MARYLAND TACOMAS

Having a trans.temp gauge would have been useful to me a few years ago burned up the tranny towing now not so much got rid of camper and havent towed anything lately.

 

Just got my 30k service done at the dealer....just under 30k and already need new spark plugs and rear brakes adjusted? Seriously...? I'm not even hard on the brakes.

And all they are asking is $400 and 3 hours of my time

If the maintenance on these trucks is that often I might be off-loading the tacoma.

 

Best machine is a well oiled and maintained one. I adjusted my rear drums at 32k (when i pulled them off to paint them) and my spark plugs have yet to be replaced (i'm at 35,700)

 

never adjusted my rears, and i'm at 75k. spark plugs are cheap, so while you really don't need to, i replace mine every 30k or so.

they also do an engine and rear diff oil change? if those 4 things were all they did, we can help you do all of that in less than 3 hours.

 

I agree...but the intervals at which maintenance is required is where I'm having trouble understanding.

The dealer only changed my engine oil. It just seems odd to replace the spark plugs every 2 years for me. I've never had to do that on any vehicle I've owned.

I did search on here for how to replace the spark plug and adjust the rear brakes. There's a good tutorial on the spark plugs, and the rear brakes "seems" easy enough. But I've never done either of these before.

 

The spark plug change takes a while but isn't difficult

Adjusting the drums, you have to use special bolts to pull the drum from the hub, then back the asjustment off, put it all back together after cleaning it, put your wheels on, and drive around in reverse to adjust them. Thats how i did it and they feel great. They look like they are almost new

 

for the parking brake? maybe its different on the 4r but I just stuck a screw driver in a hole on the rotor, turn a star nut till it was tight then backed it off a bit

 

they're only adjusting the brakes, not replacing the pads. im over 100k on original pads and rotors front and rear with no problems.

 

i did, everything is still OEM equipment... probably gonna change it all out when it warms up, im gonna try and catch up on the maintenece.

 

might as well just take them out every 30k and check the gap/condition. if all's good, run them another 10k and recheck.

do it a couple times and you'll be able to swap out all 6 plugs in under a half hour.

 

Our brakes are the same. The front discs are exactly the same because the EBC kit for your body style 4runner fits 05-11 and presumably 12-15 tacomas

My drums wouldn't budge, had to screw the bolts in to pull them....it may have been because of how out of adjustment they were on mine...i don't know about yours

 

well, the fronts are worn a good bit, but they are OEM... and the rears are definitely the original drums.. pretty sure im still running the original shoes too... my brakes have been making some more noise than id like, so there probably gonna be replaced.

 

I've heard of them lasting quite some time, depends on the driver and how they were used. I wouldn't bet on it but 100k is probably possible....they would just be pretty WTFO. If its a dick head who drives too fast and stabs the break pedal all the time, then obviously they wouldn't last that long. But someone like me who downshifts and engine brakes all the time, they'd be on there for quite a while. I'd rather just swap them to the EBC kit when i need brakes.

 

NOT ENTIRELY TRUE I have 243000 miles on my truck with original rotors still would they pass a vehicle inspection for registration now no but they are not worn down to fins..and i have plenty of braking power at the front end.that said they will be replaced this summer or early fall when I replace the pads,and the rear has only been done once at around 100000.front brakes do 70% of the stopping power .

 

Oh.... Das interesting. I'd like to see those rotors...

Oh and....Rokblokz came a day early! Some damn good shipping. It was free and only took two days from Utah!



Will be cleaning truck and i'll see how they fit before i commit to keeping them...quality feels fantastic, very strong, very flexible, stickers are nice, and they even sent a roll of smarties in the package lol. Cool company even if i don't end up using the product... fantastic service so far!

 

spotted a black double cab 1st gen on 95 this afternoon. looked like an ome lift with a steel rear bumper with tire carrier

anyone?

 

i'll have to take the micrometers to my shoes and drums when i do the rear brakes. i have 76,xxx on the originals now, with lots of towing and wheeling. i'm sure they are getting way down there, but no funky noises, and they can still lock up the rear tires real well.

 

I have yet to change my spark plugs and I took mine in for 40k service. The only thing they noted was my front pads are in the yellow and I drive it like I stole it.

 

Well from what Ive heard and saw at the meet Im pretty sure you did steel it.

 

that's not how you adjust the parking brake on a Tacoma