What Have You Done To Your 2nd Gen Tacoma Today?

After retiring from 40+ years in sheet metal last year, the work involved with with a shear and a press is still difficult. You sir are kicking ass!

 

I considered a polyurethane bushing, maybe next time.

It was pretty straightforward. I did it all in my tiny garage in about 5-ish hours (but that was also with lots of cleaning and taking a brass brush to every single rusty spot I saw). The tools you've listed sound about right, plus some wrenches here and there for the carrier and propeller flange bolts. I did use my impact to press out the original u-joints, those bad boys were pretty stuck in there. When pressing the old ones out, be careful not to push them too far or the body of the u-joint will contact the yolk and can cause some damage (mostly superficial unless you're just going ham on it, but something to note nonetheless). On install for the new ones I just used a regular 1/2" drive ratchet to turn the press to drive them in. I just used a pair of channel locks for the snap rings, just make sure you wear safety glasses in case it decides to shoot off at a thousand mph. A decent bench vise is a huge help too, just make sure not to only clamp solid parts of the DS on any of the tube sections.

At 160k I would replace the U-joints, but that's just me. If there isn't and play/noise in them, you're probably OK, and with proper lubrication the u-joints should last a long time. That being said, you can buy them for $20 each, so for me at least it was a no-brainer to replace them while the DS was off the truck.

One thing I will say is that I recommend using a punch to mark your DS clocking marks. I used both a center punch and a paint pen to mark the DS components--by the end of the job the paint pen marks were all but gone, so the punch marks saved the day.

@novataco has some good advice in his post too.

 

Switched up the tires and wheels 35” general grabbers and methods custom powdercoated in illusion red

 

Okay TW tried something different...fire away‍♂️

 

Everyone has their own taste but you might as well do the rear badges red also.

 

I plan on it but NE weather hasn't let me get to it...no garage. Undecided if they're staying or coming completely off

 

I hear ya. I went black on the doors and completely removed the ones on the tailgate. It's not like you could really see them on my truck with the swingouts anyways.

 

I like the debadged look too but I meant the flaps. It's a trial run to see if they grow on me or not. Lol

 

Oh she thick

 

Wouldn't going directly to the battery create a parasitic drain? Or is the display light such a low draw?

 

Nice work, that looks like a great solution! Makes me wanna get a 3D printer

The outlets and display are switched on the panel I have. I only turn it on when I need it at camp

 

Maxed out the tow rating

 

Did your grill always have the body color on it Or was it chrome and you found the replacement to get it white? If you changed it, do you remember where you ordered the body color part?

 

I bought it off a member on here when I first bought the truck.

 

You just need a friend with a 3d printer! Lol. Happy to share files.

 

Changed my front brake pads and rotors at 127,930

 

Not sure if this will help much but there was a toyota dealer on ebay selling different styled grills including the color matched ones. Wouldn't hurt to check them out.

 

What is that third brake light, some info pls. TY

 

Does that fit the full-sized cubby? I'd take a copy of the STL if you don't mind sharing.

 

Swapped out my non scooped hood for a scooped hood. Really loving the look.