What have you done to your Tacoma today? 1st Gen Edition

Set pinion angle, tacked perches in place, pulled out the axle and fully welded the perches before painting.

 

Ive been working on cleaning thing up lately. I think I’m satisfied with this one. Now on to the nightmare of reworking all the accessory wiring.

planning on tires soon too and stepping down to 265s. With that I’m going to lower the lift down and want to go back to stock height in the rear.

I’m left with the decision to go between J59s that ride better and stink bug look or shitty stock springs. Neither is a good nor acceptable choice IMO.

Man, if someone would just make some reverse hangers for first gens like everything else gets.

looking at it I think we could cut off the OEM rear hangers and run a “reverse” hanger closer to the frame 3-4” closer which I think would equate to dropping 1.5-2”.

That way we could all run springs with more arc but keep a modest lift or stock height with something like J59s AND potentially get a better ride.

 

Main bumper ready for paint Started in on swing outs New shocks, with the spare out from under the bed thinking I’ll just mount the reservoirs in the frame rails so I can get at the adjusters

 

Didn't know you had a diamond Axle housing back there.

Those are some beefy perches. Who makes them?

Also why are you going to a factory housing from the diamond?

 

Something is not right with the Diamond. I'm not sure if it is bent but it eats everything on the passenger side. I picked it up secondhand and I should have known when I opened it up and the pass wheel bearings fell out in pieces.

I've put several axle seals and wheel bearings in it, it broke a shaft on that side and took out the spindle, wheel bearings, hub, and drive flange. Everything has been swapped except the housing itself. Last time I took it out in July it spit out a drive flange too so it seems like it's under side tension when it should not be.

Now, it could be salvageable. My buddy has an alignment bar and has straighten a few factory Toyota housings. I'm not inclined to, though. Shafts are $500+ ea and that's tons territory.

I'll probably keep an eye out for a Econoline Dana 60 to start building next

 

They're the Barnes u bolt eliminator perches. I love Barnes, their shipping and support is great

https://www.barnes4wd.com/U-Bolt-Eliminator-Kit-2-34-to-3-Inch-Axle-Tube_p_690.html

 

Interesting. Yeah, something seems off with the housing for sure. Too bad diamond customer support sucks.

I was researching into doing a full flow conversion for the rear of the diamond I have coming, but decided against it as it's pretty pricey when it's all said and done

Nice. I'll check them out for when I build mine up. Much more affordable than the ruffstuff u bolt eliminators I was looking at previously.

 

The toyota shafts are pretty strong, even with 37s. The ring and pinion will pretty much always fail first haha.

If you went to a full float setup with 30 splines outers and RCV shafts RCV will warranty them if you're running 40" tires or smaller... but like you say it's pretty expensive.

The full float gimmick of being able to easily change a shaft backfired on me when the shaft took out the spindle and I couldn't fix it on the trail anyways

I've used their builders parts on a couple trucks and have nothing but good things to say

 

Ya I haven't really heard of many people breaking axle shafts on the toyota rears.

I guess the only thing you would have to worry about is if you really bent a housing and then started loading the bearings in a weird way or something like that.

 

What setup are you planning to run with the diamond?

 

Did a Timmy-style complete transmission flush at 250k. I'll try to remember to update with an actual write-up after a get a couple thousand miles on with the new fluid.

I'll tease with a little before/after:



Maple syrup to ruby red

 

Finally got my Shrockworks rock sliders on. Some of the stick nuts were a real PITA to fish through the frame, but all is OK in the end.

 

Put yet another gasket in the exhaust collector where the header bolts to the exhaust...it starts to leak again and it's getting a welder taken to it.

Changed the oil...next oil change will be at 340k miles!

 

Too bad they don't make them for a regular cab.

 

Had the same issue before. Make sure that the support bracket that holds onto that downpipe is there. Mine wasn't and it woudl tranfer a bunch of forces into that joint as the engine twisted under load. It braces it to the bellhousing.

 

It probably wouldn't be too hard to modify a set, but too much investment to be fitting yourself.

 

Just the 8.4 semi float housing they make non ABS.
Replacement for my bent current 8.4 housing. Shouldn't have issues with bending this one hopefully.
Same stock config with E-brake and drum housings and whatnot.

 

Everything is just tacked but what's the popular opinion on sliders. I have the 4xinnovation with the kickout, my question is do you keep the outside rail flush with the wheels or closer to the cab.

 

Flush with the wheels is best/preferable. Gives a smooth transition if you are against a bank/log/rock from tire to slider to tire again. Too close to the cab means whatever you are rubbing against will go inwards and then need to be pushed out again. The kick out can only help so much with that.

 

Outside rail flush with the flares or there about offers good protection and a step, even though may look odd without big tires/small offset wheels.