Igor: Double Cab 4x4. Frankenstein's Helper

I've been using these for several years..love them so easy and keeps phone pretty secure.

 

I like these a lot. The only down side is if you get too big of a phone they aren't as nice. But still works awesome.

 

Well I've been used to running only on front brakes becuase my rear valve didn't work. We had to adjust the rears quite a bit to get them to grab. Once we did It grabs pretty good. It's going to take sometime for the shoes to reform to the drums and then I'll have to adjust the valve again. OH you have ABS dam. I know nothing about ABS since my truck never came with it.

 

Yea Igor had it. I ripped it mostly. haha Don't miss it.

Maybe i'll just check my shoes next time I'm under the truck to see if i can just adjust them. I do know on Frankenstein when i used the BAMF bracket to lift up the stock on 5.5'' it helped a lot.

 

As much as I like my 15" wheels, C rated tires with lots of sidewall... I need to do the Tundra brake caliper upgrade.

 

Yea its worth it I think. Improves the stopping a lot. My brakes are awesome now. Can't wait for the rears to get refreshed then i'll really have good braking.

@m3bassman would enjoy them I think too. And he has wheels that will clear too.

 

Awesome write up man!

 

Thanks man!

 

I know you said the ebay links were not identical to what you used, but I'm wondering if the ebay seller is the same? Is 'brake_overstock' the seller who refused to respond when there was a problem?

 

yes, same seller.

I read a thread on t4rorg of a guy that bought both the power stop ones and the callahan ones. Think he had the same issue with the callahans and just used the power stops. But i know Trent had issues and was able to get a new caliper sent. Not sure on the seller though @Delta00

Think id get powerstop ones if i did it again.

 

You didn't read the write up did you.

 

You literally never read what i post do you?

Why do i try even anymore? haha

 

Literally in the install with pictures and all you didn't even have to read.

 

"Trent"

Got mine from Amazon, had a gouge on the banjo bolt surface which caused brake fluid to leak and they were super helpful in replacing it getting me a new caliper in two days even before I sent the other one back.

Callahan CCK11988 FRONT Powder Coated Red [2] Calipers + [2] Rotors + Quiet Low Dust [4] Ceramic Pads Performance Kit

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00E...ndra+brake&dpPl=1&dpID=51gpY5NwzrL&ref=plSrch

 

Great write up, man!

I am one of the happy 01-04 owners as far as the Tundra upgrade goes. It was night and day, and the pedal feel is awesome.

I'm currently running the BAMF BPV relocate bracket, but I have no idea how much it's doing. The braking with the Tundra brakes before and after the lift and bracket was the same, so there's that, I guess. At some point, I'd really like to do the @BDN mod and ditch the factory setup. So much more versatile.

 

I also really enjoyed the bedding in process. Lots of brake smell and lots of fun. Totally worth it with the new rotors too.

 

Front end Refreshing:

Igor has a good 183k or so on him. Which means its time for some major maintenace. I started with LBJs, Tie rod ends, and steering bushings.

My driver side outer tie rod was fused to the inner as i found out last time i tried getting an alignment. So figured may as well replace them all.

And since i was there i figured why not do LBJs since i have no idea if they are original or what. We all know my reputation with those so I didn't want to risk it.

For parts I went OEM for LBJs as i have felt aftermarket ones vs OEM and its night and day difference. OEMs are worth it. I also went OEM outer tie rods. But for inners I settled for 555 as toyota wants $136 for each inner.

No that is not a typo.

I went through Camelback for all my OEM parts and used the TW discount.

LBJ Right side: https://parts.camelbacktoyota.com/p...mber=4333039556&vehicleid=78972&siteid=214329

LBJ Left Side: https://parts.camelbacktoyota.com/p...mber=4334039436&vehicleid=78972&siteid=214329

Outer Tie Rod, Left side: https://parts.camelbacktoyota.com/p...mber=4504739175&vehicleid=78972&siteid=214329

Outer Tie Rod, Right side: https://parts.camelbacktoyota.com/p...mber=4504639295&vehicleid=78972&siteid=214329

I got my inners from LowRange Offroad: http://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/toyo...a-tacoma-inner-tie-rod-end-left-or-right.html

For bushings I went with Total Chaos Poly bushings from Wheelers: The inner's were of course on back order. took 6 weeks to get them. But finally did!

ManyMods.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

I started with the LBJs as they are connected to the steering. Just need to remove the 4 bolts.

ManyMods-2.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

I couldn't figure out and convenient way to hold the UCA and spindle up out of the way, but it still worked fine just had to lift it as needed.

ManyMods-3.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

And this is a tool that in my humble opinion EVERYONE with a 1st gen Tacoma should own. Easily. If you can't afford the $15 price tag to keep this thing in your OSK. You can rent it for free. But its only $15...

