A guy, a garage, and a Tacoma - Man Yoga

Bought our 95 Tacoma about 6 years ago. Great condition truck but of course the usual wear and tear parts. When I got around to the struts/ shocks, I thought about doing a write up, but realized there are a lot of near professional write ups here and great videos on YouTube – I would only be parroting someone else’s work and words. So, as I worked, this story came to mind and then this has sat for a while and I thought I should finally finish it. Between the posts here, YouTube videos that show the picture of “how to” and the Haynes manual, great project for the garage tinkerer. Thanks for all the tips, count the turns of the tie rods and minimal work for the alignment guys at the shop when done (go ahead and do the outer tie rods at the same time as the ball joints – they will be shot too). Keep the lift 2in or less and although ball joints might wear a little faster, should be ok without changing out control arms (always time for that next time) – and use genuine Toyota ball joints. And if you are resistant to the idea of changing ball joints – oh yeah! Some of you have posted pictures of “when ball joints fail, especially lower ball joints” – adult supervision recommended when viewing these images. A few hiccups when matching and replacing parts from a past lift and of course the rusted bolt that happens in the hardest to reach locations – but this gives us time to ponder the meaning of life while figuring that out in the garage and all’s well that ends well, and probably is the number 1 seller of bottles of antiseize. Our old garage hobby was a Jeep CJ7 – lots of fun and memories and its own stories. This has been as much fun and maybe more, and like life, is a journey – like changing to Hella headlight housings so we can change bulbs from the rear like a refined human (no more having to remove a 20+ year old plastic grill in February to change a headlight – Dude!). So, I finally finished the story and updated at the end. Truck runs like a top has absolutely no drips, and has never stranded us. Lots of Taco lovers here at Tacoma World give priceless tips on how to make a job faster – radiator, O2 sensors (great tip coming from the top around the stick), etc. And fun quirks like how the scrap yard guy let me liberate a glove box lock off a 4Runner for a few bucks (he has stacks of glove boxes that no one will ever want) – I might have the only “factory” locking glovebox on a 95 Tacoma – which, while is arguably and absolutely unneeded is quite quirky and probably a bit confusing and a great conversation starter for the Taco expert with an eye for detail. So, grab a beer, or a soda, or a glass of water with 2 teaspoons of fiber (whatever your stage of life) and read on (I hope you get a smile)…

Hi guys. Just finished the project of new shocks and struts, ball joints, and tie rods on the ’95 Tacoma. In the process I had to figure out how much lift one of the past owners put on it as the factory heights no longer apply. Turns out the front shocks and struts were beyond shot but we found just enough legible markings to figure out the lift kit was a Fabtech kit and had been done well, so we could match the front with new Fabtech shocks and struts and find acceptable shocks for the rear that had the correct travel for the amount of lift – gotta thank the parts guys for playing Columbo with me on this part. The Tacoma World guys say get the tie rods while you are at it as they will be shot too – they are right; so I did the upper and lower ball joints (genuine Toyota parts), the tie rods (genuine Toyota parts) as well as the shocks (Pro Comp ES 3000 rear shocks) and struts (Fabtech FT 2300 adjustable shocks and coils for front). Front brakes were a different project, different weekend with our man cub. The old ball joints were eye opening – boots torn, grease mostly gone. If you haven’t done yours yet gentlemen, Git ‘er done! Doesn’t matter if you’ve got Marty’s tricked out McFly Mobile or that loveable Pizza Planet toYOta, keep ‘em on the road and ready to get to the lake (or up to the mountains) but don’t put these off. There are so many good procedure write ups on Tacoma World that I figured no one needed another from a garage tinkerer. As I was wrestling with the ol’ truck over the 2 wks (or so…) of project including finding which parts and ordering parts, this story came to mind...

I hope you find it entertaining. No intention to poke fun at Yoga, but it just sorta seemed to fit.

So enjoy...


Man Yoga



So, you're not feeling so well. You woke up and thought, “When did I get 271,955 mi on me?” The doctor says the thunking sound could be real trouble. Some days you don't think you could even get out of the garage.





Don't worry, we can help you!

We suggest you consider

Man Yoga!

This is a physical and mental exercise to bring you peace and never ending exercise as it both teaches you patience and unleashes your inner man. It may even help you dispose of that pesky paycheck, or 2, or 3...

