MadTaco Build

I used Toyota rotors, NAPA calipers, Tundra lower hard lines, brackets to mount them to the spindle and I had to order longer brake soft lines until I can get the correct stainless lines from Adventure Taco.
https://adventuretaco.com/making-it-right-tacoma-to-tundra-brake-upgrade/
He sells the entire brake line kit at a reasonable price, https://adventuretaco.com/store/tundra-hard-brake-line-kit/
Not all Tundra rotors are machined properly for the banjo fitting on our Tacoma's, that is the what the Wheelers line uses.

 

Gotcha, did you go with the 13WL calipers? they are the 231mm size ones right?

 

Yes I did, they are BIG!

 

Wow your rig is really shaping up!
I finished up the Tundra upgrade this last summer out at work and noticed major improvement on my drives out of the park, especially towing the box trailer. This is an earlier picture, the truck still has stock springs with the hill country adjustable shackles(straps w/holes) is when I first hauled it up the AlCan, still had the 15” wheels then, and that first commute out to work of the season opened the drain plug on the wallet and it took awhile to get it back in.
Adjusted schedule on the 16” wheels and tires due to this:

A question for you on your rear suspension, I have the OME full HD spring pack with their AAL, and I’m wondering about the Toytec progressive overload. I carry quite a bit of weight and under domestic cruising loads I loose the rake, and same with pulling a trailer. Are they a pretty straightforward install, longer u-bolts and such. Do they about 1-2” lift just from the pack thickness? Current look:


This is after the full OME swap with the OME greaseable shackles and the new Bilsteins.
Another question how does your fuel economy shape up with the 4:88s? Starting to scrounge up the parts to get started on the regear, and having the inner debate between 4:56 and 4:88,
Thanks

 

I finished my Tundra brake upgrade today. It is okay, I may need to see if I can bleed the brakes again.

I have the OME Dakars without their AAL's. Instead I installed the ICON progressive AAL's and the u-bolts that came with that kit, that added about 1-1/2" lift. And I used the factory AAL and shackles.
It is a pretty soft ride when empty.
I don't have much rake, I would like maybe an inch more in the rear.
I use my airbags for heavy loads, but it gives a stiffer ride when empty.

My Tacoma is 5280 pounds empty if that helps with your calculations.

 

Installed my Tundra brakes today, outside temperatures never got out of the 20's.
Also replaced the lugs with longer ones for more security.
So far so good.

 

Looks good, I’ll have to chat with Wheeler’s and see if I have to pull the AAL. So it would look as though the short leaf on the bottom of the OME pack is the overload, another thing to confirm. Right now a house wiring project has my attention. But thanks for the response, we have about 7” of fresh wet snow and it is getting warmer so the truck is just going to sit for awhile.

 

My OME Dakars came with the two AAL springs, I just chose to use the ICON's I already had. I used the factory AAL for fear of the two OME AAL's would be to much.

 

Yeah, I was going through my thread and saw the that mine did come with a pair of overloads as well, so I have an inquiry into Wheelers so I’ll see what they say, probably wishful thinking to try for some arc to springs, the design seems to favor a slight smile to a straight spring. Might go with some Timbrens to help out with the saggy butt, towing syndrome, kill to birds with one stone as far as bump stop upgrade as well. It would be nice to get the Billies 5125 a bit more extension, improve the ride a bit, although it does ride pretty nice both loaded and empty? (Yeah right, haha)
Good call on the Icons, not sure what the Wheeler’s AAL pack is so, maybe their in house stuff. My idle parts pile for Taco is pretty lean, fairly substantial for my 85 and the diesel, always tripping over something out by the driveway.

Like those wheels, they look pretty sweet. So far so good with the steelies, another reason I went with them, at 7.5” wide and without spacers, everything still fits pretty good. Hopefully I can be done wrenching on rigs this winter, and get out and squeeze in a bit of off road exploring prior to heading back up north to work, and my full plate of projects up there. Still about a 1/3 of way into the wiring on the Taco, about done with the diesel for the moment, so I can climb into the Paranoid Fab switchplate install and get the wiring run aft for some work lights.

Say , I just remembered you are running an ARB bull bumper, do you have any foglights mounted inside/somewhere on it? I’m figuring on welding some tabs in the slots up front (below the fair lead mount):


to see if I can put some in that area- luckily the welder is up in Ak as well, logistics are always entertaining. Thanks for the info. Wheel safe.

 

Yeah, I ran into the same issue, had to get a new flange welded onto my aftermarket Cat, lots of connections, I think I have an exhaust leak I need to track down, I hope it’s not on the crossover....

 

Are they working as expected? Any issues to sort out?

 

So far so good.

 

I would say go with 4:88's. I went from stock 4:30's to 4:88's and the difference is slight.

OMG that looks so rad!

 

I agree with the 4:88's on 33" tires. My RPM's are just about where it should be. And my mileage was a little better after I regeared it.

 

My rear shocks are Bilstein's that I found off their web site, I think they were for a Suburban, they are a couple inches longer than the ones for a lifted Tacoma.

I do not have any lights mounted in my bumper. I thought about installing the ARB deluxe fog/turn signal light pods, but that is a lot of money for what I would have gotten out of it.

 

What brand gears did you go with?

 

Yeah, I’m sure their gear is pretty good but they are proud of it. Trying keep this from being a giant money pit. I’ll come up with something, I’m not in a rush, just collecting bits and pieces. As the Taco is a DD, I have to get the parts together and get the 85’ sorted so I can get a few more items crossed off the list, like replace the legs/posts for the cache:




drop a couple problem trees, upgrade my AE power system, move and expand the shed and clean up the driveway. As we say up north, if it isn’t 1 thing it’s 10.
Usually easier to find time then money, so get the pile together then dive in, try to get everything sorted and done before heading outside.
Thanks for the info,
Cheers.

 

I had ZUK install the Nitto gears, it wasn't cheap, but I have liked his work on other Toyota's I have owned.

 

They are not cheap, but a whole lot easier on the wallet then ADS!!!

I got them off Amazon.

$105 Bilstein 33185606 Shock Absorber

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DRYS53U/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

$94 Bilstein Shock, B8 5125 Series, Monotube, 15.12 in Compressed / 24.35 in Extended, 46 mm, Steel, Zinc Plated, Each

https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B007N6QSI2/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

I have some bilstein 5125s that I installed a few years ago- maybe 8k ago. The guys at Wheeler’s say they are good for up to a 3” lift, so I will hold onto them for a bit and see what I end up doing OL spring/Timbrens- wise. Lots of wish type items before I can even contemplate the rear shock relocation. Realistically I don’t anticipate that will be necessary for the amount of wheeling that I see in the future. But who knows? I think plating/boxing the frame and a swing out bumper are way ahead on that list.
Once against thanks for the info. Cheers!