Service Recommendations at 180,000 Miles

Yeah,
The report had me doing some head scratching too!

 

its because the Tech had to get a specific Snap-On socket for differentials, this isn't even accounting for his ratchet cost.

 

I'm at 302k. I do 5000k oil changes, grease, dif lube and everything else along those lines. Only things that have been replaced are the front wheel bearings, a starter, brake pads, coil overs at around 200k and a couple of ujoints. Everything else is bone stock Toyota.

That list sounds very excessive to me.

 

Pretty sure you're supposed to grease SPC UCA's every 3500 to 5000 miles? I do mine every 5k to match my OCI but 10k seems like it might be a ways over what they spec. Food for thought

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/spc-upper-control-arms-maintenance.622057/

 

Agreed. I knew I was pushing it there. The ball joints are packed full and fine. No leakage. The groaning is coming from my LCA bushings. I know it's a tedious job, and I certainly don't have the tools to rebuild LCAs, Toyota seemed to want to fully replace the LCAs rather than just rebuild them. I asked them to show me the specific damage that would require full replacement, and they couldn't. Is it common to simply replace the LCAs rather than rebuild them?

 

My truck turned 180K mi recently. I didn't even wash it.
I do regular 5K oil changes and regular maintenance so I didn't need to do anything special. It's been about 35k on the plugs, will change them soon.
That's why I have a Toyota.

 

Yes, they are not a serviceable part by the book. Folks DIY new LBJs from Japan and also press in new bushing but the dealer wont do that. The bushings can be a major PIA too, especially if you live in the rust belt. Honestly for what they are and as long as they last OEM is a decent deal. Shop online for the lowest price from places like McGeorge Toyota

Id start with a trip to your local mechanic and see what he thinks. 140k miles on any suspension is impressive in my book, would not be upset about needing new coilovers & shocks at a minimum followed by an alignment after suspension work. Belt is a good idea for about $45 (part number:

$57 90916-A2001 Alternator and Fan Belt

90916-A2001). $248 is a fucking joke.

Coolant and brake fluid do have a useful life span like most fluids. Coolant in particular is 10 yrs or 100k miles by the book. Then 5/50k after that. See the link below for a list of recommended service intervals.

Im more surprised by what they dont list. Front wheel bearings are known to only last 100k in these truck (they will continue to run long after that, but youll hear them or feel them if you know what to look for). And spark plugs. I know you said you just did those which is good, but I figured they'd try and hose you for another $500 on that simple job

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2nd-gen-diy-maintenance-quick-reference-guide.438945/

 

Well damb. Am I likely looking at a full new suspension from Headstrong then?

https://www.headstrongoffroad.com/store/p440/OME_Coil/Bilstein_5100_Kit_-_(HS05BK-1).html

If I did anything differently, I'd set my OME-884's at 0 on the 5100s so the rear sticks up a little bit and I don't sag when towing a load.

 

Copy, yea I figured I'd give you the heads up re: greasing the UCA's in case you weren't aware. Sounds like you're on it.

I've heard mixed thoughts on the LCA replacement. I've been told it really depends on if the LCA cam bolt is siezed up or not. If it is, I believe most shops will opt to simply cut out the cam bolt & replace the LCA entirely like my shop suggested, but don't quote me on that. I know there's a lot more folks here who are a lot more knowledgeable about that than me.

 

Why don't you just replace those parts yourself???

The labor they are quoting you, is much more $$$ than the parts (if you buy the parts with deals online)

Use Google to be search "tacomaworld.com + whatever" it is you are looking to do you will find write ups ON EVERYTHING that you mentioned (or search YouTube)

 

Suspension noises can be very hard to pinpoint. Took me almost a year to narrow some of my groaning / creaking noises to the lower spherical bearings on my Kings. I dont want to have you spend money if not needed, but again 140k is a lot for suspension in my book.

Also circling back to the LCAs, how do the LBJs look? Typically that is why folks replace is due to failing inspection for play in the balljoint or torn grease boots. Or sometimes frozen cam bolts as mentioned above. If neither applies to you probably can get some more life out of them.

 

I'm going to lift it up this weekend and see what kind of play I have in the front.

 

I've done a good deal myself over the years. But as obligations increase, free time decreases.

