SoCalPaul - My 2006 Tundra AC Limited 4wd

So these are the Craigslist pics that led me to purchase this truck. This was to be my 3rd 1st Gen Tundra. I bought this a little over 2 years ago. It had a little over 85,000 original miles. 1 owner. Clean title, no accidents. It was kept garaged or covered. Semi-retired gentleman. SoCal truck. I got a screaming deal. $10,500.

 

Other then flluid & filter changes, I drove it until the original tires were worn out. The Original wheels were chromed but were chipping & peeling. Time for new shoes. I tend to like OEM Toyota wheels. My 2001 I had installed the Ivan Stewart wheels, still a favorite. The 2004 2wd got a set of FJ Cruiser wheels. So I started searching for another Toyota Wheel. After searchin craigslist for months without finding any good wheels, I decided to buy the 4Runner SEMA wheels. I chose the grey instead of black because I wanted to be able to see the wheels from a distance. The black blends with the tires and just creates a black-hole under the wheel wells, IMO. So 17" TRD SEMA wheels & 265/70/17 BFG KO2 it was.

Ivan Stewart wheels like my 2001


FJ Cruiser / 4Runner wheels like on my 2004 in med grey

 

The previous owner had modified the exhaust for some reason & the franken-muffler was rusting, so Borla it was.

 

Oops, I forgot, the first mod - a Pioneer Avic 7200nex head / navigation unit.

 

The previous owner had installed Monroe replacement front struts / springs and rear shocks which I never liked, so Bilsteins it was. But Which ones? On my 2001, I'd replaced the OEM TRD Offroad yellow Bilsteins with the orange TRD replacements. I decided to go with the Bilstein 5100's so I bought a set on sale. Now I needed front springs because the PO had used those crappy Monroe's & I had no stock springs. Again, after searching for used ones for months, I ended up buying a set of new DC front springs to give a firmer ride. Of course right after that purchase, Bilstein finally released the 6112 FR / 5160 RR with remotes, that had long been rumored, but whose release was pushed back over and over. I jumped at the chance and bought them. So 6112 / 5160 Bilsteins it was. I also installed Wheeler's Offroad rear add-a-leafs.

 

New rear brake drums & shoes were next. I ordered Toyota drums & shoes. I used a high temp ceramic paint on the drums that needed to be baked at 400 F for 30 minutes for full hardness, so into the Traeger pellet grill they went. I had new Brembo rotors & Toyota ceramic pads, but I couldn't get the old rotors off. Time to get a bigger hammer.

 

So shortly after all these upgrades, My truck gets hit while it's temporarily parked on the street one evening. ARRGH!

 

When I had my front end inspected, I found that the CV boots were torn. Great. After watching some YouTube videos, I decided I could take on the job. I ordered replacement boots & gathered all the parts and tools I would need. I enlisted a friend with a vintage auto race shop and managed to pull the CV axle. Naturally it lookd different from the ones I had seen in the videos & we found that apparently it had already been replaced previously with a non Toyota axle. Needless to say the boots I had purchased didn't fit right. The outer was OK, but we had to use & force on the other outer boot on the inner CV joint. We got it installed, but now had no boots for the other side. Still couldn't get the dang rotor off. I decided to ponder the situation for awhile.

 

After researching aftermarket CV shafts, I decided I would use OEM Toyota shafts. My 2001 had gone over 140,000 miles without them failing, 80,000 of them while on a 2 inch Performance Products progressive spring lift with no diff drop. So I felt I'd get at least 100,000 off of new OEM shafts. I have no idea why the PO had the OEM ones changed at such a low mileage. I also decided to replace the upper & lower ball joints and ghe tie rod ends, again assuring another 100,000 miles. More parts & tools were collected. Since I'd already done one, I felt I could do the job myself in my driveway. Up on stands it went. I started on the passenger side since we'd already done the boots on the driver's side. The CV shaft took some work to pop out but I managed. I went to replace the axle seal and that's when I found that the right & left side seals are different sizes. This was on a Sunday so the dealer was closed. Aargh! I went to the dealer on Monday and of course they stock the left seal, but not the right. Aargh! I ordered the right side seal. I did the lower ball joint. Couldn't get the tie rod end loose. I couldn't feel any play in the upper ball joint, so I chose to put that off until later. I had a bigger Thor hammer so I was finally able to beat the rotor into submission and install the new Brembo rotor and Toyota ceramic pads. Anti-seieze was used liberally to prevent the new rotor from sticking in the future. I got the seal and was able to complete the right side for now. On to the left side. This was now the 3rd time I did 4th his job, so working slowly I was able to get the left shaft, lower ball joint, tie rod end rotor and pads completely in about 1.5 hours.

