1st Gen Tundy Questions

Test drove a 2001 access cab today and liked it a lot, it has 135k on it. Pretty clean especially underneath the truck. Questions for you fine people. anything I need to keep an eye on. Only thing I could find wrong were the sway bar bushings look dry rotted to hell as well as all the seals between the fenders and the body. Also, it felt really heavy? To steer not stiff or hard just way firmer than I am use too. Don't know if it's the steering rack bushings being old or the power steering pump. No weird sounds or clunks though.

Here's the truck in question;
http://www.wheelsinmotionauto.com/2001_Toyota_Tundra_Tempe_AZ_2564076.veh

 

1st Gen Tundra's do feel considerably heavier than Tacoma's. I had an 05 DC for a while. Lots of power, but not nearly as nimble or fun to thrash on as a Taco.

The steering rack bushings are prone to wearing, I needed to replace mine at 100k.

Awesome truck, though. Best engine I've ever owned, hands down.

 

They're pretty solid trucks.

Some older first gens had constantly warping rotors. There was a TSB to retrofit larger calipers/pads. The bigger caliper (231mm) is stamped 13WL. The original sized 199mm calipers are stamped 13WE. Some never had problems with the 199mm calipers.

Rear axle seal leaks are a common on my first gen. It will soak the rear brake shoes and push the grease out of the wheel bearing.

Look if the timing belt was done at 90k.

 

Like the other guys said the engine is pretty bulletproof. Just make sure the timing belt has been done, these V8's are interference engines and you'll lose the engine if the timing belt breaks.

Other than that they are great trucks. The lower ball joints are a weak spot and should be changed at some point.

They are heavy trucks and not very nimble (especially my double cab). steering rack bushings aren't difficult to replace but not very fun to do. You could also check the steering rack guide to see if it is too tight.

 

Id still have mine if it didnt sacrifice itself to save me. X2 on the lower ball joints and wheel bearings bigger trucks eat those parts

 

Looks like a clean rustfree truck. Nice leather. A Hellwig rear sway bar and polyurethane steering rack bushings cleaned up the handling on my '05. Many Tundra owners say the rear sway bar is the best mod they ever did.

Carfax shows the timing belt was replaced at 90k by Toyota of Glendale, same dealer did regular radiator flushes, trans flushes, power steering flushes, brake fluid flushes, plug changes, all the recommended maintenance, front/rear shocks replaced at 99k miles. If not you, somebody will get a nice truck.

 

Thanks for all the input guys, I did get the truck and she already has my old tacos shoes on her!