New first gen owner with questions!

How’s it going, just got myself a 2002 Tacoma XtraCab, 4x4, 5MT, 2.7L, bought with 109k miles on the dash.

Never been happier with a vehicle purchase. Coming on here with a couple questions as a first time tacoma owner. The truck spent its a good chunk of its life in Mass where it accumulated a fair amounts of rust, nothing too major from what I can tell, however this brings me to my first question of what all should I be looking to replace regarding the 23 year old suspension to improve ride quality or just components that are prone to failure, so far i’ve heard some things about the LBJ’s. Then my next concern is with the 2.7 what should I be looking to replace as it didn’t come with any service records, I just replaced the spark plugs and coil packs which made a noticeable improvement in performance, i’ll attach a photo of how bad the plugs were,

made me thing they had never been replaced so im at the point where i want to assume nothing has been changed besides oil in this truck since new. Thank you for everyones time and acceptance on this forum, if there’s any thing else you think I should know as a first gen owner I would love to know!!

 

Welcome to the TW

 

Since you have no service history I would recommend a full fluid service. Go to with your vin number and see if the LBJ have been addressed.

 

I would examine the frame very very closely. Ball peen, probe. Camera in boxed areas.

Make sure it's solid before spending $. Many here have bought pending failures, and those plugs suggest the frame may not have had much protective love either

 

If the frame checks out I'd replace every fluid in the truck. Someone who doesn't change spark plugs may not change diff, Tcase fluids either.

 

Anything with rubber in the suspension needs to be examined closely and probably replaced - LCA/UCA bushings, coilover bushings (shocks,) rack bushings, sway bar bushings. Doing this work may or may not require new cam adjustment bolts which are over $200 for a full set, I've heard horror stories (frozen so bad they needed to be cut out) but mine came out fine and went back in like new (ish.)

Coilover springs are probably starting to sag, SuspensionLifts.com has the best price I found on a package of all 4 shocks/assembled coilovers, as close to stock as you'll find.

You may find some of this has been done, but if it's original it needs addressing it will make it last another 20 years. Even if the lower ball joints show up in the recall (mine did) they should be replaced every 30-70K miles, so do them anyway and don't skimp on aftermarket, go OEM on these. Search around here for LBJ failure, it's not something you want to have happen.

I did a front end refresh last year (and here) that included a new rack and it drives like new.

 

What exactly should I be looking for on the frame, just any major cracks or chunks missing? I heard these frames have a tendency to rust from the inside out.

 

Using the search feature will find you threads like this

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/1st-gen-frame-rust-repair-and-upgrade.710516/

Notice where the leaf hangers mount to the frame, and the boxed area by the converter in particular. Delamination on the edges of the rails, also all the other undercarriage bits will give you some clues to how bad it may (or hopefully not) be.

Inside out, yes, but that's why you hit it with a hammer, to see if it breaks through.

A cheap camera extension that plugs into your phone and lets you see in hidden places it good.

Best of luck. Hoping you find a solid frame!

 

Carfax may be helpful to at least see how often it was in the shop and the general nature of the visits. If your truck went to the dealership, you might be able to contact them.

 

I don't care if you checked the lower ball joints, REPLACE THEM WITH OEM ASAP.

 

That's a good idea, the LBJ recall could have been done at 60k, meaning replacement isn't necessarily urgent.

 

2.4L and 2.7L virtually the same

I went thru a 96 2.4L…..mainly engine all fluid changed
With lots of help/advice from others members here….and 9 months of wrenching

runs like a top!
Search my threads…I’m pretty good about posting pix
B4 and after pix

 

In addition to the above info, hit somewhere on the frame with the hammer that looks real solid, you should get a nice iron "ping" sound. Go all down the frame tap tap tap, bottom and sides, if you hear a dull clunk anywhere focus around that area to see how big it is. From what I've seen as mentioned the worse of it starts around the rear leaf spring/shock mount areas.

Surface rust should be addressed, but it can be, rust rot in the frame is another story.