Hello getting old taco road (and off road) ready

I wasn’t bitching about it, it is what it is. It just would have been really nice to get a free brand new frame and it would have saved me a couple thousand bucks and probably well over 100 labor hours.
As far as being a safety issue I can’t see how you can think that the structural integrity of the frame is not a safety issue, the truck could literally break into two pieces on the freeway! Lol
But I’m not here to argue just saying…
Thanks for your feedback

 

What route did you go for the suspension?

 

I didn't think you were bitching about it, it was just so long ago, and was more of a warranty extension rather than a safety recall. As far as I know, new replacement frames are long gone.

You may be misinterpreting my view on the "safety issue" concern. Frame rot is, or can be a safety issue, no debate there, but it isn't the manufacturers responsibility to warranty a frame indefinitely. I'm not aware of any manufacturer that will warranty a frame for as many years as Toyota did, and all steel frames have the potential to rot and fail. Hope that makes a little more sense.

 

It was a bit of a challenge for me being the first truck I’ve owned and a newb to lifting it. It started out with a broken leaf spring that needed replacement, so shopping around for that I found some heavy duty leaf springs, which I probably shouldn’t have bought but I did. After attempting to install them I found that the stock rear shocks weren’t long enough, so I found a pair of Rancho rear shocks for a good price on eBay. After installing the rear springs and shocks, it had the stance of a jackrabbit! So I tried the easiest least expensive way to fix that and got 2-1/2” spacers for the front shocks. It helped some, but the front original shocks were so old that it was still a good bit lower. So then I got a pair of Rancho 9 way adjustable coil overs for the front. Which made the front higher than the rear with the spacers but still lower without them, ugh. So then I got a pair of adjustable lift shackles for the rear which got it sitting pretty on the lowest setting. I also had to get a pair of upper control arms and a sway bar drop kit to accommodate the front lift.
Now that the suspension is finally done I’m so happy with it. It rides very nice.
Now I badly need a set of bigger tires to fill the gap!

 

Gotcha my friend, no worries. From what I understand there were a few different suppliers of the frames back then, and the ones supplied by Dana corp. had a defect with the steel used, and those were the ones that were covered by the safety recall. That’s what I was told by someone who worked for Toyota corporate anyway.

 

Change out the radiator. My 2002 had a plastic radiator body construction that cracked. I replaced it with a heavier duty aluminum body.

 

Yes indeed, my radiator is actually broken where it mounts so it wiggles around a bit, but it doesn’t leak (yet, knock on wood) but I’ll definitely add that to my list. What radiator did you get?
Thanks

 

I don't recall. I had it replaced at a local independent shop here in San Diego (The Truck Shop) Miramar Road. Looked fairly heavy duty with a metal body. Trusty 02 Tacoma is now gone. Should have kept it!

 

Holy Crap alex69
a frame swap under your belt then you join the forum??!!!

welcome!
good freakin job!!!!!

 

whatcha mean? My frame job took me a weekend and 2 cases of beer. JKJK It's super impressive he did it without posting and it looks like he did it without a lift or specialty tools. As for tires I like my Yokohama G003. A 285/75/16 comes out to a 33" and should fit your factory 16". Good ratio of wheel to tire.

 

Okay Okay
U badass too!

guess my 4day+ 2RZ T-cover gaskets job I did(12.8hr book time) threw me for a loop! I did spend more on brake cleaner ($120) than wine……barely………
lol

 

Hahaha yeah. I’m not really a very good mechanic, I’m pretty much a master auto body painter who can fix dents. It took me almost a year to complete the swap but I was only working on it an hour or 2 every week, was done in baby steps. I should have joined the forum before I definitely started it probably would have been done a lot earlier!

Wow that’s amazing efficiency!


Only 2 cases of beer! lol

thanks for the tire recommendation I’ll check those out. Do they ride good on the street?

 

alex69.....those red frame to body bushings......any info you got on those? poly?
thanks

 

Yeah I believe the brand is prothane

 

They do pretty good for a mud tire. The mud tires don't do so good in snow or rain like an AT will. Definitely a trade-off to be made but they aren't loud and drive pretty good. Also they look killer.

 

YO
In your professional opinion,
Could new frame to cab bushes be installed one by one?
Like slid into place
with appropriate frame to cab fasteners loosened and floor jack to raise cab?
Not a lift
Thnx for your input

 

This is exactly how many do that job. Tilt the cab up to one side slightly to do one side's bushings, then repeat in the same fashion for the second side

 

Yeah Yeah Yeah

so very possible
Awesome

Any other parts/assemblies needed to be set back or loosened?
Doubt brake lines, we are talking less than 2” here
Steering column shaft?

 

Just the steering column, as far as I know. Just be gentle and methodical as you lift it up

 

Ok so I got a gallon of 75w90 synthetic gear oil to change the transmission and differential oil and it wasn’t quite enough just for the trans and rear so I’m about to get more for the front differential and transfer case. I’m assuming that the transfer case takes 75-90 as well?