Low hanging fruit for 1st gen mods?

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.

 

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/

 

well said dude!!!

 

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!

 

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

 

Looks like I need a dial indicator with a magnetic base.

 

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.

 

The two rubber bumpers inside the little fuel filler door are part 90541-06058 and were about $5 for two at my local dealer.

 

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.

 

New OEM LBJ's isn't a mod! Good advice, sure, but I don't think that's what OP was looking for.

 

I'm looking at these...
https://teqcustoms.com/products/oem-edition-headlights-01-04-tacoma

 

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.

 

The " Stig " said a helmet and driving suit.

 

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.

 

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

 

Didn’t even know those first two were options…I’m stealing these for later!

 

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.

 

^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.

 

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

 

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.