What Have You Done To Your 2nd Gen Tacoma Today?

yellow fogs

 

Got it out of the MSY parking garage and drove it home through the beginnings of TS Lee.

 

TRD Exhaust and D-Rings installation

 

Added a Grenade Shifter



Once I knew it would fit.... I customized it a little.



With Plasti Dip.

 

That is awesome

 

Dude that's awesome! Where did you get that?

 

Auto Zone $25.00 Plaati Dip $5.00 at Lowes

Thanks!

 

OEM spark plug change, Mobil 1 Syntec 5w20 oil OEM filter change, OEM air filter change.

I was sweating my ass off, but it only took about 2 hours. Fresh tune up!

 

I WANT THAT!

 

Debadged

 

- Autolite Iridium spark plugs (what a pain in the ass the driver side is!!!)
- Oil Change
- new brakes (had to pay Monro to do it since I couldn't get the damn pins out. Stupid NY rust and corrosion. But at least they determined my rotors were going and gave me a 2 for 1 deal! Bill still came to $330 and some change though.)

 

Changed oil and filter.... and washed engine bay.

 

I had this problem with my 2000. I cut the pin with a dremel and drilled it out. Don't know if it would have worked for you but might save you or someone $ next time.

 

I thought about that. But I didn't have replacement pins with the autozone pads. Always thought they were a good idea: lifetime warranty = free pads next time I changed them and next time after that....

Unfortunately, I would not have done the rotors so I would have had to do them later when I found out they were bad, and been in for more work plus 2x$210 for rotors. The guy at monro did 2 for 1 on the rotors, which I couldn't have done, and came in around $100 less than the dealer. So I just had him do them while I was there.

 

So they will change you pads for as long as you own the truck ?

 

Had I done the Autozone ones, yes. Did that with my car. Got 1 free set out of them once I learned about that and used them. You have to take the old ones in to get the new ones, but if you do your own brakes and have a second ride it works out nicely.

My thought was $36.99+tax seemed a lot better than $200+ from the dealer or $99 from Monro. Sadly, it didn't work out that way.

On a good note though the truck brakes better than I *EVER* remember it braking..... even when it was fresh off the lot. And the truck stops even when my foot slips higher up the pedal. I used to have to move my heel back so my toes were on the pedal. When I first got the truck my toes would go past the top of the pedal with boots on, hit the arm of the pedal, and not stop the truck until I moved my heel back, and pushed again. Now I can flat foot the pedal and arm, and the nose will dive and the truck slows. So I suppose it was worth it. I'm curious to see how well it works in the winter now since I have that ABS kill switch to get better braking. Brakes now work as well as the did before when I had that turned off.

Oh, and supposedly the Monro ones have a lifetime guarantee too.... I need to read about that.

 

I'm going to ass-u-me Monro is a chain. Glad things worked out for you so well. I have not had especially good experience with some of the chains - always trying to up sell me to things I don't need.

I do have a question on the ABS thing if you don't mind - I often find myself driving into the center of an intersection because my ABS do not stop at the stop sign they just pulse as I drive thru the stop sign. I have also almost driven into my garage door for the same reason. With the switch when do you have the ABS on and when do you turn it off ? How long have you been using this mod ?

 

Yes, Monro Muffler is a chain. But they are close by and cheaper than the dealer. At this point, I didn't really want to pay $460 for brakes.

The ABS is on 99% of the time. I only turn it off in snow and sometimes on gravel if I notice that annoying rock-skipping-over-water effect of the ABS. If the brakes pulse and keep me from stopping I flip the switch. If the roads are shit, and I'm coming up on a steep down hill I flip the switch as I'm downshifting and gently applying the brakes.

I've tried both ways while on dry asphalt. With the switch on I've noticed it takes less pedal travel for the brakes to REALLY kick in and slow the truck down. (I left it on by mistake one day and my wife took the truck. First time she used the brakes she almost slammed into the steering wheel because they reacted so much faster than she was used to.) With ABS on I have to double tap the brakes, applying more pressure the second time. Just stomping on them feels mushy and doesn't slow fast enough. Almost like the first pump builds pressure for the second one. The pedal travels less on the second pump, and typically avoids the ABS effect unless the roads are slick. So even without ABS turned off I've learned how to keep it from kicking in most of the time.

 

Thanks for your answer. I'll have to give this mod a try.

 

Thanks Sockmonkey