2000 TRD OFFROAD MT (Black Betty aka Black Hole aka Tamiya Bruiser II) Rebuild Thread

Get yourself some of those SPC variants that are at or under $400 total from Rockauto.

You'll get a good set of UBJ, new bushings, and new arms.

 

2000 has UBJs attached to knuckles. I'd rather not replace the UCAs. I'm pissed. I did a bunch of extra work removing those sleeves from the UCAs and I might have ruined them in the process. I'm surprised there are not UCA bushings somewhere! I can't afford $400 control arms. I'm trying to find $1,600 to pay for tires.

 

Well I only recommended that cause UCA bushings from Toyota are pretty price as a set.

As for the UBJ, they're easy to knock out. A 2000 is no different than a 1996 or a 2004. You just have to cut that wire tie before trying to push them out.

 

I just pressed brand new factory Toyota UBJs into my knuckles today.

 

You need these bushings… 48632-35080. Took me a while to figure this one out. They’re technically for a 4Runner but it’s the same as what’s in six lug Tacos.

 

Thank you for this. This lead me to the same part number but ending in 070 that says it is an exact fit for the Tacoma. Wonder what the one digit signifies.



Pretty damn steep at $125 shipped....

 

The 070 part number is for a five lug. I bought those and had to return them and then took another guys advice regarding the 080 part number.

See this thread below. Looks like I should update and confirm they fit for me.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/upper-control-arm-bushings-for-2002-trd-tacoma.787470/

 

Damn... Thanks to you again!

 

OK! Happy Turkey Day!!!

Now, problems.


After rebuilding these bastards I realized that one is significantly harder to turn than the other.

As I stated earlier I forgot to grease one of the seals between the flange and the knuckle before pressing the flange into the new bearing. I am pretty sure these cannot be separated without ruining the new bearing.

The one where I did not grease the seal is the harder to turn. It's hard enough to turn that the heavy ass knuckle will spin before the flange turns. I took some dental floss and some grease and tried to force grease into the ungreased seal. Eventually, I even tried oil. No dice. I can't get the floss between the seal and the flange.

It feels smooth when it spins it's just harder to spin than it should be. I'm assuming the lack of grease is playing a big role. I am not sure how I could have pressed it in wrong. I used the correct sized bushings and only pressed on the center of the bearing while installing it...

How fuc*ed am I?

 

Bump for qualified opinions on the above.

 

Did I not press the loose one on far enough?

I bottomed both of them out.

 

nice u bolts...

 

Fiyaxed

 

Received the bushings. They look the part...


Went ahead and pressed them in.


Ready to go on the truck!!! Hope I get some time this weekend! Things should start to tighten up!

 

Got one side on. Way more difficult than anticipated. Getting the washers in with the Whiteline bushings was tough. Alignment kit went in smoothly. I slathered everything with antiseize to prevent the nightmare disassembly was. I'll say installation of the LCAs is definitely going smoother than their disassembly. Trying a little different tact on the driver side. Here we go.

 

LCA x 2!!!!!

 

37 ft/lb

 

80ft/lb

 

103 ft/lb