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Low hanging fruit for 1st gen mods?

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by jerrynerdalert, Jan 25, 2025.

  1. Jan 31, 2025 at 5:19 PM
    #41
    rocknbil

    rocknbil Well-Known Member

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    For those part numbers, from Ourisman Toyota:
    Front right lower $126.23
    Front left lower, $109.20

    I would enter VIN to ensure the right parts as the 2WD's/4WD's differ. Call them to make sure, but when I ordered mine they came with the bolts. Note there are two bolt lengths, one with and one without the rubber protector.
     
  2. Jan 31, 2025 at 6:25 PM
    #42
    darth_bronchioles

    darth_bronchioles Well-Known Member

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    TRD Supercharger URD 7th injector kit K&N intake 4Runner Mirrors Fog Light Mod
    OE LBJs have tolerance of 0.02" of play. Anything more than that is considered worn out and due for replacement. You tell me if you can hold a set of calipers steady enough to discern 1/50th of an inch with any certainty. I personally wouldn't bet my life on my ability to do that. When you start to feel the other symptoms, you're driving on borrowed time. This is an extremely common failure, unfortunately, and most of us replying here are speaking from experience. As others have said (and I have personally experienced), it can and will happen without any warning or any other symptoms. Just bite the bullet and get them replaced. It just happened to someone on Reddit yesterday https://old.reddit.com/r/ToyotaTaco...irst_gen_tacoma_pulled_a_cv_axel_and_broke_a/
     
  3. Jan 31, 2025 at 6:31 PM
    #43
    Parkvisitor

    Parkvisitor Do you know midnight?

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    It’s a truck
    stuff
    well said dude!!!
     
  4. Jan 31, 2025 at 8:19 PM
    #44
    Dare Devil Diablo

    Dare Devil Diablo Well-Known Member

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    This LBJ problem scares the s#it out of me! My truck is on a 6" lift with 35s. If mine goes at 65mph on the interstate I'm afraid I'll be doing cartwheels!
     
  5. Jan 31, 2025 at 9:02 PM
    #45
    Area51Runner

    Area51Runner Well-Known Member

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    Do it right and use a dial indicator (w/magnetic base). You'll rest easier. For the record, I still believe the bolts are the ultimate and more likely fail point. As far as the ball joint itself, I prefer this over the pry bar quick and dirty test that so many use.

    https://youtu.be/sp-D0EtX2gU?feature=shared
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2025
  6. Feb 1, 2025 at 6:40 AM
    #46
    Dare Devil Diablo

    Dare Devil Diablo Well-Known Member

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  7. Feb 1, 2025 at 8:20 AM
    #47
    Massive

    Massive Member

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    Replaced LBJ’s, inner and outer tie rods two weeks ago in my driveway. 2000 Limited w/ 96,xxx miles.

    No signs of LBJ issues but replaced with Toyota OE.

    LBJ’s were replaced under recall in 2005.

    Bought the 3 year alignment deal from local Goodyear.

    You need a torque wrench if you DIY.
     
  8. Feb 1, 2025 at 10:58 AM
    #48
    TACO in SC

    TACO in SC TuRD

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    Pretty well stock
    The two rubber bumpers inside the little fuel filler door are part 90541-06058 and were about $5 for two at my local dealer.
     
    Clucky, TacoLolo and Area51Runner like this.
  9. Feb 1, 2025 at 12:25 PM
    #49
    01x4

    01x4 I know what I'm doing?

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    Since there has been plenty of great info posted already, before it became an LBJ thread, I'll just toss in some random smaller or relatively affordable things...

    Miscellaneous:
    A set of nice floor mats.
    Aluminum battery hold down. (I don't think @Coupe makes 'em anymore but someone else might)
    ScanGuage
    New exterior door window trim : https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/simple-how-to-fix-that-crappy-door-trim.154485/
    New carpet kit if yours is nasty : ACC kits directly from them or through Rock are what I've used in the past
    Heavier duty splash guards
    Refinish your fender flares (makes an instant aesthetic difference to the truck if yours are faded) *or paint match them
    Refinish/replace your mud flaps
    Pop & Lock tailgate lock. Mines been going fine for years. Others might have different recommendations.
    Pay a professional for a good clean and detail (if you're not into doing that kind of work) Its a nice treat, clean truck always feels better.
    BedMat

    In-cab things:
    Fire extinguisher
    Flashlight
    First aid kit. Splurge on a decent one or read up on building one.
    Toilet paper
    Ram mount(s)
    Window breaker thingamajig
    iPad mini (used) or even spare cheap phone, if you want to run maps separately.
    OBD2 reader
    Sun visor
    Speaker upgrades if you're into that
    Seat covers
    Dash mat : I have one from CoverCraft, its been great and protects dash from sun and cracking
    Aftermarket head unit. I prefer the OG tape and CD player, but many don't.

    Can't think of anything else off the top of my head. There isn't much to these trucks, in a good way. *Also why mods tend to get expensive very quickly.

