Northern Virginia Roll Call

I'm old. One hour is important.

 

I do also know some folks who drive to the trail, then unbolt on the ground and zip tie the ends up out of the way.

I don't recommend it for wheeling though, but it is possible.

 

Dave, if I make it up your way, you can drive my truck since it's sway bar free...not an apples to apples but much closer than Chris' monster of a Taco!

 

Cool cool. Then I can tune ya.

 

And if I bring the skid steer...we can make flex spots for the sway vs. no sway flexing/jumps for Fancy.

 

I'll tell you what chris told me about the sway bar.

If you are running a good set of coilovers with at least 650lb coils you dont need it. And he was correct. I drive 90miles a day for work, no sway bar, down and up a small mountain.

There is a small learning curve, but my wife hasnt noticed it isnt on.

 

My mechanical rear locker had a larger impact to street driveability than losing my sway bar did.

That's probably pretty obvious though

 

On stock springs, I definitely noticed the sway bar off. Newer springs not so much, and body roll is even less now with the panhard higher off the axle (which I guess isn't really tacoma applicable). Sways maybe a hair more than stock, but its pretty planted

 

Yeah I round trip just about 88mi and 75 of it is on the interstate, so I was super apprehensive about removing the sway bar so when I put on the Elkas I left it on for a brief while, then just pulled it off and haven't looked back.

My wife is still pissed about the kid being quite, content and mostly asleep when in the truck, but an absolute terror in her SUV (too quite I suppose?!?), so most upgrades or mods are unnoticed as of late.

 

One of the best moves I’ve made was ditching my mechanical locker for an air actuated one. I don’t know if you’re a manual trans or auto trans but it’s really noticeable in a manual trans. Not to mention I found pieces of the springs when I changed my diff oil.

 

Not obvious to me, why does adding a rear locker (or even air vs mechanical) effect street drive ability?

 

If you have a mechanical locker, the moment one of your tires slip, it locks the rear end.

By having an air locker or e locker, it's not locked till you tell it to be locked.

 

My truck's started vibrating badly through the steering wheel and floor. I think it's the infamous needle bearing, anyone know a trustworthy shop that can do the fix in NOVA?

I live in a condo and none of my friends have a house with a proper driveway, so doing it myself isn't an option for me.

 

We've got the MABDR not too far from us, and there is a few gravel runs/water crossing around the area.

 

Did u put it in 4 wheel drive to make sure?

 

Not yet, didn't want to push my luck after a rough day at work yesterday. Given how that Monday was going, I'd flip the switch and the front diff would've exploded on me, so I'll try after work when it inevitably rains again. Just trying to get a feel for good shops in the area because I have some big work (clutch and TOB fix primarily) coming up even if this ends up being something else.

 

Which brand did you have? If I find pieces in my diff fluid I'd definitely do the same. I've got an auto trans, and it really isn't bad. I just get looks when my truck is clanking around a corner.

The only time I notice it is when the streets are wet and I can do burnouts at every stop sign just by giving it a little more gas.

If I were to do it again I'd go the same route. I like that it's not reliant on a compressor or an electrical switch. I'm considering going mechanical up front too

It's a "non-selectable" locker. One step up from a lincoln locker. You feel it lock and unlock as you're driving and it makes clanking noises as you turn.

Doesn't bother me, but it bothers some. Some people notice that it pulls the car left/right as it locks/unlocks. I don't.

 

Powertrax no slip. It's fine for the money but I definitely prefer a selectable.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...lip-aka-lunchbox-locker-in-my-2nd-gen.561142/

 

No reason to wait for rain, just do it on a straight road.

 

Oh damn! That's not good at all. I've got the LockRight and no problems yet! Nothing that big in the fluid after the break-in, but I haven't changed it since.