1st Gen front suspension stuff

I have done a ton of searching for decent threads with decent information on parts and fixes.

I am not very active on here but I have been around for quite a while.

This past weekend I found that one of my strut tower buckets was cracked. After searching for what others have done, I found that there weren't many pictures of the fix or recommendations for the fix.

EDIT: it's way more common than I thought.
Here's some examples

I did notice that the 4runner folks had quite a few of them. So, since the 3rd gen 4 runner and 1st gen taco's have the exact same front suspension, here are some things that I have found to be helpful.

LCA:

• Lower control arm bushings

https://youtu.be/kmaZNBp1gZM​

I have had the Whiteline bushings in mine for about a year now, no issues yet.
https://whitelineperformance.com/products/w53377a-bushing-kit
​

• Lower ball joints:

Edit: Just learned that the 4 runner Lower ball joints have a better turning radius.
I buy my Lower ball Joints from Low Range Offroad. They have done me well and a decent price. Lowrangeoffroad Lower ball joints ​

• Lower control arm reinforcement:

EIMKEITH has this weld on kit. I haven't seen it installed but as soon as I can I think it will be on my rig. Lower control arm reinforcement​

• Bump stops:

I didn't upgrade and I'm paying for it.
I ordered a set of Durobumps and will be installing them asap.​

UCA:

• Use the upper control arm you want.

I use the SPC unit as my frame was tweaked and I need the extra adjustment. Never had the upper ball joint issue that others have had but I bought a spare set anyway.​

Shock/Strut:

• I have had 3 different coil over brands in my truck.
• First were the Allpro brand with the bilstein shocks. They were OK and I had them for a very long time (2010-2015) until they leaked. They are not rebuild-able so they went away.
• Toytec Boss shocks were purchased and installed next. I wanted shocks that could be valved and rebuilt but the budget wouldn't allow. At the time Toytec said that they would swap the shock out for a super low price if they failed but I think that went away quickly. Disclaimer: I have had nothing but quality experiences with Toytech Lifts and I recommend them to all who want a great experience with a highly knowledgeable vendor! I replaced these after they started leaking as well, but less miles than the allpro's. I was getting more aggressive with my trails and truck and think that the area I was living in at the time had some to do with their failure. I still have them and will be replacing the shock portion in order to use them as trail spares. 2015-2018
• ICON 2.5" extended travel coilover non external reservoir. I purchased these from Toytec as well. They did not have the external res. version of this shock at the time of purchase or I would have purchased those. Within 3 months of installing them, the passenger shock failed...in an epic way. After some phone calls,ICON warrantied the coilover, no questions asked! The down side was that it would have to be built and then shipped. So it took a couple weeks.

Strut tower reinforcement:

• Total chaos has a weld on kits for our suspension.

• THE ONE MOST OF US DAILY DRIVERS NEEDS: Strut tower bucket reinforcement

I think both of these would be something that we all need eventually but I would get your butt out there and buy the one from EIMKEITH.com before you have serious issues.

Rack and Pinion:

• Energy suspension bushing kit they're all over the place you can do it.

​

If anyone has anything else to add. Go for it. I just thought it would be good to get something together for the 1st gen Tacoma since they are aging and still showing up the others.

Maybe I didn't read through the thousands of threads and find where someone else has done this already. if so take it down.

 

Because pics



This one is because I didn't think that the boot would make contact with the larger shocks. Learn from my mistakes

 

Kevin, educate me on the speed bumps. What are the benefits to the upgraded polyurethane bump stops? I'm asking because I don't know.

• Bump stops:

I didn't upgrade and I'm paying for it.
I ordered a set of Durobumps and will be installing them asap.

 

Only because I'm on my way to work so I'm keeping this short; if you were falling, would you rather land on a mattress or a slab of concrete? That's the difference between stock and aftermarket bump stops.

 

yes that about sums it up.

the Durobumps, from what I have read are a progressive rubber. the more they compress the harder they get.

The stock ones get harder over time and usually do not stop the travel of the suspension in time for aftermarket shocks. So you bottom out the suspension on compression and blow out the shock or shock tower.

I am not an expert by any means. nor do I know anything about suspension geometry. I'm just sharing vendors and my experiences.

 

Good on you for taking the time to consolidate everything into a well typed out format. This will definitely help someone in the future in the event that they too have their coil bucket crap out on them.

 

I thought you wanted me taking the suspension threads for today?



But yeah, my old 4Runner had low profile bumpstops back in the day. That, plus cranking up the torsion bars a bit is what we called "mid travel" back then, lol.

You could get a little more travel because the bumpstops were 1.3 as thick, but you KNEW when you hit them.

 

You're slacking already; I had a Caprisun in my hand as I walked out the door to my truck

I've yet to change my front bump stops but I'm still on my stock UCAs which are limiting me anyway.

I did bottom out the rears before I replaced all of my suspension components and those stock bump stops definitely reminded you that they were there.

 

I still haven't finished my first cup of coffee.

I won't be doing the poly bump stop thing again. That was dumb. IIRC my 4Runner had top and bottom out bumpstops, unlike just the bottom out ones for the Tacos. It felt like a metal bat hitting a baseball when the front topped out.

 

Thank you everyone for the explanation. I now feel smart as a hog!

 

About to go weld these on.

 

Welcome to the club. Looks like you caught the coilbucket just in time.

So you push your 1st gen offroad - what cracks next?

 

Oooo you dirty dog! I am gonna have to go through everything now lol!

 

Just received my Duro bumps yesterday. Pics of install to come.

 

bump stop bolts stripped haven't installed them yet.

Also learned:
-Using 4 Runner lower ball joints provide better turning radius.
-Most of the strut tower fails are from stressing the strut tower by rapid extension of suspension (no limit strap) then full compression with lack of decent bump stop.