Busted knuckles and a wide smile!

Until yesterday, it had been more than 31 years since I installed a lift kit on a 4wd. ("new" '84 Toyota SR5) Yesterday will probably go down in history as the LAST lift kit I will install on a 4wd. (Old knuckles skin up pretty easily) But.... It's done, it LOOKS great, drives even better, and I'm happy. It sure was easier back in the day when we had front and rear leaf springs!

Did a Toytech "Boss" kit on my (new to me) 2011 Tacoma. Did the diff drop/carrier bearing drop too while I was at it. After finishing the install, I took it to have the front end aligned. It WAS off slightly, after the lift kit was installed, it was ALMOST spot on. The truck rides and drives so much better. No more "nervous steering". Now, on to tire/wheel selection! Already have my winch and winch mount selected! (just not PAID for yet... )

The only real issue was a VERY stubborn sway bar link nut that just did NOT want to participate in the fun.

Sorry but no pictures (yet)

Just like a kid on Christmas, I had to get up this morning @ 4:30AM to go for a morning drive! The wife thinks I'm having a mid life crisis. My reply, "At my age, I'm past "mid life"..."

Anyway! All smiles this morning. Busted knuckles and band aids be damned....It sure feels good to do it yourself instead of paying some one else.

 

From a fellow "past mid-life guy", I know what you mean. You still got it, and the satisfaction of doing it yourself is reward enough.

 

Back in the early '80's, I took a Jeep CJ7 and put a small block chevy in it, put Dan 44 front and rear axles under it, built a full roll cage myself (no "kit") Did 6" of suspension lift and 3" of body lift, did a full interior (black leather, a 3-tone candy apple paint job, A winch, and a bunch of other stuff.....Did EVERYTHING myself. And I felt like it wasn't all that great of an accomplishment. Now I do a mild lift kit and it seems like re-inventing the wheel. As you get older, simple things become more daunting. Just getting up and down off the garage floor 25 times yesterday seems like running 10 marathons....

But yeah, it is good to know you can still knock it out of the park every now and then!

 

Just did the same thing myself. The feeling is great. Congrats and enjoy! Looking forward to some pics!

 

Let's see some pics! Congrats

 

I read the headline and was all "...huh. Sounds like my honeymoon. Wonder what he did...." *click*

*reads*

Ahh, gotcha

 

Let's just say I'm "old school".....Still walking around with a flip phone that takes HORRIBLE pictures, and my digital camera has to have new batteries.

 

hah horrible or not, lets see some pics of this bad boy. Congrats with doing it yourself. I love the feeling of doing it yourself. I took a step back after swapping my rotors and brakes, easy I know but still, and admired my handy work.

 

thats what im talking about! chicken dead bill!

 

OK....First picture to this site. I'll get better! Here's the Tacoma sitting next to my sons cool ride! Keepin' it in the family!

Still sportin' the 265/75/R16's (Yokohama Geolanders) that came with the truck. Not bad tires so long as you stay on pavement....Next on the list, removing the funky mudflaps. Mixed emotions there....They sure do keep the paint clean, but they sure do look goofy. Then tires, then US Offroad hidden winch mount and Warn winch. Then Sliders....maybe they go BEFORE the winch...

This little Kyocera flip phone is NOT the best for pictures, but it's a start.

 

Looks pretty good to me. Gives me an idea of what mine will look like. As far as the flaps, you could always trim them. I took mine off but some people prefer to just trim them a few inches.

 

Congrats!Looks good and always satisfying when you can or want to do something yourself!

 

Get your thumb out of the photo next time lol. Good feeling doing the work yourself