2002 Tacoma for Autocross

Almost forgot, I do want to throw the SRunner front sway bar to see how that will affect the handling up next.

 

I think Trudy should go lower! I wouldn’t have my truck at this height if it didn’t ride and handle good and believe me it handles good just need to add a rear sway bar!

 

I'm super curious how yours handles good since mine is like a brick on a washboard... and bouncy at the same time. No idea what exactly I'm working with in the rear yet besides 4x4 leafs and a 5 inch block.

 

Coil overs with dampening adjustment upper tube upper control arms All new ball joints and bushings rear has blocks and Kyb shocks. The way it’s set up I still have a decent amount of spring and shock travel in the front. Eventually I’m going to swap the rear leafs for the 4x4 leaf and they sit lower so I can use a smaller block

 

I'm on feal coilovers in the front with DJM drop arms, and I don't know what shocks in the back. I can't tell if it's the shocks or the 4x4 leaf pack that makes it so bad in the rear... I want to put a smaller block in or an x-runner leaf pack to get some height and travel back in the rear.

 

Even though I took her out to the autocross, I built the truck to have some fun with and yet still be able to haul heavy stuff in the bed when needed, all while riding comfortably as possible on the street and highway!

I do not run blocks in the rear since I do drive hard from time to time as you saw and personally dont trust blocks for this kind of driving. Interestingly, a guy at the auto-x told me of his block nightmares and his cracked housings on his old 2003 Tacoma after taking it to Willow Springs raceway...

Going lower would look a bit cooler, and maybe handle even better but I would not want to sacrifice my ride quality. Believe it or not my truck not only handles way better than before the drop, it actually even rides nicer!

I also found the rear of my truck rough and hit bumps fairly hard and rebounded quite a bit without weight in the rear. My new Bilstein shocks took care of that for the most part, and then I actually added sand bags into my spare wheel since the truck rides nicer and smoother with some weight on them springs it seems.

Now I can go much faster on the highway without feeling like the truck is going to bounce off the road. Trudy hits the darn 107 mph top speed limiter now with ease and I dont have to death grip with wheel with two hands with my butt clenched up any longer!

I have a rear SRunner sway bar, but not sure if this will actually help the truck handle better or make it even more tail happy. All said I am definitely going with the SRunner front sway bar as my next suspension change.

Softer springs (front coils 368 lb) to ride nice, stiffer sway bars for less body roll!

 

Frankly I think your Tacoma's "stance" is perfect! Everything I see screams, "nailed it!"

 

@EdgemanVA thanks for the kind words, I will pass your sentiment on to Trudy!

So I hopped outside yesterday to take inventory of my sway bar parts thinking I was going to order up new bushings. Unfortunately I realized I am missing one of the steel mounts and the stock sway bar mounts dont fit over the fatter SRunner bar/bushing. This upset me a bit since when I was picking this up at the yard I mentioned this and was told the parts were the same by the guy there... phooey!

I guess I need bushings and one of the steel plates that hold it to the frame crossbar to try and get this going in time for the next event..

 

Update for the fans of high performance on-road first gen Tacoma ACTION,

Registered for the next event this weekend, if you are in So Cal and wish to join check out the details and register here. I believe the Tacoma falls into STX class, so I am running in the Novice (Indexed) class with the PAX STX to help the long line of folks ready to enter!

I tried to get a front end alignment with some upgraded performance specs to improve handling, but my shop that had done the stock specs said they couldn't do this for me. I made an appointment at a shop that specializes in alignments, but sadly the event is before they were available.
Also have some bushings to mount that SRunner sway bar on order, but no tracking yet and so I guess we will see if they get here in time.

 

Were you trying to get them to adjust your camber?

 

I was asking them to go for or get as close to these specs he could that I pulled off the web:

 

Kinda surprised you classed in STX, not that it really matters if you're not running in class or worrying about PAX, but I think you should actually be in FSP. Our pickups don't really have a spot in Street Touring that I could find. I plan on running mine at an event or 2 if my Miata doesn't get finished before our first events.

 

Thanks for this,

I signed up for STX just because I saw it listed in the appendix in the SCCA rule book as below.. but I must admit I was totally confused by all the classes and still not sure if this is right.



So, what's a PAX?!

 

Here is a link to the 2021 SCCA Solo Rules book released just days ago I am trying to figure out here..

https://www.scca.com/downloads/53335-2021-scca-solo-rule-book/download

 

I missed the Tacoma there, I was looking for a catch-all class, you're correct running STX then.

PAX is basically a handicap to even the running overall to driver skill. In theory, you can use your PAX time to compare across classes. It uses champ tour results to try and get the number. So STX PAX is .816 for 2021. You would take your raw time and multiply it my the PAX index to get your PAX time. You should be able to see the overall standings wherever you got the results from.

It's definitely not perfect, and with a random in there like a Tacoma, it's probably a lot further off.

 

Not going to lie.. you running your Tacoma has me itching to take Avalon out just because. Lol odd things running around the track are neat

 

I can't wait to take mine around a course this summer. It'll be hilarious and fun!

 

Thanks for confirming, and the good info on PAX. I think STX sounds right and looking at the allowances in the class my tires or other upgrades do not seem to change the class either.

I also purchased an annual number #322. Guess its time to order up some magnetic numbers and letters for the side of the truck! These caught my eye since they are very custom, number of digits, letters, fonts, colors pretty nice looking stuff..

Premium Magnetic Autocross Numbers with Outline

 

I think that adds to the fun! There was an old Toyota Matrix out there, a little Yaris hatchback, an old GS300, a fancy new Lambo, and a bunch of other "non-standard" autocross cars that really caught attention for being unique.

Grab a helmet and go for it, I doubt you'll have any regrets but will surely have some fun stories to tell!

 

Some bushings finally showed up in the mail today and I was able to pop that SRunner sway bar on in time for the next autocross event this weekend.


I took it for a test run in my local canyons, and must say even after just an initial break in run I believe this may be the best handling upgrade since my wheels and tires!!