After installing and testing our Icon Vehicle Dynamics Stage 10 plus suspension in previous chapters of our Project Tundra build, we were super impressed with how well it performed, the question was could we do better? We wanted to strengthen our suspension, in general, to prevent bending and breaking things away from civilization and to pick up some performance. We didn’t want to turn our shop truck and tow vehicle into a pre-runner as well so that ruled out long travel conversions. We would settle for a mid-travel system with reliability and practicality. So we replaced our Icon 2.5 shocks with their flagship 3.0 internal bypass shock in the front with heavy-duty lower control arms, knuckles, and tie rods from Dirt King Fabrication, Camburg Engineering, and Coachbuilders.
Read about all the cool stuff we did to Project Tundra!
The first step in our installation was to remove the hub dustcap. The dustcap is on very tightly from the factory and it took some tapping with a small chisel and prying to get it off. You might damage this part getting it off so you may want to consider getting some spares before you start.
Once the dustcap is off you remove the hub nut.
To remove the hub, we had to use a gear puller. It was on very tightly from the factory.
Next, we removed the ball joint retainer from the knuckle.
5 comments
Such an awesome shop truck. If I still lived in california I would love to have you work on my regular cab Taco work truck. Currently sitting pretty with a Ute flat bed, bilstein trd pro spec dampers, OME leaf pack, & lightweight scs wheels, and corbeau GTS2 seats to avoid scoliosis. Suspension is good enough but still leaves a bit to be desired
I used to sell those trucks. I was always surprised how much people would pay for a used Taco, when they could get a Tundra. They were paying more for the old Tacos than the new ones. I never understood that, at all. Especially, considering the E-diff and traction modes.
The tacoma was more practical and easier on the wallet for many folks. First gen tacomas have a cult following and not everyone is on the wagon with the pricier new tacomas. What’s not impressive is the gas mileage on the newer tacomas and tundras lol.
That’s interesting. I never knew why people loved the old Tacos. I guess technology isn’t everything for some people. Truly disappointing about the fuel economy, though.
The one thing that is impressive is the auto loans they have these days, which are basically mini-mortgages. I know it’s a bit of a scam, though. It gets you to buy something that you really can’t afford.
I went with a Tacoma because of the size. Full-size trucks are too damn big. A Tacoma is pretty much the smallest thing you can get nowadays. If someone offered a compact truck I would have gone that way but they’re all deader than the dinosaurs.