3rd problems after Full Suspension lift/Adding ECGS Carrier Bearing

Truck looks mean man!! Super sick! What UCA's are those! And 285's?

 

They are the JBA HD UCAs. Yup, 285/70R17 Ridge Grapplers

 

If i could do it again I'd just install it while I did my lift

So I figured id share my experience. I am not super mechanically inclined but I am very well read on the subject and watched a ton of youtube videos beforehand. I lifted my 2016 sport a few months ago and got the vibe. Toyota did not have an answer so they replaced the whole front diff which solved the problem for about 2k miles. I finally grew the balls to do it myself.


I used these youtube video as my guide


CV axle removal video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfpP4sy8qYw&t=226s

ECGS needle bearing removal and ECGS bushing install video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnA_R3gFf2s&t=200s

I rented most of the necessary tools from autozone loan a tool program (I can not overstate the importance of having the right tools and it doesn't cost anything to rent from autozone (100% refund with return of tools within 90 days))

heres a list of what i rented

35 mm socket
breaker bar
torque wrench
tie rod separator
bearing driver kit
263 dollars total shipped to my house for free and 100% refundable if you return the tools within 90 days which I did today

(The spring compressor was for something else and is not needed FYI)



Some other tools I had that were necessary
Pry bar
10 mm allan wrench on a socket driver
ball pien hammer
small sledge hammer
jack stands
jack
standard set of sockets up to 22mm

I bought the $60 needle bearing puller tool and in my opinion it is a must

I used the ECGS recommended gear oil afterwards which i ordered from Amazon (85W-140)

$14 Lucas Oil 10042 Heavy Duty High Performance SAE 85W-140 Gear Oil - 1 Quart

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000IG20T0/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Used this forum for a guide of torque specs for reassembling everything
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/the-torque-spec-guide.318116/

All in all it took me about 4 hours and keep in mind I've only driven about 20 miles since the install but my taco drives like a dream now. Quieter than the day I bought her. Hope this helps anyone with any doubt about doing it yourself. The two hardest parts were seating the removal tool behind the needle bearing and the other was pounding the new ECGS bushing in.

 

Well, I do seem to be pulling more tail at the beach...

 

Just wondering any rubbing with your setup? Did you use any wheel spacers? and just wondering if you change your rear brake lines? thanks in advance

 

I get a little rubbing on the cab mount with the wheel turned in reverse. I'll have to get that chopped soon.

Stock rear brake hoses, didn't change anything brake related.

 

Do you know if the cmc plates for the 05-15 tacos are the same for the 16' tacos?

 

BAMF lists different ones for 05-15 and 16+

 

Yea I just gave them a call and told me. I don't need them yet, still have to see where exactly I rub

 

Anyone have any idea what Toyota would charge to install ecgs? Could it be warranty work?

 

I got quoted at 450$ to do it at a local toyota dealer if i supplied the parts. I ended up doing it myself and it wasn't bad at all.

 

could be a wheel slightly out of balance in the front, or a bad CV possibly if you rode around w/o the bushing installed before you did it. Sometimes the cv gets scored right where the needle bearing was and makes noises obviously when it spins after that

 

not gonna be warranty work, mine was $2-300 if I remember correctly. Its a fairly complicated install requiring removal of wheel, brake disc, caliper, caliper bracket, then disconnecting everything from the hub and pulling it off to wiggle the CV out. Once the CV is out, youll basically need the ECGS tools to remove and reinstall. IF you dont pay for the tools, expect the rebuild to run you the 1000-1200 range because they have to pull the entire front diff and disassemble. Bring the dealer the nice sets of tools and ask them nicely and they will probably do the work for you like they did for me!

 

Thanks for the heads up...will definitely supply the tool when the time comes.

 

For $2-300 I might let them do it but more than that and I'll probably do it myself, thanks.

 

Toyota of Puyallup in Washington State laughs you out of the service department. They won't install anything but a replacement part that they sell. Basically the same piece of crap that is in there and that will start vibrating again.

The clown at the service desk basically told me the truck comes perfect from the factory and looks great and lifting it basically voids all warranties and such. The damn truck looks like a nightmare from the factory. Might as well market it as a truck with mom style mini van wheels. Lame.

They say NO to everything you ask them about.

Next time I am buying from Michaels Toyota in Bellevue. They install Toytec lift kits with no worries and warranty all their work.

Big thumbs down to Toyota of Puyallup.

 

Yea find a new dealer... that's odd. My local dealer frequently builds and sells tacomas which I'm sure all carry factory warranty....and by builds I mean the put spacers, a pro grill, and 285s on it. But hey, it's something.

 

Mine replaced the needle bearing with oem at 350 miles under warranty. 100 miles later vibe was back. Told them about ECGS bushing. Service manager ordered everything and replaced under warranty. They now stock this bushing.

 

That's pretty good of them. I'm going to check into it.

 

Can't hurt to ask but every dealer is different.