For future reference, stubborn cotter pins can be dealt with fairly quickly--just break off the ends that are sticking through the castle nut using pliers, by bending back and forth. You just need to make enough clearance to get your socket on the nut, then just undo the nut with your impact wrench. It will shear off the rest of the cotter pin parts as the nut comes off, then you can remove the pieces in the middle if need be. (or if replacing the ball joint/tie rod end, you're ready to go)
Vehicle Build: 1st Gen Tundra
- Thread starter Rocksy
- Start date
Rocksy
Member
- Location
- Saratoga Springs, UT
Thank you that'll come in handy next time. Hopefully I don't have to do it again for a while
Rocksy
Member
- Location
- Saratoga Springs, UT
Front end is now completely done. New UCAs, coilovers, inner and outer TREs, LBJs, sway bar links. Alignment is WAY off because the jam nut on the old TREs was fused to the body of the TRE but I should be able to limp it to an alignment shop. Started rear today, got the leaf in one side and gave up when I ran into problems getting the shock out. Decided to call it a night when I nearly dropped half the axle on the floor. Should have everything buttobed up tomorrow.
I also want to mention how good cruiser outfitters was to me with the coilovers top plates not fitting. They were able to get me in same day and swap em out and make sure I had everything I needed. Also truly some of the nicest and most knowledgeable people I've met about products they sell and vehicles in general. I'll be giving them as much of my business as possible, they're great.
I also want to mention how good cruiser outfitters was to me with the coilovers top plates not fitting. They were able to get me in same day and swap em out and make sure I had everything I needed. Also truly some of the nicest and most knowledgeable people I've met about products they sell and vehicles in general. I'll be giving them as much of my business as possible, they're great.
Rocksy
Member
- Location
- Saratoga Springs, UT
Suspension upgrades and maintenance finished!
The ride with the 886 coils is quite stiff but I think they will break in the slightest bit and they are also geared to those with extra weight up front, which I do plan to have one day, so I have no one to blame for the rougher ride but myself. No hub to fender measurements purely because of laziness but I believe I'm sitting about a half inch higher in the front than the rear but I hope the front settles maybe a quarter inch. I'll deal with getting more lift in the rear at a later date but for now it's just fine.
In the next week, I will hoping to
-get sliders installed
-paint wheels and debadge
-get some wheel spacers/adapters (1.25 in front, 1.5 in rear)
-retorque every bolt I touched during install
-take on some rust with a wire brush
Alignment and pics tomorrow!
The ride with the 886 coils is quite stiff but I think they will break in the slightest bit and they are also geared to those with extra weight up front, which I do plan to have one day, so I have no one to blame for the rougher ride but myself. No hub to fender measurements purely because of laziness but I believe I'm sitting about a half inch higher in the front than the rear but I hope the front settles maybe a quarter inch. I'll deal with getting more lift in the rear at a later date but for now it's just fine.
In the next week, I will hoping to
-get sliders installed
-paint wheels and debadge
-get some wheel spacers/adapters (1.25 in front, 1.5 in rear)
-retorque every bolt I touched during install
-take on some rust with a wire brush
Alignment and pics tomorrow!
Rocksy
Member
- Location
- Saratoga Springs, UT
Ended up with about 4 inches of lift which is far more than I wanted.
I have a very major clunk that occurs going over speed bumps and rocks. I suspect that it may either be:shocks topping out, ball joints limiting travel (I checked and can't see this or the UCA being the issue) or the shocks being unable to keep up with the spring rate of the 886. I would like to keep the 886 but if the shocks are topping out I may have no choice but to go down to 885s and add spacers when I get my bumper / winch.
I took it on a local trail today and was very happy with performance other than the clunk. These coils don't allow very much flex which I half expected but the rear performs very well
A few hundred mire miles to see how much the spring softens and how much the clunk goes away will tell me if I need to go to 885s. Overall though, no regrets so far
I have a very major clunk that occurs going over speed bumps and rocks. I suspect that it may either be:shocks topping out, ball joints limiting travel (I checked and can't see this or the UCA being the issue) or the shocks being unable to keep up with the spring rate of the 886. I would like to keep the 886 but if the shocks are topping out I may have no choice but to go down to 885s and add spacers when I get my bumper / winch.
