Austin Area TW Chapter (all gens welcome, even T4Rs; heck, just make it a Toyota and we're good)

Nice score! That 5.7L V8 with the SC is tits!

 

Happy Birthday Chris, @Texoma !!

 

thanks Kurt, and Happy belated birthday to you buddy

 

What a fleet! Great score on that tundra!

 

hell yeah, that’s a deal

 

booked my campsite..

 

hell yeah!

 

Hi All,

Have not been on this thread in a while. It has sure grown!

I just bought a new to me 2020 Double Cab from my cousin in Cali. Going to pick it up in the Bay Area over spring break and my son and I will drive it back to Austin. I figure it will be good to spend time with him 1 on 1 before he enlists when he graduates.

We plan to spend a few days in SF with my cousin, take our time and go PCH to LA and see my aunt, then I-10 then all the way back.

- Any recommendations on a different route that might be better? Any must-see or must-stop places to eat or sightsee along the way?

- My kid is big into military stuff, any forts, museums and especially surplus stores along the way that anyone can recommend?

- Besides checking the air and oil before I make the 1800 mile trek, anything specific to the 3rd gen I should know before we make the trip? Any simple mods that might make the trip more comfortable?



Here is my 2nd Gen that is going to my son (after I swap the wheels).



Thanks in advance y'all.

 

The last few weeks I have been hearing a clunking when I hit some bumps and it seems to be coming from the front passenger side. I noticed some grease coming out of the lower ball joint on that side (picture). When I push on the rubber it kind of bubbles. The clunking is all a lot worse when it is really cold. Also, coming from what I think is the front passenger side is this humming sound or like whooom whooom as I drive and I can feel a little vibration as that sound occurs. It's like something rubbing half of the wheel rotation as the sound and vibration goes up and down in sound. I was wondering if anyone has ever run into this and can point me in what might be happening? Also, is it time to do the ball joint? Trying to get as much information as possible before I take it to a shop so I am not caught off guard or told something wrong. Thanks in advance for any information.

 

9 year old truck, yeah, time to freshen up steering and suspension. Your clunk and grinding noises could be any number of things. Is your suspension stock, or have you any aftermarket parts? Be specific please.

 

My suspension is not stock. I have Icon Vehicle Dynamics Stage 5 (tubular) which was put on in April 2019 and I am running 295/70/R17. Only other thing I have done up front in that area is Wheelers SuperBumps and Power Stop Rotors and Pads. The grinding noise was occurring prior to the brake upgrade. I thought it might have something to do with that which is why I did the upgrade and the rotors and pads didn't show any irregular wear. And yeah 9 years old with about 79,000 miles (only owner). So i figured I was getting in the range of needing to get some stuff done.

 

ok, when’s the last time you’ve greased your upper ball joints and bushings? Get your torque wrench out and hit your LCA cams to 110ft#’s. While your at it, check torque on the rest of the bolts that get loosened or touched during suspension and brake installation.

Does the grinding noise always happen at every speed? Certain speeds/conditions?

 

It has been awhile since I have greased my upper ball joints and bushings (probably a year, shame on me I know). I just ordered some grease to get that taken care of once it gets here Wednesday. I will torque everything up here in a little before I have to go pick the dog up to see if that helps at all or if anything is loose.

The grinding noise happens at every speed. It is most noticeable though I would say 20-50mph. I only drive once or twice a week (about 30 miles total) and hit about a 2 mile stretch of highway going 70-75 and in that stretch the grinding noise is much more faint.

 

The Whoom Whoom... Sounds similar to an issue we were having with my wife's Crosstrek.. It was a combo of the tire shop forgetting to put on hub centric spacers for her new rims and a defect in the tire that was exasperated by it. Not saying that this is what you have but if you had new rims or tires installed recently... could be something to look into.

 

when you hear the grinding noise, flip the 4wd selector to 4hi and see if it instantly goes away. Report back.

 

Ok so the bolts related to suspension and brakes were all tight to spec. With it getting colder the clunking noise occurred more frequently on my drive. It almost seems like it is happening when load is taken off the front passenger side suspension. Like when I go up a bump and the suspension compresses there is no sound but when that load is taken off it thumps.

The grinding noise went away immediately when I flipped to 4hi. I drove it in 4hi down the street until I hit a stop sign and didn't hear the sound at all. Then flipped back out of 4hi and it was back.

 

Ok, grinding noise can be cured with the ECGS 8” clam bushing. Clunking I was hoping would be loose alignment cam bolts, but sounds like they are torqued good (110ft#’s). So at least got one thing diagnosed through text. The other is more in depth though.

 

Having done literally this exact drive (Minus PCH) in Aug of 2021, if you’re looking scenic, AZ and NM are pretty picturesque.

However this is absolutely zilch between El Paso and Fredericksburg.

If I were to do it again, I’d try to worm my way through Flagstaff and see the Coconino national forest. Northern Arizona should be stunning this time of year.

 

Thanks for the information on the grinding noise. How far out are you booked up right now? And would you recommend getting/doing anything else in that area while in there? I can also message you directly to not clutter the board up.

For the clunking issue I will try hooking up my go-pro to see if I can capture the sound or maybe see something clanking in the next few days to help in figuring it out.

 

I think I’m in April for shorter jobs like this.

how old is the aftermarket suspension? Any fluid leaking from the shocks?