TheNatural's 2012 Totally Expo Trail Limo Build

Thanks. I found a few write ups and videos before I tackled it, but none of the ones I read/watched mentioned needing to swap the steering angle sensor onto the new clock spring. I don't usually write up my repairs/mods, but I thought I could save someone a little frustration by getting that info out there. It was easier than it looked for sure.

Have you verified that it's not the cruise control switch? I hear those wear out too (and I happen to have a brand new one still in the bubble wrap that has never been installed).

 

No, I haven't. I read somewhere that it's not usually the switch? But I actually have a spare one from a wrecked truck somewhere. Maybe I should swap it in and see what happens any way. It's just so low on my priority list haha like disabling that stupid tpms light

 

If you already have a spare then definitely swap it in before ordering a clock spring! I'm not sure which is more prone to failure, but when I was searching for clock spring replacement info I found a few people saying their problem turned out to be the switch. You can see in my photos above that it's easy to replace.. looks like removing the airbag, then two screws and one electrical connector. No need to remove the steering wheel or steering column cover, etc, so it should be a really quick easy job.

 

I decided to go with the single Group 31 and I pulled the trigger on the Rago Fab battery tray/box. It'll give me a 62% increase in CCA which should make the winter starts a lot easier. I also plan to add solar later on.

 

I've decided to get the junk off my roof too. It is nice having storage up there in the summer (I keep recovery gear in one of the roof top bins and trail spares/tools in the other), but when I wanted a tow strap the other day I was reminded of how much I hate it in the winter. Latches get iced up and are very difficult to get open.. and there's like 6 of them on each bin. And the mounting pins for the maxtrax get iced up and I can't spin them to open either. Padlocks/cable locks for those things are also prone to icing up.

The weight distribution is another thing that can be improved. I don't notice it being a problem, but taking a few things off the roof and putting them in a bin in the bed would improve the center of gravity which is never a bad thing. I just need to decide what kind of enclosed storage to use for the bed.

 

Got some time to work on my fender flares today. Imitation Bush Wackers. Trimmed them 2+ inches and test fit the drivers side. Gonna be sweet! I got some black nitride hardware to mount them to the fenders. Bedsides are already cut (did it way back when I installed the high clearance rear bumper), but I'll have to cut a couple inches out of the front fenders before I bolt the flares on for good. Might give them a coat of paint too.

 

Battery cage showed up today. I'm waiting on the Slee battery terminal extensions in the mail and I haven't ordered the battery for it yet, but progress?
I also got the bed rail hilift mounts from Rago. I planned on DIYing something simpler, but after years of not getting around to it I thought I'd cave and buy these. They are incredibly well made. I'm really impressed.. which is good considering they cost a small fortune. They didn't seem that bad when I decided to order them, but our CAD/USD rate isn't great, they needed a bit more $ for shipping to my remote home (fair enough), then the duties at pickup sucked too.

 

One of the cheap bulbs that came with my aftermarket replacement fog light housings went out. Wasn't really surprised; I didn't even expect the housings to come with bulbs for the low price I paid on Amazon. But, while replacing it I noticed a break in the wire insulation and the connector looked like it had melted a bit! I taped up the wire and put new high quality yellow LED bulbs in. The halogens had a bit of a yellowy hue and I kind of liked it, so I thought I'd give full on yellow bulbs a try. No pictures because mid afternoon is not a good time to get pics of light output.

I also noticed my coolant bottle was a little low! But it looks like it's just a small leak from the little return hose going into the top of the bottle; no signs of that pink crystal stuff anywhere else. Phew.

 

It warmed up to -14C this afternoon so I went out to the driveway to make use of the nice weather. Cut front passenger fender back 2 inches and mocked up the fender flares that I had also cut 2" out of. Painted the exposed metal from the cut with a touch up pen and marked a couple holes that I need to drill because they didn't line up. Perhaps tomorrow will be the day they finally get bolted on...

 

Got the passenger side bolted on today! Would have liked to do driver too, but I'm short some M8 nyloc nuts so it'll have to wait.



I was going to paint them... But I kind of like the look the way they are.

 

Ordered some Kings for the rear to go with those BAMF shock towers that have been collecting dust for 4 years...

 

Drivers side finished today. Finally, a project I can mark as complete!

 

Ordered that HKB adjustable alternator voltage booster for the future AGM. Not sure if I mentioned I got the Slee terminal extensions in the mail recently too. The only remaining piece of the puzzle for the Group 31 AGM battery project is... the actual battery.

 

I'm spending the afternoon doing one of the more major scheduled maintenances on Sarah's FJ and just as I was tightening the last bolt on the engine cover (after replacing spark plugs) a delivery guy pulled in the driveway.

My Kings for the rear are here! 12 inches of goodness. They are quite impressive in person and I'm really excited to get the BAMF kit installed.

 

Replaced the 7 pin trailer plug with a nicer aftermarket one. I've had an aftermarket one on the truck since I smashed the original almost right away, but it held the trailer plug kind of loosely. New one is much nicer quality and also has a 4 pin connector so I won't need an adapter anymore. Cleaned the wiring connector out too as it was looking slightly corroded.


Ordered EBC brake kit w/ green stuff pads and drilled/slotted rotors. I kind of wanted the yellow stuff pads and plain rotors, but they weren't in stock on Amazon and this way I'll get to install next weekend.

 

Working my way down the mod list and parts pile and I hit one that has been collecting dust for 5-6 years. When I ordered my Clazzios I got some extra matching fabric to do the arm rests in the door panels. Well, I pulled all the door panels off and got mostly done the new arm rests, but I haven't put them back in yet. I drove to grab some food part way through and HOLY CRAP the road noise was terrible without door panels. If that plastic makes that much of a difference imagine what some dynomat will do. So.. tomorrow afternoon's activities are planned.

 

I forgot how time consuming this is. This time I left all the access holes and bolt heads open so it would not impede future maintenance, shooting for 50-75% coverage of inner and outer. Not exactly performance audio level work, but it did a hell of a lot of good. The tap test results are amazing. But... I still have one door left to do. Because slow and lazy.

 

New brakes came! So fast! They specifically say -not- to use grease on the back of the pads with their little cup things. Seems a bit strange to me, but I guess they probably know what they're talking about.

 

Finished the arm rests a few days ago but forgot the pics! I put 2600 highway kms on in the last couple days (wife's flight home got cancelled and I had to go pick her up) and got to test the sound deadened doors. They're noticably quieter, but a lot of road noise is getting in the floor and from the rear seat area so overall impact on cab noise wasn't as much as I hoped.

Before:


After:

 

HKB voltage booster arrived today. That was faster than expected all the way from Australia.