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Durability do's and dont's

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by 4xtacoma, May 30, 2017.

  1. May 30, 2017 at 8:15 PM
    #1
    4xtacoma

    4xtacoma [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Jake
    Grass Valley Ca
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    3 inch lift, 265 75 R16 mxt's
    ok guys/gals, I wanted to start a thread for anyone to post about what mods they have done and how they worked out. For instance, I bought a super cheap set of outer axle seals from rock auto and about 1.5 months after installing them, the drivers side leaks again. However I have had great luck with my moog ball joints and tie rod ends so far. Obviously preventative maintenance is the key however we are the users who push the envelope. So please anything you have done to your truck don't be afraid to add.
     
  2. May 30, 2017 at 8:18 PM
    #2
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    El Dorado, CA (NOT El Dorado Hills)
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    Kings, J59's Total Chaos UCAs Custom skids Sticker mod
    I too bought a set of MOOG ball joints like 6 years ago. They're still fine.
     
  3. May 30, 2017 at 8:20 PM
    #3
    Bishop84

    Bishop84 Well-Known Member

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    I've been fucked by seals so many times. OEM or bust haha.

    Same with ignition wires, I won't install wires unless they are blue NGK or OEM black wires.

    I like MOOG because you can grease the ball joints. Big thing is making sure the boot is on right the first time.

    I only use Spicer or OEM for driveshaft ujoints but I think we all agree on that.
     
  4. May 30, 2017 at 8:20 PM
    #4
    4xtacoma

    4xtacoma [OP] Well-Known Member

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    Jake
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    3 inch lift, 265 75 R16 mxt's
    Glad to hear it, also noticed your from sac. I live in Nevada county(about an hr north) know any decent wheeling spots? I've been struggling to find anything other than dirt roads or small side of the road mud pits
     
  5. May 31, 2017 at 5:48 PM
    #5
    jbrandt

    jbrandt Made you look

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    El Dorado, CA (NOT El Dorado Hills)
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    Kings, J59's Total Chaos UCAs Custom skids Sticker mod
    There's a book Called Backcountry Adventures: Northern California that's pretty good.

    https://www.amazon.com/Backcountry-Adventures-California-Peter-Massey/dp/1930193084

    It's focused on easy/moderate trails, so no hardcore rock crawling in it, but it's opened up a lot of areas I wouldn't have thought about. Most of the trails are in the 4 or 5 range (out of 10), but there's an 8 in there too (haven't done it tho). SO if you have a mostly stock, or lightly modified Tacoma, it should be able to do anything in this book.
     
  6. May 31, 2017 at 5:52 PM
    #6
    Matic

    Matic The "OFG" Baby!!!

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    Tricky Dick
    Easley, SC
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    1 owner 2002 TRD, SR5, DC, 2.7. Full OME suspension, STT pro's.
    OME 881 coils with OME nitrochargers shocks up front. TC UCA's OME Dakars with extra leaf in the rear. Warn 8000 winch with 80ft custom braided synth line. Custom 60ft synth extension. All pro tube bumper, Hi-lift jack, Safari Snorkel, Wilco tiregate. 2019 Jeep JLUR.
    I had the stock oem inner and outer axle seals in for 14 yrs with no problems before I switched to chromo axles.

    I'm all about oem whenever possible.
     
  7. May 31, 2017 at 9:00 PM
    #7
    Glamisman

    Glamisman Well-Known Member

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    best durability advice I can give is dont loan out your truck...
     
  8. May 31, 2017 at 9:57 PM
    #8
    mlcc

    mlcc Well-Known Member

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    To your wife. Everytime she drives it the alignment is fucked because she hits shit with it.
     
  9. Jun 1, 2017 at 10:02 AM
    #9
    Glamisman

    Glamisman Well-Known Member

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    micc, I want to thank you... I haven't laughed like that for a while.

    while off roading a number of years back with a buddy and his wife she complained that she never gets to drive the buggy. He pulled over and she got to drive for about 2 miles... she hit every rock, rut and root that was on the trail. When the husband complained and pointed it out to her what she said was they were in the road and she had to hit them. They changed places and he showed her by turning the wheel slightly you could avoid them... she was keeping the buggy in the "middle" of the road just like on the street.
     
  10. Jun 1, 2017 at 2:52 PM
    #10
    ThunderOne

    ThunderOne Well-Known Member

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    Mitchell
    Nashville
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    Toyota NERD
    Revoke her license.
     
  11. Jun 2, 2017 at 4:57 AM
    #11
    mlcc

    mlcc Well-Known Member

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    Nope instead I got her a tacoma that she can thrash... which is now pulling to the right:facepalm:
     
  12. Jun 2, 2017 at 8:29 AM
    #12
    Dalandser

    Dalandser ¡Me Gustan Las Tacos-mas!

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    Downey
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    If I had to choose one component over the other in terms of quality, I would rather have quality ball joints than quality u joints considering the consequences of failure for each. Ultimately I would opt for high quality in both parts. Here's some info on moog (555 brand) ball joints vs OEM. Not sure why more people haven't read this yet?

    https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ball-joints.266989/page-3#post-6650774
     
    Last edited: Jun 2, 2017

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