1st gen, common problems?

1st Gen. Tacoma steering racks are a weak link...
especially when bigger tires are added.

Can't really fix junk...
but you can improve upon it !

Early 1st gen Tacoma came with an earlier designed steering rack guide
that could fail prematurely.

Later model 1st gen Tacoma should have a newly designed guide/cap.
But maybe only if it is still the factory installed steering rack.

The 1st gen steering Rack itself
is not any different then any other 1st gen Tacoma.

It's only the internal rack guide/cap that is different.
So it is possible to see an older steering rack/guide on a newer model Tacoma.
Possible if the steering rack were ever replaced.

Easy way to tell...
Look at the cap that supports the internal rack guide...
^ (driver's side of the steering rack)
If the guide cap protrudes it is of the older design.

If the cap is inverted... is likely the newly designed guide.

Replacing the old with the new...
can make a rack's consumable life expectancy a little longer
hopefully before the eventual bleed out occurs. Lol ^ this link includes the part #'s required for ordering new parts for the swap !

 

belt in my 95 does that to, would think they would have fixed it by 02.

 

Some first gens have a leaky cowl at the very top of the firewall that allows water to leak inside. It also makes your windshield fog up when the heater is on. Toyota has a TSB for this issue and will gladly sell you a $100 can of adhesive to fix what should have been sealed at the factory.

Steering rack bushings were not made to be replaced, you are meant to buy the whole rack. Good thing there are aftermarket polyurethane ones, but none available for 5 lug tacos.

Sometimes gear oil will leak into the rear brake drums past the axle seals. This one is dangerous.

The brakes are probably the worst of the weak points of the tacoma.

 

The 180,000 mile tune up needs to be done, that is going to be around $1000 cheaper if you do it or an independent shop does the work. You also need to factor in the price for new tires. The price does seem high for an 2004 with 189k,

 

OHH MAH GAWWDD!! you always have soo many helpful links!! defiantly going to order these parts soon, here i was looking for a completely new (rebuilt) rack. My wallet says thank you Dell!

 

Ok thanks man I ended up offering all the 8k i had and he wasnt interested...maybe ill get a call back? Just gonna keep hitting clist and the for sale boards here

 

98k on my 96. runs like a champ!

 

I've had a few examples of both, a couple of them I bought new. 1st gens mechanically are a lot more stout in my opinion. So is the overall build quality although I like the earliest trucks the best. My first 05 was the least reliable Toyota I've ever owned and I've been driving Toyota 4x4's for 24 years. The first one made it through the warranty period fine. But shortly afterwards I had to work on it a LOT more than I expected to. I had to do wheel bearings on both my second gens, an alternator, A/C compressor, rattles everywhere in an extended cab, shocks were toast at 40k, the manual one I had never shifted right, one needed transmission work I couldn't figure out (wiring issue in an auto) then it started jumping from second gear to neutral then to third occasionally. Sold that one cheap and bought my 96. With 260k on it my 96 still has all the original driveline with the exception of the rear diff. It runs incredibly well and still drives like a low mileage truck. Unfortunately the cab is just too small for my family. A double cab is in my future and I think I'm going to buy another 1st gen. I'm thinking a nice TRD limited to do a 5 speed swap on would make about the perfect truck.

 

My Drivers Side Ball Joint Is Going Bad, I Called Toyota And They Said It Wasn't In The Recall. AnySuggestions On What to Do? Get Moog Replacements, OEM, Or?

 

Hey nagorb, You should get that ball joint replaced asap! Mine went on me and literally fell apart!!! The tire ened up smooshed ino the wheel well, and the ball assembly was pushed down into the ground by the suspension, fortunatley I was just turning around in my driveway at the time. But if it had happened at highway speeds it could have resulted in a severe accident! I called Toyota, but my truck was not part of the recall production window, so they refused to do anything! I don't have any opinion on what parts to replace it with, I just ordered the part from my local NAPA and changed it in my driveway (with a lot of advice and some tools from a mechanic friend of mine).
Other than that mini potential nightmare I love my little Taco!

 

Already replaced, I've seen them go bad, though it seems most tend to fail at low speeds for some reason, nut sure why though.

and welcome to TW!

 

Most common problem?

THEY DON'T MAKE THEM ANYMORE!!!!!!!!

No offense to the second gen guys, but I test drove a double cab sport 4x4 and i just didn't feel it.....

 

My o2 sensor in front of the cat has plagued me for the past 4 years. It just went out again on my trip from VA to FL. Not too much of an issue as it is a relatively cheap part that can be replaced in about 20 minutes but damn its irritating to see my mpg drop from 21 to 18

 

Maybe because when they fail at high speeds, nobody survives to tell you about it

This is a very useful list as I just bought a 2000 ext cab, 4x4, 5 speed, v6 TRD SR5 Taco!! Upgraded from the similar Nissan Hardbody.
Man, there's so much support for these trucks, I love it!

It's great to see how short the list is. Frame rust, timing belt, and the clock comes in at #3! That's fantastic. That an ill-placed clock is actually the 3rd biggest issue with an automobile.

 

nice truck, also i see no one has brought up the spare tire bomb yet...

 

I have had three first gen. I had a balljoint separate at about 45. The wheel came up into the wheel well. I just floored it to get it off of the street into a parking lot. But the part that takes the cake is the tow truck driver had two tie downs holding the arms together. He let one of them off after setting it in my driveway and I started to yell hey. He stopped me to tell me how long he had been doing his job, so I just stood there and watched as he released the second one as the wheel well came down on top of his arm with his arm i between the wheel well and wheel. Lucky he was not hurt just asked for my help once he pulled his arm out. I think I told him that is what I was trying to tell you, but all in all ball joints = Tacomas weak link if not taken care of and replaced after driving and off-roading.

 

Just bought one off eBay for $63. The connector was already there just waiting to be connected...

 

I didn't read a lot of what people said. But my front end breaks every year, almost to date every god dam year. Maybe it's because I actually off road my truck. But that damn driver side upper arm has been NOTHING but hell for me. If my boyfriend wasn't a fabricator I don't know if I would of kept the truck. The upper arm literally SNAPPED In Half.. Twice. The fram took a shit too, same side as the arm problem I had. I'm hoping that this tc kit I'm buying will fix the problem

 

sub'd

 

I have a 1995.5 tacoma 4x4 3rz. These are a few of the problems that I have personally experienced:

1) The header did crack (In two places!!!). Replaced it with the mini header mod
2) I have a leaky transfercase
3) When the truck gets warmed up to temperature, and turned off for 15-45mins, it struggles to start
4)The seat belts are terrible at retracting
5) IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO FIND PARADISE BLUE METALLIC TOUCH UP PAINT (for an affordable price)
6) Tacoma sag...nuff said.
...and frame rot is bad on many toyotas in the rust belt (good to be in AZ)