I took it on a local trail today and was very happy with performance other than the clunk. These coils don't allow very much flex which I half expected but the rear performs very well
A few hundred mire miles to see how much the spring softens and how much the clunk goes away will tell me if I need to go to 885s. Overall though, no regrets so far
Rocksy
Member
- Location
- Saratoga Springs, UT
Clunk is likely due to me having ~1 inch of droop travel up front. I still don't know what's limiting the suspension, but I have almost 6 inches of droop in the rear and would like to have somewhere around 2.5 up front if at all possible. I researched a lot and thought the 2886 cois were right for me but I might have some 885s in the near future. Still need to mull it over. Kind of sucks thinking I may have to pour some more money into the suspension, but we will see where I'm at soon
Rocksy
Member
- Location
- Saratoga Springs, UT
885s installed. 1st pic is with 886s, 1 inch higher up front. 885s dropped it exactly an inch at the wheel. Still getting clunk from passenger side but only when the suspension droops super fast. Overall I'm very pleased with the OME stuff. 
Rocksy
Member
- Location
- Saratoga Springs, UT
Some pics from travelling white rim in canyonlands this past week. The add-a-leaf only sagged about an inch with gear and food for 7 people in the bed. Front end definitely performs well while fully loaded with the exception of the topping out in the front passenger shock.
I also gained a lot of confidence in my rig and myself after my buddy's passport threw a Dana 44 axle shaft SOMEHOW and then lost 4wd minutes later. I towed him for just over half of the trail up the most steep, loose, and technical sections of the trail. Hardscrabble hill and Murphys hogback were the hardest sections, but the truck did it with ease.
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Rocksy
Member
- Location
- Saratoga Springs, UT
ARB did a warranty replacement of the front passenger shock. They responded swiftly and I had a shock at my door in under a week. Cruiser Outfitters were also very helpful and got the new shock mounted up for me. Hopefully I don't have to remove coil over assemblies again for a while. An easy task, but just a headache to do over and over again.
The new shock makes the truck act so much differently. I don't almost lose control of the vehicle when hitting bumps at freeway speeds and it can droop off of a curb without bouncing like a playhouse. Now just need to get another alignment.
I graduate high school this week and that will open up a lot more time for me to get stuff done on the rig. In the next few months I'd like to:
-install sliders
-DIY tranny flush
-Coolant flush
-build rear bumper
-spark plug replacement
-AFE Pro Dry S Air Filter
-Ebay 100 series LC snorkel
-rear diff breather relocation
-clean up and paint rear axle, frame, front crossmember, front coil buckets etc.
-disconnect sway bar and see how body roll is affected. I'd like to completely remove it.
-any other stuff necessary to get it ready to be left and only driven occasionally for 2 years
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The new shock makes the truck act so much differently. I don't almost lose control of the vehicle when hitting bumps at freeway speeds and it can droop off of a curb without bouncing like a playhouse. Now just need to get another alignment.
I graduate high school this week and that will open up a lot more time for me to get stuff done on the rig. In the next few months I'd like to:
-install sliders
-DIY tranny flush
-Coolant flush
-build rear bumper
-spark plug replacement
-AFE Pro Dry S Air Filter
-Ebay 100 series LC snorkel
-rear diff breather relocation
-clean up and paint rear axle, frame, front crossmember, front coil buckets etc.
-disconnect sway bar and see how body roll is affected. I'd like to completely remove it.
-any other stuff necessary to get it ready to be left and only driven occasionally for 2 years
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Tonkaman
Well-Known Member
- Location
- West Jordan
Very cool rig. I'm impresssed how focused you are to the important details considering your age. When I was 18 I never would have cared about things that didn't make it louder or shinier
What ended up being the issue with the front shock? Just factory defective or was there something specifically wrong with it that could be identified?
My brother has a 2000 tundra that he had planned to build up about this time last spring. He ended up with a girlfriend, now wife, and all those build plans went out the window. Thanks for sharing the truck and your build.
My brother has a 2000 tundra that he had planned to build up about this time last spring. He ended up with a girlfriend, now wife, and all those build plans went out the window. Thanks for sharing the truck and your build.
