1st Gen. Lunch Table - General Discussion

I think there are a few outliers who are always working on their trucks and the majority of us are just chillin...or stockpiling parts.

Bro.
You don't need to remove the tire to stab a plug in the tread. I never do. Just roll the car/truck/bicycle until you have good access to the offending piece of detritus, yank that ho, stab in the bacon strip, add air, get back to living. I've probably done that 20 times in the last 25 years. I've never had one leak or come out. And I typically don't even buy the 'good' tire plug kits. Just whatever is cheap and in front of me at the Meijer/WallaceMart.

I keep reading about snow, but we've yet to see any here in central IN this year. I want to know if these Coopers are worth a shit in the snow. I can tell you all they're doing great in the salt.

 

Normally my road would have people heading to work. I haven't seen anyone attempt my hill yet. It started as rain and then got pretty cold so I bet the roads are fun this morning. We only got an inch of snow

 

If they start on that hill before the salt goes down, get the video rolling.

 

https://youtu.be/6rA8jtiaYlA

 

OK, so, driving home today and contemplating my dust shield attempts before slider install tomorrow. Definitely do not want to make things worse. I see 83 lb ft on the lugs. I'm guessing something like

1. Parking brake, Park, wheel chocks
2. Crack lug nuts w breaker bar
3. Jack up truck
4. Place jackstands so front wheels can spin freely
5. Remove wheel, inspect for noise source
6. Adjust with hand pressure
7. Replace wheel to medium ugga dugga on lug nuts
8. Lift again
9. Remove jackstands
10. Lower to ground, torque to spec per pattern:


Wondering if I jack up on the front diff or axles or frame (presumably with blocks). I'm guessing frame is the best spot if I can obtain a proper jack or use blocks but worried about shifting and falling if I use a bunch of blocks.

Also I have one annoying problem with the passenger side headlight, it keeps popping out of the ball and socket joint. I was going to compare with the oem passenger headlight I removed which would most likely be the original one and see if it has a different part or clip holding that ball/socket in place. It needs to pivot but when it pulls out then the alignment is all off and without it secured it vibrates.

Got my windoor T handles re-shafted by a friend so I can have one double-sided key for all 6 handles, super stoked on that. Going to try to figure out the "magic washer" solution so that L and R sides rotate in opposite directions. I think that should be just a matter of one side being horizontal and the other vertical.

Then the rear license plate mounting headache, I think I'm going to try just a simple plastic bracket for now so the lights work and worry about the hitch access later. With an 8' bed I likely don't really need to use the bike rack and I have nothing to tow, but it is a bit of an annoyance to have a sweet new bumper but not be able to use the hitch portion. I could honestly see designing my own plate lights which sit much further back so I could use the flip-up I have on right now and not worry about getting a ticket for not having the plate illuminated.

 

Am I the only one that doesn't torque lugs in this order?
I'm a 236451, then 253164 guy.
Probably doesn't much matter. Just posting because I'm forking bored to death.

 

I do your order as well.

 

Same here. I've never even seen that diagram before. I just always try to do the "star" method. I doubt the pattern is as important as making sure they are torqued.

 

I typically don't pull the tire either, no choice here. Couldn't hold enough air pressure to push the plug w/the car's weight on it, wasn't safe to shove at the weird angle the decking screw penetrated on a jack - angle killed any leverage for a one-push install while mounted. I had to adjust down and attach my pancake compressor to keep the tire inflated while sitting on it to and push in diagonally. Screw set at ~30° angle, inside-to-outside. Most punctures I get are straight in or front-to-rear, easy to plug on-car.

In hindsight, it's a good thing I did. Two of the lugnuts on that wheel were loose from the last person who touched it. Torqued all the others down after, found two others wheels with more than one not torqued.

FWIW, check out Safety Seal's plugs. They're self-galvanizing, guaranteed for the life of the tire, vs. most other brands (Slime, Hopkins, Xtra Seal, etc.) who warn the plug is only temporary. Granted, I've used those brands for 1000s miles w/o issue, so it's probably just legal CYOA on their end. I find Safety Seal's install system easier than the plastic t-handle crap the others have. No rasp to clear out the hole, easier insert, less leverage required. If you haven't tried their stuff it's worth the extra.