 

understandable.

let me point out what can be done easily and quickly in the driveway.

Suspension:

• Replace front shocks: $706 20 min job if you already have the LCAs removed. but maybe yours are fully functional
• Replace rear shocks: $405 20 min job, if things are not siezed up or 20 min job to pull one off, check it and put it back on
• Replace lower control arms: $1,254 this is actually a 2-3 hour job, if things are not seized up (soak everything in pb plaster every day for a week) this can be done easily in the driveway. if you are trying to save time, DO NOT attempt to rebuild them. just get some assembled LCA's on rock auto for $250ea. (save your old ones)
• Replace rack & pinion: $1,617
• 4-wheel alignment: $130 (last completed 2/1/22)

Belts, battery, filters & fluids:

• Replace drive belt: $248
• Flush & refill coolant: $160 ... Coolant is probably $60+ for the pink stuff. Labor is less than 1 hour and not skilled.
• Flush & refill brake fluid: $118 ... two big bottles of dot3 synthetic is about $20+. the labor with two people should be less than one hour and slightly skilled.
• Flush & refill transmission fluid: $298 I dont usually touch automatics, but fluid is definitely not much $
• Replace rear dif fluid: $169 ... fluid is about $30+ labor is 20 minutes
• Fuel injector & MFI cleaning service: $268 ... they usually dont actually remove the injectors, they just put a $10 bottle of cleaner in your gas, pull out the MAF, spray it with cleaner. this is a 5min job, completely unskilled
• A/C Evap cleaning service: $100
• Replace battery: $190 (last replaced with Die Hard in 2019) $150-250, 5min job
• Replace cabin air filter $39 (I'll replace this weekend)
• Replace engine air filter $105 (Volant dry filter ordered. I'll replace it this weekend)

I bet none of this stiff is an emergency on your tucks, so you could knock out one task per week
My point is, if you were near me, I would do most of this for $30 an hour cash.
look on craigslist or ask friends/family if they have a good neighborhood mechanic.
We don't have much overhead, so we don't have to rip the customer off at inflated time/parts charges.

 

yes all a good idea. some of that i have never done on my 2009 with 225k.

 

I went on Reddit and asked locally for a good Toyota shop. I was given two good names, and the shop I selected did my 30k service and plugs for a reasonable amount.

 

Update:
Took it to my local guy. Serpentine belt, new battery, checked my suspension, new fluids through & through. Suspension no longer creaking. He said shocks, leafs, coils, LCAs, rack & pinion are fine.
$150 labor.

He said I do need new UCAs as the right side had 1/2 inch play when on the rack. He said, "if it's a specialty offroad thing, take it to your offroad guy. I called the offroad shop, called Headstrong and ordered new SPC UCAs. My current pair are four years old. The new price was a shocker, but I understand everything is more expensive now. What was $25 in 2019 was $695 today. I have an appointment next Friday for install, which will keep me on track for my Spring treks.

 

Thanks for posting the update! I was curious to see how it played out.

 

Given the mileage on my lift (140,000 miles), I wonder if I should replace my coils, shocks and leafs. It is impressive to have managed this much mileage on this gear without a parts failure. Add, too- I have two small ones in the backseat, and I don't want to risk their safety.

 

Updates:
My free time is minimal right now between work and kid's activities. I've done several things, picking one task each evening. I'm strongly considering doing a full suspension swap after my upcoming camping trip.


Suspension:

• Replace front shocks: $706 ✗
• Replace rear shocks: $405 ✗
• Replace lower control arms: $1,254 ✗
• Replace rack & pinion: $1,617 ✗
• 4-wheel alignment: $130 ✔ (scheduled after new UCA install)

Belts, battery, filters & fluids:

• Replace drive belt: $248 ✔
• Flush & refill coolant: $160 ✔
• Flush & refill brake fluid: $118 ✗ (mechanic did not advise). I will do this when I install StopTech Tundra kit from SOS performance TBD.
• Flush & refill transmission fluid: $298 ✗ (mechanic did not advise)
• Replace rear dif fluid: $169 ✔
• Fuel injector & MFI cleaning service: $268 ✔
• A/C Evap cleaning service: $100 ✗
• Replace battery: $190 ✔
• Replace cabin air filter $39 ✔
• Replace engine air filter $105 ✔