Wisconsin Tacomas and bad financial advice

@bkhlrTaco's your brake issue sounds simular to what I had after doing my ECGS bushing on my last truck. Did you torque the 35mm axle nut to spec (can't remember of top of my head 175ft/lbs?). I thought mine was torqued all the way but it wasn't and that allowed the hub assembly to walk out some because the bearing races aren't caputed. Which would open the pads in the caliper in turn took a few pumps to tighten them to the rotor again. And rinse repeat. That was the last thing I checked after troubleshooting everything and the axle nut wasn't tight....

 

It was the axle nut.
I appreciate all the input. @sparkystaco was warmest.
@CygnusX191 Bleeding brakes are not my forte and would've tried everything else I could, 1st.

 

Spot On

 

At least now you won't have to

 

Glad you found it before the bearings got destroyed. Bad design, if you break the splined spindle side of the CV axle you can't drive because it holds the bearings together.

 

Kind of thought a shake or wobble would accompany a loose axle nut though truck rode smooth as ever.

 

If you break the splined spindle side of the CV axle, you've already broken a bunch of other stuff and have had all the fun lol

 

True that, but I've seen a few pics that were sheared right behind the spindle bearings. Probably cheap replacement axles.....

 

Yeah, mine rode fine also.

 

Me 3
would have never noticed until the tyre fell off.

 

Let me just take out a 2nd mortgage.

 

Glad you found the problem.

 

Let it be noted that loose axle nut is why I only work on my own vehicle.

 

My friend has been sending me progress pics throughout this process. It's been interesting seeing the steps, and how the body shop and insurance company work with each other.

Here's the front end, disassembled. Note the coating of dust on everything.



Parts mocked up. Some of the aftermarket parts don't line up well, so they end up ordering OEM.



Torn apart again, waiting for parts and paint.



OEM bumper cover, ready for paint.


Passenger door, scuffed and primed for paint, to blend in with the new fender and bumper.




The scratches on the passenger side are going to look weird when they start at the rear door and the front door and fender are unscratched. Ha!

I can't wait to get it back!

 

Are they going to reinstall the winch?
What about that part on the rear bumper, I’m sure the shock from the impact knocked it off!

 

The steel bumper and winch are in my garage. I didn't want them to have to deal with it.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do about the rear bumper valance. I could either find another one that someone took off, or glue the broken one back on, or start saving for a steel rear bumper.

 

This is an acceptable ls post

 

Agreed!

 

This is great stuff! I was racking my head wondering why a loose axle nut would lead to spongy brakes, and this makes perfect sense now.

This also made me get how @sparkystaco loose lug nut suggestion could do the same thing, considering that rotors could move around and push in the brake pads. I’m learning!!!