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

Yeah, I've never had an issue before either. Both jam nuts were tight, but I got them eventually; and driver ITRE loosened up reasonably quickly after that. I'll just keep soaking it for a while, and then load it up with anti-seize like I did on the 4Runner.

 

Tested ride height with a mock load to mimic (more than) a full camping load out

2500W generator
Spare set of 3/16th skid plates
(second) 285/75R16 spare tire
11 gallons of water
spare CV
spare back portion of driveline
40 pounds of dumbells

That's WITH all recovery gear, tools, spare fluids, spare parts and all the stuff that I already carry daily in the side boxes.

A little over 1 inch before bumps hit the frame stops
3 inches of sock travel before the body hits the rubber doughnut

 

I have spent an inordinate amount of time over the last couple of weeks, trying to get my backup camera to resume working with my Pioneer stereo unit. It had worked for the last year or so, so it was a newly developing problem. I was only getting a black screen. I started checking to see if everything was getting power. Everything seemed to have power. Ultimately, I resorted to ordering another camera and cabling, thinking the camera was dead. No go, new camera didn't fix it. Oh, shit, perhaps the stereo is FUBAR. This time, I hooked new camera and cable to stereo, and powered it from the battery. Presto, I have an image. WTF, I replaced the power connection for the camera and it's back to normal. Interestingly, I had tested that connection, and it gave me power on my test light. Apparently, it was just not making full contact when plugged together. I hate electrical problems.

 

My welds are about as pretty as my handwriting.

Fewer holes in the frame now though.

 

Time to get and learn a multimeter. Test lights are great for some things, but multimeters are better for that kind of stuff.

 

might be screwed. I had to just cut off a outer once to replace the inner.

 

Does it count that I don't like that? Seems like a lot of work and money - I don't have the tools to remove the inner... and holy crap, inners are mucho dinero!

What do you think about this idea:

Pop out the end of the OTRE from the LBJ, then use two pipe wrenches - one on the OTRE and one on the ITRE to twist against each other. At that point, I feel like the surfaces I'm maring up with the pipe wrenches don't really matter, so I can apply a lot of force and hopefully break them free... thoughts?

 

I don't believe that you don't own a pipe wrench, that's the easiest way to remove the inner.

 

Go for it. How I've done it in the past.

But also ended up having to cut the out off to get the boot off to get the inner off.

I don't use OEM inners just 555 ones. Toyota wants way to much money for them. In fact that's why a new steering rack from them costs so much, cause it comes with two new inners.

 

So, am I understanding this correctly?

You were able to loosen the jam nut but the OTRE wont unthread out of the ITRE?

If this is the case. Use a crescent wrench on the ITRE just outside the end of the rack boot and then use pretty much anything on the OTRE that will allow you to get leverage... you're replacing the OTRE, right?

 

I have the pipe wrench, but not the 30mm to hold the rack against the force of turning the ITRE.

Yeah, will give it a shot.

Exactly the case. I've put enough force on my Channellock (so reasonable quality) 12" crescent wrench to start to deform it on that ITRE just outside the end of the boot (along with heat and penetrating oil. But maybe with something else on the OTRE for even more force the opposite direction, it'll break free.

I wasn't planning on replacing the OTRE, just want to adjust it for alignment. But replacing it isn't the end of the world if it comes to that. Would rather not spend the money on the inner though, if I can avoid it.

 

I hear that! Those things are stupid expensive.

Crazy though... Normally those OTREs just spin right out of the Inner... at least that's always been my experience.

Just replaced my Outers last night... easy peasy.

 

I've always used a large crescent on that. But if you don't have one, a single quick blow to your pipe wrench gets em loose just fine. The rack is secured internally against turning.

 

I've always been able to spin them right out too. Super weird.

ANYWAY

Popped the OTRE out of the LBJ, got 2, 18" pipe wrenches fit to the ITRE and OTRE and huffed and puffed. Nothing. Almost gave up. Decided to lay on my back under the rotor and give it one more go. Little bit of movement, then more. Had to use the pipe wrench the entire time I was backing out the OTRE except for the last 3 threads.

Looked at the threads, they look immaculate. Same inside the ITRE. So, I wire wheeled the OTRE and brake cleaner in the ITRE. Lubed both up with tons of antiseize, and they screwed back together like butter. How I'm accustomed to them working. Super weird.

Anyway, here were today's "before" alignment numbers. They weren't able to align b/c they couldn't break this stuff free; so I'll head back tomorrow to get the alignment wrapped.

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These are a lot cheaper, been running them for four years with no problems

https://www.lowrangeoffroad.com/toy...a-tacoma-inner-tie-rod-end-left-or-right.html

 

Thanks

Thank you

I had to look up 4xinnovations rear taco bumper, I had forgotten what it looked like. When I was looking at rear taco bumpers I wasn't really finding anything that I loved the look of.

 

Finally got the front bearing assembly replaced! It hurt...but MAN it drives so much quieter now.

 

My transmission is starting to wine (04 auto) pretty sure It’s ready for a change out. Anyone out there have the part number for the filter? I herd that the filter can rinsed out and reused? True or false?

 

Forgot to update the post about my doors, they are finally done. I took the easy route and used raptor liner. I ended up using DS18 pro speakers, and they are very very loud 225rms per door.

The cup holder fits a regular bottle or a can, Gatorade is all I had when it was 100 degrees out and I was finishing up.

 

Forgot to show the handle, it's made out of a ratchet strap haha