The mudrider but not offroaded or mistreated my truck is garbage superthread

I bought the truck new with 6 miles on it. I have 24,000 miles on it now. I have had 3 rear ends in that time. 2 speakers replaced. 1 headlight replaced because of water getting into it. A/C blower motor replaced.

 

I think the newer engines are built at least as good as the old ones.

The frames, transmissions, suspension, etc, I think not.

I've owned an 86 and now a 2006, it's not that the 2006 has caused me a lot of grief compared to the 86, but I don't beat on it the way I did the 86. I know it can't take the kind of beating the older trucks did.

Old trucks had full boxed frame made out of thicker steel that took much longer to have rust problems. The bodies rusted out before the frame. Now the opposite is true. Torsion bar suspension with heavy A arms instead of struts on the front end. Remember, struts used to only be found on mini vans and passenger cars.

Much has been written on here about the clutch problems with the second gen Tacomas, and the issues with the six speed manual transmissions as well.

Other than a few oil leak issues, I haven't heard of much going wrong with the new engines. And I know the old trucks had the occasional fluid leak. No one seems to remember those as well because they were dirt simple to fix. New engines, not so much.

 

Yes, the older ones were more rugged but Toyota isn't alone in this regard. With CAFE standards all the automakers are reducing weight and it has to come from somewhere. That, and the fact that most companies are run increasingly by bean counters and not car people.

 

At speeds above 50 mph, it makes a loud howling noise. Every time I bring it in, for this problem, Toyota tells me it needs to be replaced. They cover the cost of the repair, but it is still frustrating and time consuming.

 

Damn man, that's a lot of issues.

I have an 09 regular cab 5 speed at work with 60K on it that my boss bought brand new. The only thing it's needed is a battery and the radio replaced (common).

 

I'd say the older ones are made a little better. They seem bullet proof. Although I haven't had any issues with my 2009 in the 37k miles I've put on, knock on wood.

 

Are they rebuilding these diffs in-house? That takes a few specialized tools that they might not have. A lot of guys do rear end setup by feel, and not by the book. It's also possible you have a warped rear axle housing that is killing the new diffs. If they are replacing the entire diff assembly with a new diff out of a crate, then I'd say something else is going on with the axle housing.

 

My cousin has an 05 4x2 with rear lockers and he's driven the hell out of it and it still runs like a champ. My 88 4runner does great even with a bad oil pump (granted it's still not healthy for it). From what I've heard is that it was a challenge to blow an engine or tear something internal up on a Toyota pick-up prior to 1990. Just a thought, but you might have a lemon.

 

I know when I had older vehicles all I needed for repairs was a louder radio. Most people that drive old beaters dont care about rattles and vibrations so much (or failing oil pumps haha). They just drive until it will completely not move anymore. With newer vehicles, especially warrantied vehicles, people are so much more picky about slight rattles, clunks, squeaks. And with something new you should be more picky.

 

I think that every vehicle manufacturer has been trading quality for quantity in recent years. Like how I've heard that the 2012 Tacomas have steel wheels with hub caps.. I wouldnt have expected cheap plastic wheel covers from a company known to have good offroad vehicles. And I hear lots of people complaining about 2nd gen ticking engines. How Chevy's transmissions have had wearing issues and their instrument clusters go haywire (easy fix but still). And Ford's 6.0L F250s are complete shit. I dont keep up with dodge so I dont know anything about them... But just things like that, that could've and should've been avoided get on my nerves.. pheew little rant

 

I'm saving up the money to get the engine rebuilt. Only so much you can do on a Pizza Hut salary as a server. Not only is it my only means of transportation, but I love this truck and really don't want any harm to come to it.

 

It is very true that the old pre tacoma trucks were stronger in some areas. Better frames and solid but weak motors. My 86 I still have. It ran upside down. Has caught air. Towed an acura integra on a flat bed over a mt pass. Had 2k+ lbs in the bed. 180k miles still on original clutch. Only done minor repairs and head gasket. Would not do what I done to it to my taco.

 

What all this about the 2nd Gen auto transmission? That thing is stout!

 

I've hear the trannys are hoss but the engines don't hold so well. Just word of mouph.

 

Yeah, man. Toyota's from what I hear, and didn't really realize until owning one, are a boss on the road. The folks on the 4Runner website swear by 4 cylinders over a 6. Almost believe them but I just like having a bigger engine. Now, I'm not trying to blow my 3VZ-E, but apparently everybody else worked to the bone to blow theirs. Why, I don't know.

 

I'm pretty sure the 1GR-FE is one of if not the most reliable engine on the market today. It's built for 300,000 miles easily. The transmission (correct me if i'm wrong) is the exact same one in the 4runner, FJ, Tundra also. Pretty sure Toyota has that figured out. Personally I think the reason people think that they have lost quality in the current trucks is due mostly to the added extra's these things come with. 85 Toyota had a light bulb for a head light. Now its a bunch of glued together plastic. Its full of a bunch of electrical systems that arn't really needed and yes they will fail. The frame is better then the 1st gens for sure. I'm waiting for someone to post about how their Tacoma left them stranded somewhere...

 

Yeah, runs great and shows normal pressure, but after about 15 minutes of road time the pressure drops steadily. After a while the needle will be all the way down and I have to run higher RPM's in lower gears to get the performance required. Sucks going up a hill, man.

 

My brother had a '93 with a 22re. It was a piece of junk that we were constantly fixing. The box and frame nearly completely rotted out and it burnt a lot of oil. But it had 280,000kms (175000ish miles) Id like to see any 20 year old truck with that many miles that doesnt have problems. Not sure the newer trucks (especially 2nd gens! haha) will ever live that long...

 

^^^ To joes06tacoma. Quoted wrong.

 

Deleted my post.