 

Time for a test drive. Still a few wild flowers in San Fransisquito Cyn.

 

Time to connect the backup camera and USB extensions for the Android Auto and Apple CarPlay. I also updated the Avic 7200nex firmware.

 

Almost forgot, I refinished the headlights and installed LED bulbs.

 

Time to replace the diff & transfer case fluids. Strangely the fill plug was a hex wrench but the drain plug was a torx. Great. Off to Harbor Freight again. I found the the grease monkey that did the job last had apparently tightened the front differential drain plug with an impact wrench as i couldn't break it loose with my 30" breaker bar. Aargh!. Now I had to order a new drain plug before hitting it with my Nitrocat. Fortunately I was able to use my vacuum bleeder to suck the the old fluid from the front differential. The transfer case & rear differential went uneventfully. I also used one of my stock of unobtanium AC Delco Gold filters for a Mobil 1 oil change. AC Delco made these for a short time about 10 years or so ago. They didn't sell well because they were around $20. Bob is the Oil Guy tested a few and cut them up and said they were the best filters he'd ever seen. He bought a case at $20 ea for his Vette. A few years ago, someone on my Land Cruiser forum ih8mud.com spotted a few hundred on RockAuto for $5 each. I bought a case. They sold out in less then 24 hours.

 

Nice deal and good work!

Whats your plan on for the body damaged bumper?

 

I’ve got a new replacement cover, just need to get it painted. I’ve been concentrating on the mechanicals.

 

Nice write up. Nice truck. Now you just need to stop selling your 1st gens. Hard to believe this is your 3rd!

 

Very nice indeed.

 

The first one I traded in on a 2004 Mazda 3 Hatchback when gas here in SoCal went over $4 per gal. for an extended period of time. I was driving about 40k miles per year & gas was killing me. I regretted it almost immediately, but it was too late. I bought the 2004 used as a second vehicle, but I'd had quite a few 4wd and missed it. That one I was side swiped on the freeway by a car that got rear-ended by another car. Insurance actually paid me more than I'd originally paid after driving it for 2 years & 60,000 miles. That's when I started my search for #3.

I will say that this one is the best of the bunch overall.

 

Nice build going here, subscribed! What brand tie rod ends did you use?

 

2 questions:

1. How much lift did you get from your bilsteins?

2. Did you have to use resistors or anything for your LED headlight/foglight install?

Thank you!!!

 

BA!!

I like the little platform in the rear seat.

 

I set it at the max Bilstein recommended for my truck - 1” I got closer to 1.5” but the original owner had put on cheap Monroe pre loaded shocks.

Yes on the resistors. When they didn’t work right, I emailed the seller & they sent the resistors right away.

 

Do you have a link to the USB cig lighter piece? Or did you simply pull the lighter housing out and use some universal USB thing?

 

I used something like this. It extends my headunit USB connectors to the dash. If you just want power, there are lots of options. Search for in dash USB.

USB 3.0 Mount Cable - Powerbeast Dual USB 3.0 Extension USB Mount,Dash Mount,Flush Mount,Panel Mount Cable for Car Boat Motorcycle and Motorized DVD Receiver (3.3ft)

https://www.amazon.com/USB-3-0-Moun...usb+3+in+dash&qid=1566510199&s=gateway&sr=8-1

 

Hey @SoCalPaul, so you set the 6112s at #6 drivers side & #4 passenger side?

You still liking them? I am getting ready to put new suspension on, and I am leaning heavily towards the 6112 5160 combo. Thanks.