What Have You Done To Your 3rd Gen Today?

Soooo... whataya gonna do after lunch?

 

Still trying to figure out how to replace the bolts for the lower struts so I don't chew up the bushings. Lots of people have done it. Lots say how easy it is. Nobody actually fully explains how to do it without screwing it up.

"Jack up car, check. Remove tire, check. something something... FINISHED!"

I know there's still pressure on the bolt and some say lift the tire (huh?) and others say push down on it. I don't want to do anything until I know for sure. All of the videos of people replacing struts and control arms are sort of helpful but not really because they aren't swapping a bolt and keeping everything the same. They're all removing everything so steps are skipped.

If I somehow manage to get all that done, I have the parts for the rear diff breather mod I would like to do before things start to get rusty. If not, it can wait until spring. I don't anticipate my subdivision flooding until then.

That reminds me, I need to call DS-18 back. Someone was supposed to get back to me and they didn't. Grrrrrr.... Maybe today after lunch.

 

i gotta do this to mine also. have the bolts waiting just havent found the time.

 

I really want to get them done this weekend so if I figure it out and don't screw something up I'll report back. I searched TW and seriously most of the comments are "just did this this weekend. took 10 minutes!." I've seen 30 minute videos and pictoral descriptions for washing a winshield. Nothing on this one.

 

Went with the Recon Grapplers

 

Installed my fog lights.

 

I'm not sure. Haven't heard that. I don't see it on their web site atm.

 

No pictures, but finally narrowed down my annoying squeak in my rear suspension to my driver side shock. I couldn't figure out what it was for the longest time and no matter how much I cleaned/lubed my leaf springs (which everything pointed towards being the culprit) the squeak never went away. Well today I thought I'd try the shock (TRD pro fox shock), I lubed both ends with no change, then thought I'd go crazy and poke a small hole in the dust cover and spray some lithium grease in it... the squeak instantly stopped! I'll take it for now, even if the squeak comes back I now know EXACTLY where it's coming from and can either replace the shock or figure out why it's squeaking.

 

Unfortunately the vast majority of folks don't understand and/or exercise this.
It winds up driving inflation at a faster rate and punishing those who save.

Look where we're at now....that pretty much explains it....too many people just living for the moment in a heap of bad debt

 

Looks like your in NJ

 

When I decided to quit the Toyota care nonsense the same happened with my filter. I was worried I wasn't going to be able to get it off... I had to wind up using a long pair of filter pliers to get it off after basically crushing it...

 

Got all this bullshit squared up and installed and running. Wanted to do this project/install exactly how I wanted and wasn't going to cut corners with what I had on hand. Took awhile figuring out exactly what I needed in certain situations for materials, but pretty happy with how clean it turned out.

Garmin power switch - Bluetooth to in dash display with android auto or off my phone. Phone connectivity will be great for shutting of scene lights once in bed in the RTT.

Bluesea 50amp breaker runs through the Bluesea low voltage disconnect then back to an auxiliary fuse block in the rear cubby that's been sealed up. That will get finished this weekend! Will be glad to get this saga finished. A lot of work to hook up 3 devices @ this point, but will be so nice and future proof for as long as I own the vehicle.

 

Looking good!

 

That's a professional install that I'm only mildly envious of. I can appreciate someone who takes their time to figure out what they want, both now and in the future, and does the job the properly. Let us know how well the Garmin PowerSwitch works. Depending on what way I go with the truck, either the PowerSwitch or a Switch-Pros will be on the to-do list much, much later in the future.

 

Thanks man, it's appreciated. Not many people can appreciate an install that is supposed to go unnoticed and look like it's supposed to be there.

As for the choice between switches it was really easy when Garmin announced it would be compatible with Android auto and the fact that I picked the Garmin up for $400 Canadian moose nickles on sale. Switch pro comes in around a $1000 around here is never on sale.

 

Just got the DS18 tweeters installed. While it is nice to have actual tweeters in the truck now, they are much louder than the front door speakers. If I'm going to add 2 or 3 ways to the doors there's going to be way too much high end. I may go component speakers for the doors and just not use the tweeters that come with the 6x9's and let the doors handle bass/midbass and midrange only. Probably go 4 ohm for the front doors, 3 ohm for the rear doors.

Current balance/fader config: +2 to the right, +2 to the rear.
EQ settings: high -3, mid -2, low 0

 

In an effort to decrease MPG on my commute and be accepted by the locals at the mall I got some Falken Wildpeak MT pizza cutters from @Discount Tire

First set of MT's ever, these things are loud and my MPG is trash I will never run MT again lmao

 

Go back to discount tire and tell them you’re unhappy. They’ll make it right.

 

That's basically what I did. After installing the DS18 tweeters, Infinity Reference REF-9632ix two-way 6x9s up front and REF-6532ex two-way 6.5" in the rear (both 3 ohm) I was able to tweak everything with the stereo's equalizer and fader to sound juuuuusst right. FWIW, had the same thought about the component option and tried the Infinity Reference 9630C- 6 x 9 two-way component system without connecting the tweeters. Wasn't nearly as good, so I put the REF-9632ix two-way 6 x 9s back in right away.

Keep us posted!

 

Agreed. Couldn't get the Wildpeaks balanced on ours and Discount Tire swapped them with Toyo A/T III no questions asked. Very happy with them. Discount Tire rocks!