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

Thanks gents! This is something that I have not done. My poor truck. She will feel all better this weekend

 

Think I spent more time on just trying to press the ball joint out than installing my whole UCAs. The press I rented didnt have the right adapters so I had to go to a second store that still didnt have right adapters.

 

It seems to be 50-50 whether or not you should just pony up for new ucas w/bjs installed or replace the bj. Seems like the effort to get it out might outweigh the cost savings, especially for those of us who live in areas where salt/chemicals are used on the roads.

 

its really not that hard if you use hot and cold temperatures to shrink/expand the metal.

after struggling for hours trying to bang it out with a 20 oz hammer and c clamps i figured out that trick.. it was actually really easy after that and would probably be less than an hour job total next time i do it.

 

just pull it and put it on a press. Harbor Freight 20 ton press pops 'em out like Orville Redenbacher. Be sure to remove any retainer c-clips.

 

^This, take a few minutes and remove the spindle from the lower. It will make it a whole lot easier

 

Bought&added a bed extender $115 I think that's a good deal? It is a brand new stock Tacoma bed extender and funny thing was I already had the brackets installed and didn't even know it.

 

I just did this. I used a BFH on the passenger side and Im not even gonna guess at how many hours it took for me to get it out. On the drivers side I rented a press and got it out and the press in cup for my LR/SPC UCAs installed in no time. Highly suggest renting the tool.

 

I pulled the spindle and supported the edges of the spindle on a vise, hit the ball joint one time with a 10lb sledge hammer and it popped out. You have to be smarter than the flexible spindle and sloppy lowers. Curious why everyone is just replacing uppers anyway? Might as well replace the lower and just pull the spindle

 

In the last month or so, I've replaced the muffler, rack and pinion, one O2 sensor, front struts and back shocks and now the catalytic converter today :

Anything else I need to be prepared for? I got a Tacoma because of everyone's praise on reliability but this is getting pathetic and expensive

 

and its 15 years old, those parts are not meant to last forever.

 

I didnt replace mine. I removed it for LR UCAs.

 

hahaha this is what I tell myself and my friends every time I say im working on my truck. Over the weekend. I replaced an axle, steering rack and pinion, and UCAs. passenger inner boot looks to be deteriating so that will be done in the next couple of weeks with a boot slide mod.

 

All the parts he has listed are parts that wear out over time and should be replaced.

Auto parts stores would be out of business if automobiles didn't wear out.

 

And they start wearing even more when you start wheeling.

 

yea. I have 150k on my taco. I knew things will go out. As long as the engine runs good most things are easy to replace.

 

200k miles here 13 years old.

So far list of replaced parts:

Clutch/Flywheel
Rear driveshaft
Reverse light switch
Water pump
Timing belt
Brake pads, rotors, lines and cleaned rear shoes
Tires - 3 sets
Plugs/wires
Third member gears
CV boots
All suspension components upgraded to fox
Valve cover gaskets

No major engine or transmission issues yet.

 

I guess I thought it was a little easier than it is.. How the hell do I get that thing off the end of the axle so I can put the boot on? Just hammer it off?? Help please, in the middle of changing cv.

 

Lol I was gonna do the same thing, ended up just saying eff it and bought a reman

 

That's the point I got to in my attempt at rebooting my spare CV the other night.