    **One of the best mods: Save your money and travel.
     
    jerrynerdalert[OP] and Kiloyard like this.
  10. Feb 1, 2025 at 12:46 PM
    #50
    Kiloyard

    Kiloyard Road Warrior

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    Toytec Boss/Eibach Coils & Deaver J59's
    New OEM LBJ's isn't a mod! Good advice, sure, but I don't think that's what OP was looking for.
     
    jerrynerdalert[OP] and 01x4 like this.
  11. Feb 1, 2025 at 1:37 PM
    #51
    TRD493

    TRD493 Well-Known Member

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    I'm looking at these...
    https://teqcustoms.com/products/oem-edition-headlights-01-04-tacoma
     
    SpencerTacoSC[QUOTED] and Laxtoy like this.
  12. Feb 1, 2025 at 1:42 PM
    #52
    slodoug

    slodoug Well-Known Member

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    replaced my fog lights today so while i was down there, shook the wheels and didnt notice any play at all, but getting a quote for the lbj anyway.

    20250201_132724.jpg
    20250201_133013.jpg
     
  13. Feb 1, 2025 at 3:05 PM
    #53
    Moonrman

    Moonrman Fix it and it will run

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    The " Stig " said a helmet and driving suit.
     
    MadNachos likes this.
  14. Feb 1, 2025 at 3:48 PM
    #54
    SpencerTacoSC

    SpencerTacoSC Well-Known Member

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    Thank you! Their halo/turn signal options are pretty sick too, but they just look too modern for what I'm going for, IMO.

    For OP - one more relatively inexpensive mod - (relatively!) if your washer fluid reservoir is cracking and failing anyhow, it's worth relocating it.

    Or if you want to splash down some extra $$$, you can get a fancy aluminium one. But I like the Scarab offroad one. Either way, if you're fixing that, drop some extra $ and move it out of the way. You'll need to move it anyhow if you want a steel bumper, since the factory location is pretty vulnerable and not covered by most bumpers I can think of.
     
  15. Feb 1, 2025 at 9:29 PM
    #55
    Laxtoy

    Laxtoy Dog is my backseat driver

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    Fox 2.5 DSC resi CO's w/ 700lb King Coils, Camburg uca's, T-100 rear leafs, 13WL Tundra brakes, 1" 4crawler body lift, 295/75/16 Hankook MT, Ruff Stuff u bolt flip, 10" Fox LSC resi shocks turned back on custom mounts, home built rear high clearance bumper with dual swing outs, Diode Dynamics SSC2 Pro rear floods, Skid Row front and transfer case skid, home built transmission skid, Mercerfab sliders, home built front bumper, Badlands Apex 12k winch with synth line, 4.56's, ARB rear locker, LonePeak wedge camper, eBay snorkel, Sierra LEDs 20" dual amber/white light bar, Diode Dynamics SS3 Max amber fogs, Mini D2S projector retrofit, Blue Sea ML-ACR, dual Odyssey PC1200's, 100 watt solar panel, 20 plate heat exchanger/home built shower kit
    That’s actually a good deal as long as they’re good quality
    https://www.theretrofitsource.com/projector-retrofitting/kits/universal
    A good retrofit kid is over $400, then aftermarket housings are another $100, then if you do wanna do halos, paint, etc.

    I’d have just bought those instead of building my own had they been available at that cost

    *Edit- I went through a build, as soon as you add Mini D2S projectors it adds $300

    They sell their own bi xenon projectors that use LED’s, be interesting to see the output difference
     
    Last edited: Feb 1, 2025
    TRD493[QUOTED] likes this.
  16. Feb 1, 2025 at 10:12 PM
    #56
    TashcomerTexas

    TashcomerTexas My truck is a whiner

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    Didn’t even know those first two were options…I’m stealing these for later!
     
    Laxtoy[QUOTED] likes this.
  17. Feb 1, 2025 at 10:19 PM
    #57
    TashcomerTexas

    TashcomerTexas My truck is a whiner

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    Please get this one instead!

    04005-03235

    https://parts.nucartoyotanorthattleboro.com/oem-parts/toyota-joint-assembly-lower-ball-400503235

    This is a bundle kit of both left and right OEM LBJs! You will save a lot of money if you’re replacing both at the same time. Just bought this last year so I can vouch this part # is legit.
     
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  18. Feb 1, 2025 at 10:25 PM
    #58
    TashcomerTexas

    TashcomerTexas My truck is a whiner

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    ^also Jesus Christ $1165 for parts and labor on both of those? That’s a rip.

    The kit I posted cost roughly ~$200, Toyota dealer installed them for about $300 labor here in Colorado. Just for comparison.

    Edit: $175 for alignment

    2nd edit: you will have to source the replacement bolts (4x per side) unless you plan on reusing old ones, which I wouldn’t. And obviously new cotter pins. New castle nuts and/or dust boots are not necessary unless you want the peace of mind.
     
  19. Feb 1, 2025 at 11:11 PM
    #59
    23MGM

    23MGM Well-Known Member

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    58 posts and no one mentioned the deck plate mod. That said, probably don't do it. It used to be a thing in the early 2000s. Deck Plate Mod | Tacoma World
     
  20. Feb 2, 2025 at 2:41 PM
    #60
    jerrynerdalert

    jerrynerdalert [OP] Member

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    Fiiiiine. Hard to argue with that! Wasn't where I anticipated this thread going, but pretty thankful it did since otherwise wouldn't have been on my radar.
     

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