Rocksy
Member
- Location
- Saratoga Springs, UT
It was bad from the factory. I guess it's a somewhat common issue where the valving was completely off in the shock causing the dampening abilities to be virtually non existent.
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Rocksy
Member
- Location
- Saratoga Springs, UT
Starting to hit the truck hard with some hours and mods. I have 3 months left with the truck before I have to leave it for two years so it is crunch time on work
I got the sliders welded up. For my first major welding project I'm happy with how I did and I think they will hold up to what I have planned with the truck. I also threw in the aFE pro air filter that I bought and my throttle response has changed significantly.
I also just received 12 quarts of tranny fluid, 8 new OEM spark plugs, the union to relocate the rear diff breather, and the 100 series LC ebay snorkel. Excited to get some work done in the coming weeks.
I got the sliders welded up. For my first major welding project I'm happy with how I did and I think they will hold up to what I have planned with the truck. I also threw in the aFE pro air filter that I bought and my throttle response has changed significantly.
I also just received 12 quarts of tranny fluid, 8 new OEM spark plugs, the union to relocate the rear diff breather, and the 100 series LC ebay snorkel. Excited to get some work done in the coming weeks.
Rocksy
Member
- Location
- Saratoga Springs, UT
Working 60 hours per week to fund an extended stay out of the country which means that not much has been done with the truck as of late. Today I managed to get some stuff done though.
Today I installed the new spark plugs, flushed the tranny, changed the oil(last one for two years!), and painted the rear axle and back half of the frame. I also extended the rear diff breather.
Now I just have some odds and ends to fix up with only two major tasks left.
1) build the rear bumper
2) install snorkel
Everything else is just buttoning up small items to get it ready to sit for two years
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Today I installed the new spark plugs, flushed the tranny, changed the oil(last one for two years!), and painted the rear axle and back half of the frame. I also extended the rear diff breather.
Now I just have some odds and ends to fix up with only two major tasks left.
1) build the rear bumper
2) install snorkel
Everything else is just buttoning up small items to get it ready to sit for two years
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sixstringsteve
Well-Known Member
- Location
- UT
I don't know how I missed this build thread. Awesome to see that you're documenting it here and that you're doing such a great job on this build. I didn't have 5% of the skills you have when I was 18. You've made some excellent choices in your build here. Next time we go wheeling, you'll be driving ME around. 
I'll be in town for the next few days. It'd be fun to connect with you. And I'd be happy to lend a hand welding or wrenching if you need it.
I'll be in town for the next few days. It'd be fun to connect with you. And I'd be happy to lend a hand welding or wrenching if you need it.
Last edited:
Rocksy
Member
- Location
- Saratoga Springs, UT
Snorkel installed. Was a bit more work than I expected but all in all it was worth the 60 bucks I paid for the snorkel. Had to relocate the antenna and extend the A-pillar bracket a few inches. The front part of it is really the only part of it that doesn't quite line up. It was made for a 100 series LC so I can't get too upset but I'm looking into a solution. Possibly some spray foam or something of the sort.
Also the silicon around the antenna will be sanded and painted black.
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Also the silicon around the antenna will be sanded and painted black.
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Rocksy
Member
- Location
- Saratoga Springs, UT
Picked up some wheel spacers for a killer deal today. I had to go lug centric in the rear which is something that people freak out about but I know for a fact that I can get the wheel centered correctly so that the taper on the lug nuts is holding the weight. I'm honestly not worried. Wasn't able to snag any pics but the tires fill out the wheel well a little bit better and they make the sliders look like they aren't sticking out so far.
I would have eventually needed them to clear 35s probably, and for the price I paid I couldn't pass them up.
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I would have eventually needed them to clear 35s probably, and for the price I paid I couldn't pass them up.
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- Location
- Bountiful, land of rocks
Where are you headed for your two years "vacation"? I'm assuming it's a religious "vacation"? (My son gets home from Oregon next Wednesday after two years)
Rocksy
Member
- Location
- Saratoga Springs, UT
Your assumption would be correct haha. I have been assigned to labor in Guayaquil Ecuador. Awesome to hear your son is finally coming back to you I'm sure you're excited and proud.
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