Preventative Maintenance for Long Travel (Advice after going LT)

I can't imagine it would be a whole lot different than how I did it. A lot of first gen guys just swap these in, they are cheap enough you can buy two and have a spare. http://www.driveshaftparts.com/center-supports/toyota/toyota-tacoma-center-support/prod_493.html

 

Wow good deal on carrier bearing. I heard it was best to go oem because it will last longer? Dont have to swap so often apparently

 

Nice info

 

finally got these put on since last time I was getting it aligned the stock ones broke off

 

Damn I need to learn how to weld

 

haha buy a welder and start welding, u can teach yourself

 

Bumping this. This needs to be a sticky

 

Anyone know what bearing that is?

 

A few posts above yours VVVVV

 

Great write up. Lots of useful info

 

Question on the spindle gussets.

The OEM spindles are manufactured as cast steel, correct?

So given they are cast, how are all these guys just slapping some cold rolled against it and running some mig stitches on it? Welding to cast requires a whole different process.

Any insight?

 

Toyota spindles are forged....

 

I use a flux core wire with a high nickel content. It produces a slightly flexible joint that won't crack under high stress shear loads, with good penetration and adhesion even welding vertical up. I used .035, but .030 would get the job done.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Harris-E71T-GS-030-Flux-Cored-MIG-Welding-Wire-2-lb-Spool-/271271155959

 

Ah ha, thanks Logan - so the high nickel content flux core. I will get me some of that.

Next question, I've heard guys welding on the gusset in place on the truck. I've also heard others say they completely removed the spindle to prevent heat from getting to any of the seals/soft parts.

I'm thinking I could just do some short beads, let it cool, move to another area type procedure would work while it's still installed.

Thoughts or lessons learned on welding it installed ...?

 

I did mine on the truck. I changed a CV boot 10 miles later. I laid a welding glove on it to keep the slag off, but it still got nailed. If you are a good welder, do them on the truck but wrap everything in a welding blanket (wet rag works too..). Shock shafts are slag magnets for some reason. If you are nervous about it, pull them off and do them on a welding table. It doesn't take that long to pull them, then you don't have to weld vert-

 

Ive seen and used WD-40 near areas of welding, helps with slag/splatter removal.

 

the best way to prevent splatter/slag to stick is to put some anti-seize where you think those splatter will land

 

just spray some pam on it and the slag will roll off

 

I was just reading through this thread, and for those that didn't know.....the Tacoma spindles are forged, not cast. Looks like a couple others have already tried saying this but no one seems to notice lol.

 

Casting is the process where metal is heated until molten. While in the molten or liquid state it is poured into a mold or vessel to create a desired shape.
Forging is the application of thermal and mechanical energy to steel billets or ingots to cause the material to change shape while in a solid state.


Sure looks like they are cast to me, but I've been wrong before. Today even.