Toyota Tacoma

[giant_mtb]

They're both made in China. When it gets here, somebody clicks the center cap in. The final assembly point is now in the US. Made in USA baby!

[CaminoRacer]

Will I need different u-bolts for the rear suspension?  I imagine the ones that came with the lift kit are extended. Can I just reuse those or am I gonna need to buy shorter ones for clearance?

...or can they just slice 'em down.

I'd like to be able to sell the whole lift kit...so fuck.  Maybe I should order stock rear leaf U's, too.

Depends on how long the threads are. If they are threaded all the way, you can reuse the long ones. I wouldn't imagine the clearance being a big deal in that location unless you're rock crawling.

[giant_mtb]

I do go off road pretty frequently. 

[MrH]

Bolt them up.  If the threads are too long and you're being cheap, just cut them down

[Eye of the Tiger]

I do go off road pretty frequently. 

I off road daily. Only half of my driveway is paved.

[giant_mtb]

Front shocks came in.  Crazy how the whole thing rides on the height adjust snap ring.  Physics!

Now to set up an appointment.

[MrH]

Front shocks came in.  Crazy how the whole thing rides on the height adjust snap ring.  Physics!

Now to set up an appointment.

Don't ask how the engineering of that works

They can't even model it correctly with FEA analysis.  Snap rings are just magic that work somehow.  It's used both on OEM applications and aftermarket, so it's not like it's some shade tree mechanic way of getting it done.

The first time I saw it, it blew my mind.

[Cookie Monster]

I remember being equally confused/amazed when I saw the snap ring design for the first time.

[giant_mtb]

They don't call 'em Jesus clips for nothin.

[giant_mtb]

Railroad grades FTW.

[giant_mtb]

All the new stuff gets installed on the 7th.  Two weeks.  Just two more weeks of filling my tires every other day.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Dude just put some slime in yo tires.

[giant_mtb]

Got an e-mail from Amazon notifying me of a recall on the airbag clock spring I put in a few months ago. 

"The coil harness may not have been centered when it was wound, and, as a result, after the air bag is installed, turning the steering wheel may cause the cable to tear."

I'm pretty sure I made sure it was centered properly before I installed it and my airbag light hasn't come on, so I'm probably good.  But my cruise control still doesn't work, nor the horn.  I have a marine airhorn in my door pocket for super-duper road rage honking.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Clock springs (/coils, w/e) are dumb. You need red rally horns for red rally truck.

[giant_mtb]

Everything is getting installed today. Hopefully I get it back before dark so I can take some pictures. It'll still go everywhere I want it to even without the lift kit and it'll be nice when everybody stops asking me why I'm taking it off.  Told my boss I was getting the lift off today and he goes "oh, so you are satisfied with the size of your penis." 

Also funny story.  I forgot to give them the new lug nuts with all the other parts.  Had to run back there.   

[BimmerM3]

How much was your wheel/tire package? I'm looking at just under $1500 for the Explorer after tire pressure monitors and shipping.

[giant_mtb]

How much was your wheel/tire package? I'm looking at just under $1500 for the Explorer after tire pressure monitors and shipping.

Wheels and tires were $1304.20 shipped. 

'Nother $360 for shocks and $50 for strut mounts.

With install/alignment/etc, I'm gonna guess I'll be right around $2k all said and done.  Fuck!

[giant_mtb]

Pretty sure they had to find/order U bolts. Goddamn I should have ordered those along with everything else. There's a few inches of snow out there and I'm stuck driving my parents' FWD Exploder.

[BimmerM3]

Wheels and tires were $1304.20 shipped. 

'Nother $360 for shocks and $50 for strut mounts.

With install/alignment/etc, I'm gonna guess I'll be right around $2k all said and done.  Fuck!

Do you have tire pressure monitors? Those fuckers alone are like $350.

[giant_mtb]

Do you have tire pressure monitors? Those fuckers alone are like $350.

Nope. If I did, I wouldn't bother paying for them. 

[BimmerM3]

Nope. If I did, I wouldn't bother paying for them. 

Hmm, according to TireRack "NHTSA's interpretation of the Motor Vehicle Safety Act prohibits service providers from installing aftermarket tires and wheels on your vehicle without working TPMS sensors." But I guess if I order the wheel/tire package I can just put them on myself without the sensors.

[giant_mtb]

Indeed. Nothing prohibits you from buying 'em without TPMS. And once they're on, it's not the shop's problem. Plenty of people run steelies with winter tires with no TPMS...just have to deal with the dummy light on the dash.

[Eye of the Tiger]

Indeed. Nothing prohibits you from buying 'em without TPMS. And once they're on, it's not the shop's problem. Plenty of people run steelies with winter tires with no TPMS...just have to deal with the dummy light on the dash.

If it wasn't for that dummy light, I would happily toss my TPMS in the garbage. Black tape isn't good enough. I would have to remove the cluster and desolder the light.

[Rupert]

I don't know why they don't all show the actual pressures.

[Soup DeVille]

I don't know why they don't all show the actual pressures.

The analog sensors/transmitters that requires are more expensive.

[Rupert]

OK, now I know why they don't all show the actual pressures.

I would gladly pay that cost to replace the dummy light with something useful.

[Laconian]

The TSX showed the pressure levels at each tire. Made topping off the tires before a trip a cinch.

[Rupert]

3/4 ton Dodge trucks have it (and other Chrysler products?), and it's awesome. It got me out of the habit of ever checking tire pressure.

[Eye of the Tiger]

3/4 ton Dodge trucks have it (and other Chrysler products?), and it's awesome. It got me out of the habit of ever checking tire pressure.

Thank you govt./Ford/Firestone/Communists for helping us break our good habits.

[giant_mtb]

The TSX showed the pressure levels at each tire. Made topping off the tires before a trip a cinch.

But you have to be in and out of the vehicle to check the pressure whereas it takes half a second to check the pressure with a gauge in your hand and keep airing up or down.

I hate TPMS.  But I live in a cold area so I'm used to checking my shit.