly Bushings than what is provided with them. I wonder if that might have something to do with it.

 

I just, actually, looked back... I have almost 5 years and over 100,000 miles on my ES rack bushings.

 

Low miles compared but I put a set of ES rack bushings on in January, 20k later and still no issues.

 

Poly is definitely not poly, many different density poly out there. TC seems to be a bit more firm.

and I think in all there cases mine failed due to the bushing tearing. So not really completely worn out. But that could be because they are softer.

 

bought and cleaned

 

No picture?

 

Finished up the last video from our Swamp Lake trip, last night, if anyone is interested.

Pretty epic trail. It's called (considered) "The Mini Rubicon" by many. It definately has it's challenges, and definately was worth the trip. We'll be doing this trail MANY more times, I'm sure.



Here's the link to the Swamp Lake playlist
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLu2kN2TIoSgiibqKcXzpIqyaBvggeExhr

 

Hmmm , why are you moving?

 

yeah I feel the same with ES bushings, seen then get woahed out easy

 

My guess is the difference in driving styles. Most people seem to get more than a year out of OEM lbjs. I get less than one. Most aren't having issues with cracks in core supports, coilbuckets, spring perches, crossmembers, ect. Or maybe my shitbox just knows it's a shitbox so it does it for attention.

 

It might, but he seems to drive his truck pretty hard.

 

One day I'll learn how to add photos to my post.

Over the past 3 weeks I've been sanding my truck to have it repainted. Picked it up from the paint shop last Thursday and have started to put everything back on.

While the fender trims were off, I pressure washed them and sprayed painted them with the Black plastic dip paint another person on TW had mention.
Yesterday I got the driver's side factory wheels sanded and painted. Used, Rust-Oleum Universal Metallic Paint and primer. Color Titanium Silver. Came out very nice. I'll get the other 2 wheels today.

I have a question that maybe someone can answer here.
I removed the Factory roof rack and most likely won't reinstall it. Does anyone have a good suggestion for a Temporary hole plug where the threaded holes are on the roof?
3 holes at each mounting location.
And if anyone happens to be looking for a factory rack, I'd be willing to sale or trade it.

 

Some RTV and a bolt. If you want low profile you could use a grub/set screw.