(Resolved)

Hey everyone, I recently bought my first truck, 2003 Tacoma pre runner 2x4. Took it into a shop for its initial inspection and got a few things repaired but there was no mention of anything wrong with my control arm. They noted there was seepage on the left shock but that was all.

Fast forward a few days, I took it in to get a wheel alignment and they said I had to get a lot of things replaced. They told me to have the alignment hold they would need to replace my front lower left and right control arms, my front shocks and struts, and needed new tires (this was optional but still). They are charging a lot for all this and I feel like they are screwing with me. I’d like some advice. I’m just tryin to get the truck in good shape. It only has 79k miles on it and a solid build so I don’t understand why the control arms would be bad.

ps if there is any way I can check them myself to see if they are faulty lmk please.

 

Its cause its old, not the mileage.

find another shop

learn to do everything but the alignment work yourself

 

I just don’t have the equipment I would need to fix those myself but definitely gonna start buying new supplies as I go.

 

All you need for everything mentioned is a basic socket and wrench set.

 

Arm replacements are often mentioned because shops don't want to bother replacing the bushings.

Many of us have gone the way of whiteline bushings as an economical replacement.

Others with cheaper control arms like moog, for convenience.

 

If you want to replace your lower control arms, just the bushings (there are several options), or just purchase aftermarket lower control arms for the shop to install, you can get all that information here:

Step-by-Step Lower Control Arm (or Bushing) Replacement on a 1st Gen Tacoma – ADVENTURETACO

One thing to be aware of, depending on the conditions the truck has been driven/lived in over the course of it's life - is that you might need new alignment hardware as well (it has a tendency to corrode "into" the lower control arm bushings). That alignment hardware isn't cheap, and can cost more than the aftermarket lower control arms themselves. That's all covered in there as well.

​

 

I bit the bullet and just bought OEM arms since I had a 8 month old when I had to change mine. I had my local dealership swap them in for me since their service manager is a big 1st gen tacoma guy and didn't charge me for the alignment after or muscling my steel skids off haha. Also had them put all new cam adjusters and hardware as well. Truck feels WAY tighter now and doesn't have it's gentle pull to the passenger side anymore.

All in I was like $1200 lighter. I bought the oem arms online and saved about $400 vs having the dealership "buy" the arms and adjuster hardware for me. As long as it's OEM toyota and the right part, they should install it without issue. I went OEM as the Toyota rubber lasts way longer in the Arizona summer than the cheap parts store brands. It's time will still come after a few 110 degree summers, but I'm ready for that now.

I kept my original arms and swapped in some Strongflex bushings so they're ready to go for next time. A lot easier to do that over the span of a few weekends while not abandoning my wife with our daughter haha.

Still pricier than a local shop, then handfull I called were charging around $800 and using parts store arms. Waaaayyyy more expensive than doing it myself, but I couldn't get enough hours set aside to swap them with the kid. My time has been a lot more valuable this last year and a half so I've had to forego my usual weekend projects and spend the money to have someone do it for me.

 

I appreciate this, A lot of really good info here.

 

The first set of tools is the most expensive, but so worth it. Once you get the basic socket set, what I do is get one new convenience/specialty tool with each job.

So instead of paying $750 on labor for a random job I’ll spend $100-200 on a shiny new tool. Year later of heavy maintenance and overdue repair work and now I have basically every tool I’ll need, and have saved Thousands and thousands of dollars.

Quote out what just the parts they’re replacing will cost vs the total installed cost and then look at how many tools you could buy with that. Better start now then later.

 

What tools you recommend I start with? I’m taking my truck in to my family mechanic tomorrow to see what I actually need to fix and then I’m gonna tackle it on my own.

 

1/4", 3/8", & 1/2" ratchets with metric socket sets in all 3 sizes, along with a couple of extensions in each size.

Metric box end wrench set (up to 24 mm in size).

3 ton floor jack and a pair of 6 ton jackstands.

Lineman's pliers, needle nose pliers, channel locks and eye protection glasses (safety first).

 

Appreciate you. I’ll look into getting some new tools. See what I can accomplish on my own.

 

Here's a reasonably full list of sockets/wrenches that you need to work on a 1st gen Tacoma:

Complete list of tools, sockets and wrenches for 1st Gen Tacoma | Tacoma World

This doesn't cover various SST (special service tools) that are needed for jobs, or non-wrenches (for instance, pullers for ball joints, etc), but if you get the socket and wrench sizes in this list, you'll be off to a really good start.