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

Tell me about it! Some moron replaced the original 14mm with a janky 17mm. Already looking for a replacement.

 

Good call. Driveshaft bolts are something I wouldn't want to use aftermarket for.

 

Another OEM LBJ swap in the books. The old didn’t show any play or leaking but they were long overdue and it seems to ride noticeably better now. Makes me a strong believer that our LBJs can be worn out without showing any obvious signs…



FWIW the loaner pitman kit from advanced (Powerbuilt Kit 3) fit like a glove if anyone wants to avoid buying a set.



Had to get signed off by the shop supervisor before calling it done


This completes the boring "bring the truck up to reliability and safety standards" stage... now onto the fun stuff

 

Had an alignment after an off-road day. Took the tech 2 tries to get the caster up with JBA UCAs. Cam bolts are maxed out.

 

Master Meowchanic seems most pleased with the job.

 

Well for what it's worth, I completed my 3 day valve cover gasket job. Hopefully, I won't have to smell burning motor oil while driving down the road.

 

My Centric front rotors came in today...Akebono ceramic pads are en route. A question though. A couple of sites state not to use brake cleaner on their coated rotors, just dry them and run 'em. Mine look like they don't have the coating on the rotors but the hats are dark. There's a lube-like film everywhere. Can I clean them with hot soapy water and thoroughly dry them?

 

Yeah dawn and hot water will be fine, inner fins will probably rust, but they probably would anyway

 

Found out it's been 10 years since the addiction started.



Just a bit different now.

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

 

Similar paths my friend, had the truck for 10 years as well! How many miles on the rig again?

 

Similar here too, got my first Tacoma in August of 2013 but I didn't get on TW until June of 2024

 

I think I'm at 260k now?

 

Cool. I can blast those vanes out with my air compressor.

 

Time for the colorful parts… Finally got these assembled last night. 5100s and Dobinsons 276 on the bottom clip. We’ll see if I end up bumping them up a notch once the bumper goes on. Not planning on a mounted winch so I shouldn’t be adding too much weight…
Now it’s a race against the cold to get them mounted along with UCAs and new leafs.
Don’t tell my girlfriend I’m using her coat as a drop cloth

Also can anyone spot the mistake?

 

No dust guards?

 

Don't get me started on the dust guards... after a bunch of late night calls it turns out the new 5100s are designed to be run without covers/boots. I swore I remembered reading this when I bought them but that was 8 months ago, I guess that's what I get for waiting so long to assemble...

The correct answer is more trivial, I forgot to remove the sticker from one of the coils. You can see it trapped against the bottom retainer.

Side note, those little stickers are cleverly placed to cover up a manufacturing blemish in the paint, it looks like the spot where the coils were hung for painting... not the biggest deal but seems a little shady to try to hide it.

 

Ah okay, I never looked that close at the dobinsons on my land cruiser. I can't remember if my 5100s from back in the day had dust boots or not now that I think about it

 

I suppose its a truck so idc too much about it... but joke's on me because that little blemish is way less noticeable than the stupid sticker lol

If I'm wrong about the dust boots then I'll just need to upgrade shocks sooner than I planned

 

Finally tackled the leaf springs and front shocks last couple days. Didn't take any pictures of the work beyond one text message reply to a "what'chu doin'" message.

I reclaimed juts about 1.25" in the front and about 2" in the rear. It also rides worlds better.

Thanks to @turbodb for their write up, made it a cinch.

 

The old 5100's I took off the front didn't have dust boots and I don't think my 6112's have them either