Next, the tie rod was removed.
We broke the upper ball joint loose with a ball-peen hammer. Now the knuckle could be removed.
Next, the lower control arm was removed.
Next, we broke the ball joint retainer loose from the ball joint because we need to reuse it. We clamped the lower control arm in a vice and hit the retainer with an air hammer to break the ball joint loose.
Next, the Icon 2.5″ shock was removed.
We were going to raise the front of our truck about an inch and the front of the truck was previously raised about an inch and a half from the 2.5 shock. We were worried that our CV joint angularity was getting too extreme and that this would put stress on the CV joint and tear the boot. To combat this we got a differential lowering kit from Low Range Off-Road. The kit consists of spacers and longer bolts that drop the differential and skid plate down an inch.
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.