Newly motivated Tundra guy

Hi everyone! I've been lurking here for a while, and want to thank you all for sharing your knowledge and experience!

I'm the original owner of an 01 4WD V8 access cab SR5 in Thunder Gray. It's been a great vehicle from day 1. It just passed 270K miles. It's taken us from California to Florida to Alaska to Michigan and back to Cali again (Air Force moves).

I have to admit I've really neglected the old girl for most of her life. I stayed on top of the basics but never really maintained it religiously. Even with all that it's been pretty trouble-free.

So a couple friends have older (70s and 80s) trucks. I told my wife one day I'd kinda like to get an old classic truck. "You already have one!" she says. I thought to myself she's not wrong! So now I'm giving the truck some overdue mechanical TLC and trying to spruce it up. I'll post details in the "What have you done..." thread. Thanks again for the knowledge and inspiration!

 

Welcome from LA (Lower Alabama)!

 

Welcome from PA!

Solid truck! I’ve had mine for almost a year. Love hearing stories like yours. Look forward to similar durability and lifespan! Post a picture when you get a moment.

 

Welcome from Central Florida.

 

Welcome from NY.

 

Your pictures didn’t attach. You may have thought you attached them but I don’t see any.

 

Thanks all for the warm welcome! Here are a couple pics. I guess they're more dirt bike pics than truck pics, but that's all I can dig up at the moment.

 

Nice! That is a cool truck to have in such good shape. I saw some of the Dallas auction on tv this week and some of the trucks were super sweet simple trucks in that year range.

I’d collect yours if you didn’t want to.

 

I plan to run it until the wheels fall off. Speaking of which, I have new lower ball joints to install soon. After seeing all the failure pics I'm a little paranoid every time I drive very far.

 

Yeah, it can ruin a perfectly nice Sunday drive to the beach, trust me.

So the warning sign to which I was woefully ignorant... When you have the wheels cranked (say you make a U-turn or something) and let go of the wheel, do the wheels start to straighten out on their own like normal?

If they stay turned, or you have to help them straighten more than you used to, check &/or replace BEFORE they do this.

 

Wow, sorry that happened to you. Thanks for sharing the warning signs. I have not noticed any abnormal feel in the steering , but I will definitely check for that. I have the LBJs on hand, just need to get them installed. I have a trusted mechanic so I want to get it up on the lift and get his recommendations on what else needs to be changed. I know I have a torn CV boot also.

 

Yeah that was an odd one, 'cuz it had the horrible noise and somewhat violent sensation of a car accident, but there was no one anywhere near me... My brain had a little trouble processing what had just happened for a moment.

Side note, 10 ply BFG's and Tundra's are tough sumbitches!! It fell on it's face making a left in the middle of a very busy 50 mph road in La Jolla, so I just had to drag that corner for 25-30 yards to get outta' the road.

 

Welcome from So Cal

 

Welcome!

 

Welcome to the group from Florida!

That is a good lookin truck and I look forward to seeing what you do with it!

 

Welcome from Pennsylvania

 

Thanks everyone for the warm welcome and sharing your knowledge! Planning to change the LBJs next week. I have a long (and growing) list of things to do. All good though - I have a new appreciation of my Tundra and I'm enjoying getting my hands dirty and giving the old girl some overdue attention.