2006 AC - Sid Monster

Hello all,

I'm a new owner of a 2006 SR5 AC, a little over 170k on it. A few dings but from what I could tell everything looked good. We have nicknamed Sid Monster



I'm fairly new to all of this but have been doing a lot of research and have ideas on what I want. Just would like a bit of guidance making final decisions.

I'd like to do all work myself if possible, to save costs and learn how to work on vehicles on my own. I've done basic oil changes, brake pads, stereo upgrades, just replaced o2 sensors but feel confident in taking on bigger projects.


So far all I've done is mostly cosmetic/preventive type stuff:

-Weathertech floor liners, front window rain guards and hood deflector
-Paramount mesh grill
-Kenwood DNX694s receiver
-New front and rear light housings
-New EBC orange stuff pads
-LEDs all inside, all rear lights and front turn signals
-Coverking neoprene front seat covers
-Kats battery warmer and oil pan warmer, tidied up into one NOCO outlet port
-Scangauge II
-Set of Maxtrax, recovery strap, gator jaw, few other basic recovery tools
-Plasti dipped some "chrome"




I did not buy it from the previous owner, so had little to no info on any work done to it. Some hoses, boots, etc looked replaced, nothing too crazy from what I can tell.
I would like to get this truck in as best working order as possible. I would also like to learn how to do it myself but If consensus is that I should bring to a mechanic for a good first time once over, I definitely would. There is definitely one or two places nearby that specialize in this.

-I have checked all fluids which were clean and at the proper levels when I bought it.
-I know the timing belt/water pump is something to look for but at 170,000 it should have been done a while ago, I believe?
-Suspension seems like it could use some TLC, pics and info below.
-I have been reading up on all the maintenance schedules so in reality I will just keep up with that and check stuff as I go.
-Anything else anyone thinks I should look into, please let me know! I want her in top shape, to last for a long time.


Now for the fun stuff.


I would like this to be my daily driver, capable (of modest) off roading and camping. I'm trying to keep my budget down on this but at the same time only want to use good quality, durable products. I will not be going "crawling" up anything insane, mostly just forrest service and blm roads, mountain passes, etc. that being said I want this to be able to take me a lot farther than the Crosstrek .

The plan is to get a topper (either Snugtop Hi-Liner or ARE MX series) if anyone has any input on making a choice between the two, please weigh in. I need to order soon!!!

I think I should probably replace a bunch of suspension parts.
After speaking to Toytec, looks like it has this lift and some Monroe reflex shocks (O'rielly I think) and some kind of air lift in the back. I know fairly little about suspension but it looks off to me. So I think I will be switching that up. I will include some pics.

Thinking of just going with one of the full kits. Toytec, OME, Bilstein. Also another decision I am having a hard time with.
Its seems like I should probably go and replace all other major parts. Control arms, ball joints, etc? Moog, SPC seem good? I would appreciate a bit of guidance on this as well. I bet you all can look at the pictures and tell me exactly what I need to do.
Some new tires are also in order and probably a new set of wheels as well.


Here's some pics of suspension. The ball joints look pretty bad, I think I'd like to get on that and figure you should do it all at once right?








Sorry for the long post. I really appreciate any thoughts or knowledge anyone wants to drop on me. All critiques and criticisms welcome as well

Thanks

 

Welcome to the forum. That looks like a great truck. I just skimmed your post for now so I'll read it closer later.

Just a few thoughts. If the timing belt has never been changed you are living on borrowed time. If it breaks it could really screw up your engine. Some people had it break at slow speed and reported no damage. Others were not so lucky.

Also, don't put anything Monroe on your truck. Learn from my mistake. I'll be removing the monroe coilovers soon.

 

Nice write up! Welcome from CO.

 

I would get a set of Bilstein 5100 shocks to replace that junk front strut assembly. Spacer lifts are garbage and ruin CV's and balljoints. And as you can see uses your coil for a bumpstop. You can get them for $350 for all four on Amazon. Just need your stock coils and isolators.

I'd also assume the timing belt has not been changed unless there is a sticker on the intake or engine cover. Even then I would still change it. I just bought a 2005 DC with 203k on it and it appears to have never been done. I had another Tundra with 170k on it and the timing belt had not been changed on it either. I did that day one and it actually still looked fine. But I saw a belt on a 106k Tundra at the dealer that looked about to break. Seems to be random luck.

As for suspension parts go all OEM. Moog is chinese junk these days. The OEM Toyota parts aren't much more money to begin with. Find the part number and buy from Camelback Toyota Parts or Ebay.

 

Welcome. Start on page 1 and read through at your leisure as I did when first joining on page 20?
We are now up to page 151. Lots of good ideas on those pages.

Another place to look are the 1st Gen ‘build’ pages. Some cool stuff I wouldn’t do to my truck, but you may be inspired.

You should set a budget and work off that based on your goals. First things first: Get your suspension refreshed as it sounds like your engine is doing fine. Get yourself a good base and work off that. All the other stuff is filler.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/what-have-you-done-to-your-1st-gen-tundra-today.2558/page-151

 

I'll second that. I put monroes on mine and they're waaaay too soft. Spring for the bilsteins and call it good.

 

Welcome from Burlington bud! Always glad to see another CO guy on here. If it were me, I'd go either the Bilstein or Toytec route for coilovers. Spacers are garbage IMO.

 

Thanks for the input everyone.

I definitely have been reading a lot, tons of info to dig through.

-I will take a closer look and see if the timing belt needs to be changed or not.

-Definitely want to get rid of the Monroe junk, no interest in keeping the spacers, should I replace the coils too? I like the idea of going OEM but I was under the impression with new larger struts I should get a better UCA like these and the balljoints won't look like they do.

 

Depends how much lift you want and how much budget you have. You can get by with OEM arms and replace the upper ball joint if it's as rough as it looks. You can leave the OEM arms on temporarily until you have the cash to get SPC.

For sure get the spacer thing out of there. If those are Toyota coils on your front assembly you can keep those and get 5100s, or spring a bit more for a Toytec kit. Toytec are great people and they're local to you.

With any used vehicle purchase, maintenance first. I would get the timing belt and water pump done no matter what. It's due roughly every 90k miles so even if it has been done it's about up again, buy that peace of mind even if you pay for that one. Change your spark plugs (Denso or NGK only), air filter and whatever other little stuff you're comfortable doing.

Welcome, great intro and a color I don't see often enough.

 

Thanks, we are loving the Blue Steel, definately less common.

Good point about the belt, I might make that a project soon here. From what I've read, not that hard, just time consuming? Have been thinking about plugs and whatnot, going to start ordering.

I like the height I'm at now. I don't think it would bother me if it dropped .5"-1" though. I'm willing to shell out for quality parts as I want this truck to run well and for a long time. Though I do not need the highest end stuff out there.

Not sure if they are Toyota coils or not. Kind of why I'm thinking of just replacing with a full kit. Just not sure which one is right for me. Seems like everyone has there own opinion. I'd really prefer most durable and least likely to have any problems.

Seems like most people say to go OEM with certain parts. But if I want to get new control arms that will suite the suspension better, OEM would end up looking like it does now, right?

 

Yes, OEM arms will have the same angle. What I meant to say is use Toyota ball joints and you can get by with the upper arms you have for now. Sounds like you'll be pouring a few thousand into this truck to get it where you want, that might put off the expense of new arms.