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

I’ve never aired down a day in my life and I hit the dirt every once in awhile hahaha.

E Rated 255/85/16’s

Wonder what I’m missing out on.

 

Oh man, lol. Your life is about to change. The ride quality is a night/day difference when you air down, especially if you're running a heavy E rated tire. Not too mention you get much better traction on the harder stuff.

Only thing that sucks about it is the time it takes to air down and back up...but a good compressor will help with that.

 

I don’t have a compressor either, so nothings gonna change.

 

Just hit up the gas station on your way home...although it takes forever having to ask the attendant to turn the pump on every couple minutes.

Can get a decent compressor for under $60.

 

Maybe I’ll mess with it one day. I honestly need to mess with my tire pressure anyway and see where it’s at.

 

Changed out my stock rear speakers for some JBL and installed dynamat on the rear panel under the back window.

 

That must have made a huge difference.

It's the main reason I don't change head units. It would be a waste of time until I did that.

 

My front end was making terrible noises going up a semi articulated obstacle Thursday evening. I looked all over for the culprit, but none was to be found. We decided to call it since the way only became longer and worse from here. Going back in the wash seemed fine, no noises or unpleasant symptoms dispite many bumps.
After a few miles of smooth paved road, it suddenly shook so bad I thought the wheels were coming off! Death wobble? Wtf!
So I pulled over and did another bolt check. Everything was there, just as it should be. Well obviously there is a problem, so I used the Hi-lift and jacked up the driver side. Hub bearing was my first thought, was tight. Axle bind was next, I couldn't cycle suspension so just spun the wheel. Slight hang up but spun well after. Repeated on passenger side, seemed fine. Decided to continue slowly.
Made it home 25 miles going 35mph. On the last turn in, it happened again! Terrible sounds and bouncing. Now my mind went to the diff, since the hard turn seemed to initiate the issue. I kept it pointed down the road and parked it in the drive for the night.
Had it towed to the workshop in the morning and let it sit for a day since I had work and other issues to deal with.
Today I drained the front diff. Magnetic plug was stoked on how much material it could hold, I was not. Fair enough, now I know the problem.
Once the diff was out I saw some more spider cracks on the frame, so I gouged and welded those too.
Thankfully I had a spare pumpkin with the same ratio from another project, so that went in. Also took pics of the cool diff drop the previous owner made. Diff drop plus clearance, very nice.
Put everything back together and on the ground. 4x4 works and no noises turning or driving so far.
To be clear, I did hit the front end fairly hard the previous evening on a dug out rock. No symtoms at the time. There was a mark on the diff today even with the All-pro skid plate, although they were very close together to begin with.

 

So far it sounds a lot better. I can't wait to change the door speakers. I have new ones waiting.

 

Completed Moab's Hells Revenge Trail with my stock 1998.

 

I’d shit if I saw that on my drain plug.

 

It'll be interesting to see how it rides but TBH, I'm more curious to see what it does to the MPGs

Seems like 12 psi is worth trying, depending on conditions.

And I suppose I should do a chalk test just to see what is happening.

Do you stress over highway MPGs? I'm guessing not.

Airing down does more than improve traction and ride. It also helps to prevent damage to the tire. I agree with a previous post. Once you try it, you'll be so amazed, you'll figure out a way to do it all the time.

 

I’m sure between not airing down, over kill leaf springs, and my cheap stock replacement struts with a spacer on top the way my truck rides is comparable to an old wagon.

 

I referee to it as moronic as you're one 32s with 17s. Not because of the pressure itself. Remember I run 10psi all day on frank. Even did with 33s.

I've had my Es down to 18 and after seeing how close the wheel gets to hitting the rocks. I run only 20.

Went to 16 on accident this last trip up front.

Conditions also effect this. If you're not crawling through lots of rocks with lots of drops. You can go lower.

 

Welp.. Not again! Watched that movie when I was a kid. This is not a move you let kids watch lol

 

Nope. Definitely not the warm fuzzies you get with spielberg's ET.

 

Gotta make up for those stiff ome shocks somehow...

Bfgs are also just squishy tires compared to others...which has caused problems as we all know.

It's not a problem until it is. Hopefully never is. Alloys Crack not bend, wouldn't be fun to ruin a wheel.

 

asking the experts in the internerd as I am attempting to install an ARB breather:

Where are the breathers located for the front diff? transfer case? transmission?
The rear is obvious.

Prior owner had two breathers in the engine compartment by the master cylinder and I assumed they were front/rear diff.
Tonight, I follow the rear line up to where I thought it should go (engine compartment) but the factory silver hat thing ends up on the backside of the rear fender well just under the filler line but not in the filler cap area.

I "think" I found the transfer case connection:
Passenger side above the cat near the top of the trans tunnel (looks like under the shifter) - need someone to confirm that is where it's at.

Unable to locate:
Front Diff breather connection (I have an ARB air line)
Transmission breather connection

Thanks in advance

 

Views/country like that, wouldn't want to come home either... nice pics!

 

Played a bit today. Good times