2008 SR5 Work/Play Truck Project

I installed my bed stiffeners today. I drilled and painted the holes, then silicone on the Riv-Nuts before crimping them. I made the gussets on my plasma table.

I carry 20ft sticks of steel on my bedrack and started to worry about the bed tearing.

 

I found a pair of 1.25” Spidertrax locally today. I’m pretty happy about having full steering again. Parking lots have been a bit tighter with my larger tires rubbing my sway bar. Problem solved!

 

Thanks! Maybe we need a “Shops” thread on this forum.

 

Thanks! Yeah, it sucked but I’m happy with the decision to keep it. Running strong so far

 

I randomly ended up at my Mother Inlaw’s neighbor’s garage sale 2 weeks where I picked up a seemingly brand new JL 8W3v3 in factory tuned box for $10 and an Alpine M500 amp for $20!

Both tested fine so I installed them.






Then I found a pair of JL component 6.5” on Marketplace. Supposedly installed for a week before car was crashed. I took the gamble at $80. They still had all the packaging. These have also tested fine and I’m in the process of installing in the front this week.

 

Today I got the new front speakers installed. I used the OEM speaker as a template for adapters. I chose to offset mount the 6.5”s so they don’t fire as directly under the dash.

Much improved!

 

I finally got around to redoing my brakes. I’ve had warped front rotors for way too long and now squealing from the rear.

EBC OEM kit with Yellow pads and new front hardware.

Rear pads were down to the squeal tab, front pads were ~%50, but warped rotors and broken retaining clip.

All seems good so far. Will report back after break in.

 

I’ve got a few hundred miles on my new brakes and they are great! More bite, good modulation, and best of all; not warped!

This past week I have installed a used Badlands Apex 12k winch in my bumper. I built the bumper with a winch in-mind. I finally found a good deal.

I ended up needing to trim a small amount off of the top bumper cover support bracket. The free spool lever and remote socket are accessible by popping the hood.

New battery terminals helped to clean up wires but still needs some love.

 

I finally built a platform for phone/gps. Cardboard template->CAD->plasma table.

RAM Mounts on order.

 

Mount installed.

 

I decided it was time (started snowing) to fix my front output shaft seal that had been leaking ever since I scratched the seal surface trying to fix it in-place.

Pulling the TCase was surprisingly easy. Plopped on the bench and pulled the seal to see what I suspected; a gouge from the seal puller I used. After sanding and cleaning I used JB Steel to fill the gouge. After shaping I installed a new seal along with new spline O-ring and put it all back together.

YouTube University came in clutch. https://youtu.be/IOn1gKQyIlY?si=QclUJX4jVM7jUB2P

36hrs no leaking.

 

While I had my truck in the garage to service the transfer case; I also did an oil change and reverted my aftermarket air intake back to the stock filter housing. I used the tube from the aftermarket intake to eliminate the stock baffle.

K&N dry filter on order.

 

Trying to use up scrap material before a move this Summer; I made a pair of sway-bar mount spacers out of some 50x20 extrusion. 20mm of drop.