Our instructors are all expert level and certified which means we always use jack stands and never cinder blocks! Our instructors will teach you all the most effective Man Yoga positions:

Downward facing breaker bar

Crouching sawzall

Eight angle pose (you will use frequently to reach that bolt)

Extended side angle pose (you will be surprised how long you will learn to hold this)

Head to knee forward bend - (combined at expert level with crouching sawzall)

Wild thing (used frequently with your grinder)

Conqueror breath (used with the Big Fancy Hammer - BFH)

Easy pose (not frequently used in Man Yoga - especially if we can choose a more difficult way to achieve the same result!)











So as you start, clear your mind, take a deep breath and envision the final steps as you set your torque wrench and pull until... click... job well done. Now slowly breathe out; and out with the bad air...














(btw - this pick is the 1st tool my daughter fabricated in the CSU School of Engineering - she gave it to me! Color me the proud Papa!)

Next you will challenge the very heart of your manhood as you question your wisdom embarking on this Man Yoga quest. As your knuckles challenge rusted steel you will learn that you recall a string of words from the junior high locker room that you thought had left you years ago. This is where your Man Yoga training will channel that raw energy into conquering the challenge ahead.

Now... In with the good air...



















Our instructors will guide you through exercises designed to prepare you to face all the difficult situations you encounter:

Carburetor vs fuel injection

Truck or Hot Rod (or both)

More horsepower or MORE HORSEPOWER

Of Course, we understand that men come in all walks of life. We accept the new age young bucks who want to live a sticker free lifestyle. And for you men with "snow on the roof", we embrace your generational love of stickers. You will develop a keen sense of your unique male identity through our intense Man Yoga life experience! It is ok for every rig to find a little bling!





Finally, your perseverance pays off as you see a rough shape emerge that gives you hope that a successful conclusion is within the reach of your Y chromosome laden hands!





















This is the downhill portion of your Man Yoga training where you progress from uncertainty to the expert level. Now is the time that you are sure that stepping out into uncertain territory and finding your way back home is a rewarding journey. You might even feel compelled to remind your wife just how much money you and your Y chromosome just saved her (which almost covers the cost of those 3 new tools and the new torque wrench you had to buy), but your Man Yoga training will take over as you calmly bask in the fruits of your labor! Job well done my Y chromosome toting, Man Yoga expert, brother!

And so, now that you are free from stress and worry, you are ready to re-engage in the battle of daily man life. So let's end with the Man Yoga life preparation pose:

You are now ready for the advanced technique...

The Y chromosome position:

Left foot rising rapidly off the floor as you push your right foot all the way hard to the floor with your right hand in 1st gear position and your left hand at 9 o'clock position.

Now take in a deep breath....

Let it out slowly with gratitude as you picture a peaceful thought…


(disclaimer - not my picture but I saw it several years ago and I have no idea who to credit - but thanks)

Special thanks to the 2 car guys who have been a big personal help - the 2 Jim's-

The 1st who helped me out the times when I got in over my head with the Jeep CJ-7, and helped me find the confidence that it was sometimes ok to stray into uncertain territory and find my way home.



I can still hear his encouraging words, "Hey! No old man sounds!"

And my other buddy Jim who lives up the block and is always happy to loan his tools. He is always quick with the encouragement, "Go big or go home!"

Now, bring on that garage Miata - LS swap, hmmmm…. Maybe turbo instead…

Fast forward a bit to 294,827mi in my time traveling 95 Tacoma, which apparently did come with the Flux Capacitor as it seems to have traveled through time:

95 Tacoma

99 4Runner engine complete with computer for code reading (done by last owner who was a Toyota master mechanic and was appalled that someone thought they could pull a boat all the way up I-70 with the pedal on the floor – but that’s someone else’s story…)

07 Tacoma rims

Hella headlight housings (so can change bulb from rear instead of removing the grill in February!)

Westin side steps

Mid generation 4Runner electric heated side rear view mirrors - mirrors on - wiring in progress

Bushwhacker fender flares

A little interior bling with the old school shift knobs.

And to top it off, my son John, playing the role of Marty McFly currently enjoying this time traveling Tacoma – 22, a full tank of gas, and a new suspension – ain’t life grand!

 

Welcome aboard new member

 

Awesome job! Loved the in-depth repair with pictures!

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Looking good!

 

Nice work!

 

Hello