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

Very little fitment was needed. I think that will do the trick just fine.

Even without added travel in the back (for now), hydrobumps should be a game changer back there.

 

It'll be completely different with the 63s.

The Hydrobumps will probably be mounted outside the frame rail (with the shocks).

Also, I'll bake more up travel in to the cake by hacking the wheel wells, when I do the 63s.

But the old bumpstops were destroyed, and I'm to the realization that I won't be able to finish the rear axle or do the 63s until next winter.

I'm tired of having the truck apart. The snow is almost melted, and the trails are about to open. So, this is the solution for this season.

 

Yeah that makes sense, I thought you were going right to doing the rear end (that's why this seemed like a weird step) but I get wanting to have it going for the season.

 

Honestly. It's the best compromise because the time (and money) is running low.

I still have about 6 grand to sink in the rear axle, to finish it. And I've already spent a metric shit ton of cash on this truck in the last 6 months. I could finish it... but, it's really a better idea if I tap the brakes a bit and wait till the end of the season.

 

Gave it a much needed bath.

 

Does anybody know if ABS axle shafts will work with a non ABS rear axle housing? For a t-100/8.4 rear

 

Pulled another leaf out of the pack, lowered the rear better but axlewrap is a thing. For now the ride is better and it's actually driveable. It's coming along! Traction bars next and then it will be ready for its heart of Chevy thunder.

 

Figured out my tweeter situation. Dremel into oem tweeter cover. Kicker tweeter threads into it.

 

Interesting, and its rated for more weight? My OEM leafs - overload leaf + 3 leaf AAL kit = rides like ass. I need to look into a softer replacement. I don't haul heavy stuff, when I camp my gear is probably not even 200lbs. I'm not really lifted that high either- higher than stock but not high enough to wear out my CV boots. What brands/makes of leaf packs should I be looking into?

 

deaver has some lower lift soft ride springs

 

So as Speedytech7 said, deaver has some stuff that is aimed at that. I went with Alcan which are custom, made to order leafs, and for that reason, they are pretty pricey. I believe the deavers are much more cost effective.

To answer your first question, yes, Lew the owner of Alcan took my order and said the leafs I ordered would handle 700 lbs above stock leafs' capacity (which seems a bit high to me. When I go camping (which is only for hunting), I do tend to load 300-400 lbs up in the rear, so we'll see how she handles that. But so far the ride quality is really great, and I don't regret the $1400 price tag one bit.

 

I took my truck out to Pismo this past Saturday and threw a p2111 code. Going to try a new TPS and clean the TB… next will be bite bullet and get new TB. Is that an off brand or OEM Denso or Aisan?

 

Thank you gents, Deaver it is then, sounds right up my ally. @Red_03Taco I wonder if its simply length, curvature and thickness mixes of the leafs that allow for a very progressive spring rate. Just guessing the OEMs are made to cut as much cost as possible and do not leverage as many leaf of different thickness, length and curvature to offer a nice broad and progressive rating. Maybe its just metallurgy/quality, maybe its just that leafs don't age well over time. I'm no leaf spring SME thats for sure, but this is interesting.

I'm liking the sound of getting both better ride quality and capacity... its really rare in this mod game to get two-birds one-stone...

I have a list of mods to continue on with my truck, but then the 2024 has really caught my attention (flame suite on).

 

I don't think they will

 

I think you hit the nail right on the head. These Alcans have 9 thinner leafs in the pack. My old AAL pack was 4 leafs (+1 overload leaf). No overload on the Alcans, and yet my rear end is maybe 1" higher than before, so I'd assume total spring rate must be similar. Million ways to skin the cat

 

Aisan brand

 

Thanks. I looked up right after and already have one in my cart. Hoping the TPS and a cleaning of TB solves it… one can hope

 

I changed my inner tie rods trying to track down my wandering steering issues. There was a 1/2" play where the back of the tires could move towards each other and away, constantly changing toe can't be good...



Also, there's strangely no machined surface to support the inside of the rack when removing or installing the tie rods on this aftermarket rack. Oh well.

But unfortunately that didn't yield great results even though it did way better on the freeway. I still had some looseness.

That lead me to investigate the steering shaft, I pulled it out and my original tac weld hadn't held up to a few years of offroading. Now with a bit more experience welding and a longer weld, I'm hoping it will hold for the foreseeable future.

That fixed all my symptoms. Steering is direct and feels as nimble as a lifted 1st gen should

 

Installed the pass side bed stiffener from KwikFab. I didn't realize how much I could flex the bed by pushing/pulling on the corner above the taillight with my body weight before this

 

That color is sexy, I love that I bought that can