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

ECGS bushing swap and steering knuckle swap to Total Chaos gusseted knuckles with double shear Heims(courtesy of RC Fabrication).

This is the most mechanic-ing I’ve ever did to a vehicle. I want to have this truck a long time so I’m trying to take the initiative to do my own work for now, outside of the engine anyway. What a regular mechanic probably could’ve knocked out in a few hours took me the better part of Friday evening and Saturday, but I did it myself and learned a lot in the process.

Getting the CV axle out for the Bushing swap whipped my ass Friday night, so restarted Saturday and found a better chisel that let me get a straighter line on those points.

What took me forever on the driver half took me a few hours maybe on the passenger half. A test drive up to 60 mph had nothing feeling wrong on the front end outside of the steering wheel being off center, but I needed an alignment anyway. I did apparently bugger up one of the ABS sensors though, started the test drive out fine but it came on in the 3 mile or so round trip.

Those horrible rusty brakes will be gone soon, Power Stop kit is sitting on the bench and I had hoped to get it done in this too, but oh well. Also need to swap the LCA’s as the driver side has a bushing failing. It’s a start though.

Edit: forgot I also installed new wheel bearing kits from @05Taco4x4

 

Yesterday I reinstall my Relentess Fab hilift and axe/shovel mounts after repainting then a couple of weeks ago. Also pulled off the pop and lock to paint it. Used 2 coats of Krylon Fusion satin black. Not sure if it's necessarily better but it certainly isn't any worse. We'll see how well it holds up.
Before
After

 

I've heard a heat gun will bring faded plastic back to black. Not sure about this type of application though.

 

Yep, those headlights were crystal clear

 

Little bit late of some of this stuff.

8/1/2022: New wheel bearings



9/2/2022: New reman Toyota alternator



9/17/2022: Dirt King LCAs and fresh oem LCA cam bolts and hardware

 

Finished the install of 200 mile old 2022 3rd gen struts and coils on the 2008. Added the 1/4" driver lean spacer that evened it out. Ended up, after driving and settling, with 1-3/8" lift gain on the front from my tired 84,975 mile stock struts. Picture is from before driving and settling.

After it settled 3/8"

Then had to swap trucks for the oil change and 5k service on the 2012.

 

Can someone please take a measurement of their bed near the tailgate where those two metal humps are on the sides.

Just need that measurement between the two metal supports. My truck is 53"

 

DO NOT heat gun Pop&Lock. It’s burns it. Not the right plastic. Ask me how I know

 

can’t comprehend where you’re talking about. Photo with arrows will do the trick

 

53” on the dot.

 

53" also

 

Thanks guys!

 

I got the same thing. Anybody got this?

 

Washed and vacuumed my Truck and the Wife’s 4Runner. Time for a cold beverage

 

Replaced heater fan resistor and connector yesterday. So glad this was such any easy fix to a really annoy problem

 

How do you like the side mirrors? Been contemplating them for towing the boat and popup.

 

I may or may not be fitting some 37s on a 2” lift if only this rain would go away



side note might have some 295/70/17 patigonias for sale lots of life left

 

Cutting out rust, welding in repair sections, and some Por15....working on something for the Taco to pull.