Blurple build

I'm improving my 95.5 Tacoma V6 access cab SR5.

 

The truck came with the topper. It apparently had a rack on it at one time. All that was left was some metal plate mounting points for a rack. I had an old yakama rack that i had been saving. The rack wouldn't fit on the existing mounting points. Myfriend fabricated some new mounts that the yakima towers and racks could bolt on to. We used the existing holes in the topper and lots of sealant. No leaks!

existing mount

new fabricated mounts with Yakima rack base

Rack installed

 

Took my truck to my mechanic friend to have the oil changed and the suspension inspected. He said that I had a strut that was rusted and likely to fail and that I had a broken end link. The end link connects to the sway bar so I've been riding around with no sway bar for a little while.

 

Broken end link



You can see the end of the sway bar with nothing connected to it. You can also see the end link leaning over to the right behind it.

 

I ordered a new suspension with lift from wheelers off road yesterday! I ordered the old man emu suspension package. I opted for the 882 springs. I also had the struts pre assembled. So up front will be OME nitro shocks, 882 springs. The rear will have new wheelers leaf springs, a 1.5" wheelers 3 piece add a leaf and OME nitro shocks. I know the 882 springs will be very stiff until i get an off road bumper and winch. I wanted to do the lift without a coil spacer if possible. Also the add a leaf will be stiff but should be good for towing my boat and for a roof top tent if i ever get that far. I don't want to have to back track and upgrade suspension parts every time i add something to the truck. The suspension should be here middle of next week. I'll try and take good pics of the install. I'm sure it will be a challenge and present problems to overcome.

 

I learned something from my mechanic today. My brakes were feeling soft. I assumed i needed new pads. My brother and i took the front wheels off and the rotors and pads were in good shape. The brake fluid reservoir was full. we bled the front brakes a little and maybe got a little air out but they seemed ok. I felt like the brakes were a little better after the bleed. I don't want to put my lift on with bigger tires and not be able to stop! I ran by mechanics place and asked him about it. He asked if i had drum brakes in the rear. I do. He asked if i was using the emergency brake when i parked. I never do, unless i'm on a steep hill, its an auto transmission. My mechanic explained (i'm badly paraphrasing and likely wrong) that the parking brake helps adjust the rear drum brakes. Every time you pull the E brake it clicks the brake shoes closer to the drum until they are in the right place. My brake shoes were backed off away from the drum and i had to push the brake pedal farther down for them to connect. Anyway, I rode around and every time i stopped at a light i would pull the E-brake and release it several times. The brakes feel better now! i love zero dollar solutions! I'll use my E-brake when i park from now on.