1st Gen Tundra Vs. Fire Hydrant

I was attacked! My PRISTINE, one owner, low miles, 2000 SR5 got a front bumper delete courtesy of a City of Atlanta fire hydrant that jumped out in front of my truck. It couldn't resist kicking me while I was down, so it decided to take out my entire passenger side wheel and suspension assembly as well.






After a streetside interview with local law enforcement and a call to AAA, I was on my way to the shop. Upon arrival I was informed that just to replace my LCA, I would need to part ways with enough money to enjoy a short vacation in Cabo. So instead, I opted to hop online and look for some parts. I decided to go with 1AAuto as they were cheap and fast and had proven themselves in the past. I spent my next free day on the ground in the parking lot of a local shop with whatever tools I could pack onto my motorcycle. (my only other means of transport as the temperatures dropped into the 30's)


I ended up replacing nearly the entire passenger side suspension and steering assembly in this tight parking spot. I got the truck into a drivable state and limped it back to the house. The alignment was so far out that I took my hands off the wheel and had a come to jesus moment with Carrie Underwood playing in the background.

The vehicle would do an interesting thing when I would apply medium to heavy brake pressure, the front end would get "squirrely", or feel like it was walking to the left even though the steering wheel was being held in the straight forward position. After getting it back to the house, I completed the passenger side repairs and replaced the Rack and Pinion as well as the tie rod ends on both sides. I am getting a new custom steel off-road bumper made by a local fabricator that I will update this post with once that is installed.





For anyone that has made it this far, I am still having an issue of the steering feeling quite loose. The wheel turns a little TOO quickly and easily with just a light touch from what I'm used to. Does anyone know what could be causing this?

*BUMPER UPDATE*

A test fit before the final install

 

Alignment issue. Sounds like its toed out. I didn't see anywhere in your post where you said you took it to a shop to have that done.

 

I failed to mention that. I did indeed get an alignment done but that was before I completed the rack and pinion replacement. I definitely need to get that redone ASAP. Is there anything else with the truck in general that you think I should be considering due to the nature of this incident?

 

Due to the nature of the accident...

The driver.

Just kidding. Crap happens.


I like the placement of your off road lights.

Back in the day I had some halogens in that same spot on my 93 toyota, I've never seen anyone else mount lights there until now.

 

Changing the steering rack bushings to poly on my v6 made it do something similar. Steering is WAY too sensitive for my taste. Will not be replacing the bushings on crackhead until I can get the V6 squared away.

 

You can always ask your aligner to increase your toe by half a degree over spec if your steering is to sensitive for your taste.

 

They don't give a shit what I ask for here. They set it in the green, and let it fly. A toe n go.

 

OP, that is a drag. Cool bumper though. I agree with the alignment causing twitchiness. Do you think the frame was bent - like the front crossmember? If the alignment doesn't help, it might be worth having the frame checked out by a body shop. Sometimes they can stretch them back into shape.

I always hang out by my vehicle until the tech comes to get it. Then I ask if I can watch them align it, and hop in while they drive it in to the bay, or meet them over there. Don't ask at the front, because they will usually say no customers allowed back there. But the techs are glad for the interest. Then you can nicely make requests. Buy them beer if they do a good job. Works for me.

 

Post the alignment sheet if you have it. With a hit like that a trip to a frame shop to fix car tabs is likely in order. I bet caster is uneven

my tabs were folded flat. Until I bent them back and welded some meat on them my alignment was trash. Still don’t have the ideal alignment but my truck drives as straight as ST max tires let it (they always pull right these tires)

 

Oh yeah, did the fire hydrant shoot water up in the air, like in the movies?

 

Tried that method once upon a time, and was banned from that particular alignment shop for "liability issues."

 

You've got nice new control arm bushings on the passenger side, but not the driver side. Looks like a new tire/wheel on just the passenger side? And alignment, of course

 

What’s the info on that bumper build?

 

I am astounded that lower ball joint held up and the lower control arm failed.

 

Weird. I've never met any super-aggressive hydrants in town. But when you live where I live, they're probably afraid of getting shot.

 

I came down to make a similar comment. That BJ was still looking tightly fitted to the knuckle and in its socket. I guess the new BJs really are upgraded. Or were the early first gens unaffected?

 

So, was it like the movies where water went shooting into the atmosphere?

 

"Sky enema"

 

I had some cheap red wine in my mouth, then through my nose.

 

Hahaha you may have a point about the driver...

I like the mounting position as well! They work really well as ditch lights and illuminating the sides of the vehicle on tight roads at night or at camp.

 

Oh wow... That's what I'm afraid of. How financially involved was the frame shop job??

 

TKO Fabrication based out of Cumming Georgia. He specializes in early model Toyota's

 

Hahahaha

 

Haha no, unfortunately there was no recreation of Old Faithful... Evidently the hydrants in this area were all "winterized" according to the patrol officer.

 

To fix the cam tabs? Probably not horrible. As long as the frame itself isn’t bent

 

thanks man, I’m about an hour north of Cummings, and have some friends in the area. When I get ready for a bumper for my double cab I’ll keep him in mind looks good

 

@Mt.Andoo Don't be discouraged if the frame needs some work. I always considered a car totaled or ruined when the frame was bent, but that's not the case. In College I car ram rodded head on to a curb at a high speed and bent the frame of my 96 1500. Had a buddy with a body shop and they fixed it for 400 bucks. I honestly would consider doing one myself at this point. They just went off factory measurements and hooked some chains up and torqued it back in shape.

 

Bent frames are remarkably fixable. There are whole shops here that specialize in it. They have racks with hydraulic pullers and laser alignments and such. Its not even that expensive.

 

This is why I'm always shocked when insurance companies total out a vehicle over 'frame damage'. Sometimes I think the adjusters are in on that whole racket, because they know people in the market who'll benefit. Everyone has a side angle, has for centuries....

 

I think insurance companies and their minions are one of the greatest forces of evil at work in our world.

On the other hand....they provide us with a bunch of nice cheap S title vehicles. My truck is salvage because it got a dent in the roof from a hailstorm years ago. Picked it up for $3k. For a dent you can't even see without a ladder.