Underdog777's '88 4x4 build

It's do-able. It will help having Hi-Steer for sure. If you do that, I'd put hydro steering on my list of eventual upgrades though



On my dads 85 he has the push pull steer and it is pretty bad trying to steer, it just binds up. Putting the hi-steer on we just haven't had time to put it on.

 

The more I look into steering assist the more confused I am getting. $1,400 bucks is pretty steep for full hydro but so necessary I know. Could I just get away with TG Ram Steering? Or is that just a piece of the puzzle?

 

Full hydro and hydro assist are a whole different ball game.

Full hydro - uses only hydraulic to turn the steering. No gearbox needed (orbital, but different) No mechanical steering (Basically if your pump fails, you're fucked) - also not street legal

Steering assist - uses the stock steering with a ram attached to the draglink to the axle. You will need a tapped box and larger pump/ reservoir. ( Not 100% necessary for the pump and resi) And you will need hoses to go with the ram.

You are running 35s, you will be fine. get a powertrax no slip, they are better than detroits. IMO detroits suck dick for crawling.

 

Thanks for clarifying man. I appreciate that. About what size tire would I want to consider steering assist?
I have a detroit locker in my Tacoma and that thing is solid. I like the powertrax idea but I don't know how well a 27 y/o carrier will fare with one.

 

You don't crawl with your tacoma, you race it. The detroit slowly builds locking pressure with more wheel spin. If you have no wheel spin the locker is useless. Only reason I don't recommend the detroit...

I would still opt for steering assist, just not right now. Really anything over 35's should have an assist, I mean I am running 38.5s and it's a BITCH to turn. It WILL NOT TURN if I am flexing. Wheel it with the 35s and see. You are much lighter than my truck and should be just fine.

 

I just saw I was saying hydro steer, I mean hydro assist

 

subbed for updates cool build can't wait to see the solid axle in it and the bed liner paint job lol.

what brand of bed liner did you end up going with?

 

Completely spaced the point of having a detroit for the Tacoma's purpose. You raise a very good point. I'm sure after my first few runs w/o steering assist I'll be ordering a kit. Thanks for the clarification.

I got the Derpli-color "kevlar" roll on kit. I have heard mixed opinions on it but hell at least after it is on I can use spray on to touch up.
edit: Where have you been dude, I haven't seen you on in forever +1 day?

 

...And I got this to throw up today.

Christmas in July


And the long over due pictures (proof) of the 85 axle(s).

 

So the plan for tomorrow is to tear down the axle completely and take some of the parts to the wash rack for degreasing/cleaning. I've never taken apart a front axle before so this should be interesting. Is this a 12 pack or a 30 pack job?

 

I wouldn't say it's hard, just a lot of parts. Do you have the tool to remove the cone washers? Have a lot of rags available as it will be greasy.

 

Probably not. Being I'm about to google what those are I may have to use some "army ingenuity" to get them out.

edit: We have tons of tools. Only thing we got screwed out of was our air compressor when our buddy left. "We" being the group of Toyota friends that get together on the weekends and fix broke shit. The guy that left drove an Eagle Talon so we're 100% yota now /irrelevant rant.

 

There is also a large nut On the spindle that needs removed it is 54mm

 

Figures. Do I need to take apart the hubs to take the knuckles off?

 

The hubs don't have to be taken apart, the entire hub can just come off in one piece to get the knuckles off. I didnt have a 54 mm socket, I just used a punch and lightly tapped it with a hammer to spin the nut off. For the cone washers I used a hammer to remove them. The rest was pretty straightforward...Just greasy...

 

Decided against messing with the hubs until the truck and axle are up at my fabricator's shop. Right now on a lunch time break. Got one knuckle off so far. The birfields are 30 spline much to my surprise and that is inner and outer. I am thinking this axle got some upgrades at some point. I'm sure the story will be told when the third is pulled.

 

Nice, you are making good progress! The hubs are super easy to take apart and put back together. Mine fell apart, which made me nervous, but they went back together no problem. You get that third out yet?!

 

Had X-Men Origins had not come on I may have made more progress today. I managed to get both knuckles and the third member pulled. I spent the remainder of the afternoon threading out the studs. The driver side studs started giving me problems so I had to stop before I ran out of beer.

The third member is in immaculate shape. The gear are 4.11's but what mattered to me was the carrier and bearings. There is zero signs of abuse to the third which makes me excited because it lives up to that old saying "they don't make em like they used to".

I am considering keeping these birfields but will get the opinion of my unit's machinist's on them first. Tomorrow I might take another look at the hubs before I take the knuckes to the wash rack.

 

Sanding down the truck today and if all goes well I'll have the bedliner on it by the end of the weekend.