2002 Tacoma with 280,000 miles and big tires. Just got for my daughter.

Take pictures of the front wheel well so we can see the suspension set up.

Take pictures of your CV axles so we can see the angles.

 

Nice truck! Yes on the suspension set up. Pic of the frame under running boards looks suspect - frame looks low (could be the angle) which may mean blocks / shims vs true full suspension. Also may want to confirm diff drop.

 

Do not have her drive on the beach unless you want the frame to rot out. You can fluid film and wash it but the salt water will stay inside the frame and it rots from the inside out. I live in SoCal and surf a bit and the lifeguards have brand new third gen tacos that they don’t drive into the water but along the beach and they all have heavy scaling surface rust and they’re only a year or two old

 

I was stumped as to how you could be running 35's and only rub the frame, I see now it has a body lift. 3"?

If you feel the need to go to a smaller tire I wouldn't go any narrower. Width is an advantage in the sand. I run a 285 width but in a 33" diameter and very rarely ever rub the frame. On the rare occasion that I have, it is so slight that it's a non issue. Wheel specs play role in some of this too.

 

Repair plate or just frame reinforcement?

 

I will in the morning, now that you guys are helping me home in

 

I will do my best to confirm tomorrow

 

Actually, I’m aware of that. My friends frame broke in half on the beach right in front of me in an older one.

 

That’s definitely one of the answers I was looking for, thank you

 

We do use a lot of fluid film here it is quite good but yes, I see the openings in the frame where salt could get in

 

I posted the picture above this morning of the tire size but the wheel is 18 I believe and I have no idea about spacing?

 

I believe it’s reinforcement, but not sure there’s no crack on top

 

This is what was done to it right before I got it, tomorrow I’m gonna check all that u- joints, and ball as well. There could be some stuff missing the father sold it for his son. He’s off in college? I just don’t want to bug him anymore.

 

Yep, do the lower ball joints. U joints and stuff, sure, of course. Just like everything. Good to check things that wear. But the lower ball joints on these trucks are known to fail, and when they do, the wheel comes off. That happens at more than 20 or 30 mph and you're in serious trouble. Replace the lower ball joints and use Toyota parts. Soon.

I've seen two trucks in town recently with a front tire completely sideways, rim facing down at the ground, sitting in front of repair shops. So it's on my mind. Just google lower ball joint failure for first gen Tacomas and you'll see all kinds of horror stories.

 

No need to go smaller size, just trim the bottom of the wheel well of front end... If you are not sure where, turn the wheel left or right and get out of the truck to see where the tire touches, mark it, then put it on lift and raise it up and trim that part off each side.

 

Also, hopefully you don't get nervous about the truck because of the LBJ thing. You absolutely need to replace them, but its because you have no idea if they have ever been replaced.
They last 80-100k miles (OEM), but get forgotten about or ignored in maintenance schedules and then cause the common failures because they have 200k miles. So once you deal with them you're good to go for many years.

 

Yeah, I’m gonna check them today and then probably replace them any idea how much they are? And thank you for the feedback.