ManyMods-4.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

This is a Pitman puller. And makes this job very easy. Low Range Offroad has a great video on doing the inner and outer tie rods, which I agree with most of the techniques used. The one i don't is beating the shit out of your tie rods and LBJs to get them out.

This is where the pitman puller is worth it.

We will do the Outer Tie rod first, so take the cotter pin out and take the nut off first

ManyMods-5.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Now grab the Pitman puller back the bolt out, slide it on then crank down the bolt.

ManyMods-6.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Grab a large wrench, I like to use a 12'' or larger crescent wrench for more leverage, which you will really want. And start tightening it down.

ManyMods-7.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

I HIGHLY recommend wearing earmuff or ear plugs as this next part can be loud. Continue tightening down until you can't or it get very hard. Usually then a light tap on the pitman will send it home with a bang.

Literally.

ManyMods-8.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The pop can be pretty damn loud so seriously consider ear protection. But as you can see it pops right out no issues and the boot is not torn like a pickle fork would do and the threads are all beautiful if you wanted to reuse the tie rod.

Which I'm not but still. Very nice tool.

Repeat for the LBJ, can be a bit tricky if you have the dust boots to get the pitman on, but it will go on.

My LBJs definitely seem due..thank god we didn't find that out the hard way again eh Mike? lol @Digiratus

ManyMods-9.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
ManyMods-10.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

once off, remove the dust boot as you'll want them on the new LBJs.

ManyMods-11.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
ManyMods-12.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

So fresh and clean

ManyMods-13.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Dirty ass boot..lol hard life ahead for this LBJ.

ManyMods-14.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Set the LBJ back in the LCA hole and put the bolts back in. Now i didn't put in new bolts YET. But you SHOULD. I didn't realize my PN for the LBjs didn't come with new bolts as some do. So if you order from my parts list above, GET NEW BOLTS TOO!

I settled to clean them and will replace later this spring. Added Blue locktite and torqued to 55ft/lbs. Will use Red next time but didn't have red at the shop this go around.

ManyMods-15.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Time for the Tie rods.

ManyMods-16.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Id recommend watching this video for the sole reason to see how to undo the boot clamps. I couldn't take photos of it as it takes two hands and tools so if anything watch it for that part. Should have it linked to start right at that part.

https://youtu.be/AVQHgcXEhpE?t=4m28s

Now my drive side was fused together so i took the main boot off and removed the Inner tie rod from the rack.

This is a problem as there is no way to get the boot off or the smaller clamp without seperating the two tie rods. Well after trying I said Fuck it

ManyMods-17.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

And cut it in half.

ManyMods-18.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

this allowed me to get off the Nut which i needed as well and the boot and clamp.

Installed the new inner

ManyMods-20.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

The grabbed the new outer.

ManyMods-19.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Once again i was surprised to find no hardware came with it. Something that was going to be an underlying problem with this whole install. I got no new nut for the tie rod. But my old ones where in good shape and I had no issues with using them.

Bolted everything back up, make sure you put the boot on and clamp first, and was done!

ManyMods-21.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Repeated on the other side.

Then i moved to the bushings.

TC includes some nice instructions. Not a lot too this. 4 bolts and then you have to pry the rack away which can be a bit hard. Using a torch i headed the bushings centers out till they smoked or caught fire. Pushed right out no problem.

ManyMods-55.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
ManyMods-54.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

to be replaced with these.

ManyMods-53.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

I was amazed at how well this was going for me and usually the dealing with the rack sucks ass. I lubbed up everything with lithium grease and everything went in great.

Well, it bit me. The TC kit that i got didn't come with a back washer and the instructions make note of only the T100 and Tundra kit having one. Thought that was odd. Got everything put in save the back half of the furthest bushing on the driver side. I hated how there wasn't a washer but didn't have anything on hand and tried to see if it would work..

it didn't.

ManyMods-56.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

So i made one from the old bushings using the center that had a washer on it. I had already used the OEM washer on the front.

ManyMods-57.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Cut off the center tube and was good.

ManyMods-58.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Much better.

ManyMods-60.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Of course the 2nd time around it was a major PITA to get everything lined up..but eventually I got it all buttoned up!

ManyMods-59.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

Got it aligned and drives straight and solid.

I also did the Tac Weld mod at this time. But will make that a separate post.

 

Yea im happy with the tundra brakes for sure. The rear BPV is pretty easy to do. Id recommend it as well.

 

At 180K+, they were way over due. Very grateful they did not create any unnecessary drama.

IMO, LBJs need to be on a regular replacement schedule. Similar to the waterpump/timing belt.

 

Oh i agree hands down. Me of all people understand this now.

I just had literally no idea if they had ever been changed..so..kinda scary considered what we did and where we were in Oct haha

Timing belt and water pump are going to be done this summer too as well as valve cover gaskets.