Oh - the Safety Seal plugs never cut in half like Slime's orange threads do. I tossed Slime's installer in the garbage and resorted to using my extra Hopkins installer.

 

And I'm over here thinking I'd really upgraded when I switched from the screwdriver-style to the T-handles.
I'll check out the Safety Seal. I like to keep a plug kit in the 911 and the truck. (the Audi has a spare as well as FixAFlat)

 

I torque lugs down the @daveeasa way as well.

 

Oh, and on torqueing lug nuts.

They have smaller kits. Made in the USA too (pet peeve for me). https://safetyseal.com/kits/

Basically, their "Auto/Light Truck" kits are for everything from 3/4 ton down (or is it 1 ton? I forget, too lazy to look at their FAQ), 1ton does the standard truck kit, then they have other kits for much larger heavy machinery, and ATVs too.

You can buy through them on scAmazon.

 

I use a 4-way bar vs. IH and just tighten until they 'click' the first time. Usually seems to be about 2-3 ugga duggas to get there.

 

Just bought a safety seal kit. We take trips in the minivan that has no spare and I got rid of the run flats cause they suck so I should have something other than roadside assistance I suppose.

 

@CodyP my Denso 130A alternator finally arrived today, sadly I'm solo dad for the week starting tomorrow, so it ain't getting installed. Outer box and OEM box both mangled, hoping the unit is OK. Really don't want to do this twice....

 

I've never had to patch or plug a tire. Seems like a skill I should learn at some point.

 

Good for you. FedEx toyed with my heart again. Sunday morning they updated to be delivered that day, then late last night the tracking number didn’t even show on their website! Now it says it left Troutdale, OR late last night so MAYBE in the next few days. Who knows.

 

Easy to do unless you have 10-ply steel belted tires.

 

https://youtu.be/5okLnZB4QNY

 

Bro.

 

They pulled this shit on me. They texted an update the day of my last reply saying Friday. Then on Friday evening to say Saturday. Then Saturday to say Sunday, and finally Sunday night to say new date was Monday.

Stupid part is, when they texted the update saying Friday, it hadn't even finished its journey from PNW to South Carolina. Until it hits Ellenwood (south of ATL) it's still 24-48 out from being delivered. And when they texted last night, it showed "on truck for deliver", updated at 7:30pm.

I hate FedEx. I must remember this next time.

 

Noise is gone. Some gloves and strategic pulling from behind worked great, no Jack’s needed. Stoked that one was easy.

Brand new license plates on too w security bolts. Ditching flip for now as I’m a ways away from the tow harness and don’t really anticipate big need to haul bikes off a rack like I do with the Tacoma because the bed is so tiny.

Alternator charging wise, no luck on my MK2, I’ll for sure need an MK3 or the inline harness (connectors arrived for that, haven’t dug in). In the meantime the $2 diode works.

Sliders tomorrow. It’s been a wait. Excited.

 

Seat belts working good too!

I have a rough patch with the engine at super low speeds getting going from a stop. Almost like tires rubbing but it’s gears or something, maybe torque converter? No idea what to do about it. Noticed it after the tie rods went in.

 

And now I hate FedEx even more. Just realized what was stinking in my house was the outside of the box being covered in smashed cologne juice. Opened the beat-up outer box, then opened the alternator box inside it and ... yup. Cracked. Off I go to get a replacement. Ain't this a bitch? FedEx can eat a bag of rotten cocks.

 

I’m bummed for you.

good chance to go 150 though.

 

Man, you don't give up!

First I've got to deal with RockAuto. Just submitted a claim. Will see where it goes.

 

(PS - asking for a straight-up replacement)

 

20 inches of snow from last night until about 3 this afternoon.

Fired this thirsty bitch up and cleared mine and the 2 neighbors driveway. Burns about a gallon an hour running the blower