Getting there….

Ball joints were toast, glad I havent driven this truck regulary in the last few years.. All new front suspension going in, steering rack, new rear leafs, shocks. Everything OEM except the rack, CV axels and the Bilsteins obviously. Couldnt locate OEM Rack and CV Axels. Can wait to get it back down on the ground.

Still have to get the Carrier bearings in, that will happen after this, along with new K02's

 

That’s awesome you’re rebuilding it with mostly OEM stuff. I’m curious, why K02’s instead of K03’s?

 

@Road_Warrior, I havent seen the K03's in 31x10.5's. Maybe they are out there, need to look more. I do have the k03's on my GX460 though.

 

ahh yeah I did see the other day that they’re still releasing sizes. Makes sense!

Funny you mention the GX460, we are likely buying one for my wife at some point this year.

 

That GX is probably one of my favorite vehicles Ive owned. It is extremely capable. Gas mileage kinda sucks though..

 

Yeah we are preparing ourselves for the MPGs and the premium fuel lol

Sounds to me from my research that the pros far outweigh the cons.

 

Your GX is beautiful by the way, just saw the pics. I’m already planning out the first mods haha

 

Thanks @Road_Warrior. Yes, the pros definitely out weigh the cons on the GX. Its my wifes daily and our weekend car, but it hasnt let us down at all. Not going to mod it.

 

I’m glad to hear it’s treated you guys so well.

When I say “mod it”, I actually mean just some good all-terrain tires and black wheels. Oh and adding CarPlay if we get one that is pre-2022.

Those are her requests and who am I to say no to shopping for truck stuff

 

@Road_Warrior, yes Carplay would be a great addition. Its funny with those GX's, they kinda always stayed the same other than the front end, bumpers and lamps. Seems like Lexus always stayed with the same sure thing, they are rather primitive compared to other Lexus models of that era, but it like that. Ours is a 2017. I pulled the bumper off and swapped out the original grille for the 2021 grille. We painted the wheels, smoked out the taillamps, added the tires, installed the roof rack...maybe something else, cant remember.

They didnt change them much from 2003-2022.

 

Yeah that’s about exactly what we’re planning on doing in terms of mods. We will probably wind up with something 2018-2021

 

Regarding the Tacoma, Im really excited to see how its going to feel with all the new suspension and steering rack added. The truck has 254k on it and hopefully it wont feel that old anymore. I forgot what it felt like at 32k when i bought it

 

IMO
White Wall Lettering is underrated!!!
Looks awesome!

maybe will make a come back like bell bottoms or something

just bc I have seen/told GX460 customers a half dozen times that RE bumper repair ($1k) will not make that weird $3k(?) brake MC/booster/ABS pump assembly fail….
any issues with yours?
Thanks

 

I love the white lettering facing out on the BFG's. Havent had any of those issues.

I manage a fairly large collision repair facility, so I know how much body and paint repairs add up @ControlCar. Repairs are getting crazy expensive these days, calibrations alone cost $1000 to $1500. Headlamps can run up north of $2000 sometimes. This is my 27th year in the business, crazy. Started washing cars in 1997.

 

Ha!
26yrs here…..same ins comp
I must say, techs love me….bc I don’t freaking act like I know everything…..I ask questions
Perfect example
Some Nazi sled…..a shop asking to RI rear subframe for tank RR or rear LCA(??)
A holes(my comp btw) kept saying NO….refusing to even reinspect
After several elevations, I was sent out.
Tech showed me that Audi’s engineers made tank/lca bolt so long would back out into subframe!
Paid shop for what they were owed.
Easy.
It’s not that hard people!

well great about that MC contraption on your GX. Most likely the ones I saw failed the fluid looked like black diesel oil.
Cheers

 

BTW
In your opinion
Just how long away are We from disposable cars??

I know some of my good shops pay $3-$4k a year just for the “privilege” to get the newest software updates from vendors/manufacturers
UGH

give me a cable actuated HVAC controls any day of the week!!!!

 

Not sure man..

 

You were not able to find a new OEM rack?

 

@Black97v6MT, my mistake, yes they are out there. For some reason yesterday when I posted, I forgot that those were one of the OEM parts that were still available online.