- Thread starter
- #21
Likewise! I'm sure I'll be back from time to time. In the mean time, you guys are always welcomed out here!
Waldo's Colorado Adventures (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter JWaldz
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Likewise! I'm sure I'll be back from time to time. In the mean time, you guys are always welcomed out here!
- Thread starter
- #22
Look, I'm famous 
Toytec Lifts: Toyota Lift Kits: FJ Cruiser Lift Kits, Tacoma Lift Kits, Tundra Lift Kits, 4 Runner Lift Kits, Sequoia Lift Kits, Toyota Truck Lift Kits - Spring has sprung in Colorado!
Some updates:
So, by now you're still probably antsy and wondering why I purchased a full float diamond axle for the rear. I wish I could answer in a couple short words but that simply wont work. The factory rear axle on this truck has always been troublesome for me. The semi float design allows for leaking oil past the inner axle seal and drowns everything in the hub with it. Add drums to the mess and you have a not so happy rear brakes. Heavy offroading has always been it's kryptonite. All the axle shaft flex allows this to happen. I also have a sneaky suspension that this axle has a slight tweak in it. Whether it had one from the beginning (when I bought it from Jordan) or it developed one in time, I don't know. The 8" ff diamond will allow me to keep stock geometry (for now), run my current elocker 3rd, and be able to run old solid axle pickup outers with calipers and rotors. Since I'm sticking with a 35" tire until I SAS, this seemed like a solid lower cost option for me, vs replacing all the bearings, seals, brakes, etc on both sides of the current axle only to have them ruined in a years time.
Enough of the chatter, enjoy some pics and this vid from my trail trip..
Toytec Lifts: Toyota Lift Kits: FJ Cruiser Lift Kits, Tacoma Lift Kits, Tundra Lift Kits, 4 Runner Lift Kits, Sequoia Lift Kits, Toyota Truck Lift Kits - Spring has sprung in Colorado!
Some updates:
- I now work full time at an offroad fabrication shop - Hefty Fabworks
- Sold the rear CBI bumper (getting a new one built eventually)
- Put $ from bumper and bought a diamond axle (for rear - explained below)
- Lauren and I are buying a house, waiting on loan process (unique situation w/ her work). Close on May 2nd
So, by now you're still probably antsy and wondering why I purchased a full float diamond axle for the rear. I wish I could answer in a couple short words but that simply wont work. The factory rear axle on this truck has always been troublesome for me. The semi float design allows for leaking oil past the inner axle seal and drowns everything in the hub with it. Add drums to the mess and you have a not so happy rear brakes. Heavy offroading has always been it's kryptonite. All the axle shaft flex allows this to happen. I also have a sneaky suspension that this axle has a slight tweak in it. Whether it had one from the beginning (when I bought it from Jordan) or it developed one in time, I don't know. The 8" ff diamond will allow me to keep stock geometry (for now), run my current elocker 3rd, and be able to run old solid axle pickup outers with calipers and rotors. Since I'm sticking with a 35" tire until I SAS, this seemed like a solid lower cost option for me, vs replacing all the bearings, seals, brakes, etc on both sides of the current axle only to have them ruined in a years time.
Enough of the chatter, enjoy some pics and this vid from my trail trip..
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YotaJosh
SILVER Star
That ABS rear axle has been a thorn in your side for a while now. Glad to see you ditching it.
Pictures are awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Your truck looks weird without the rear bumper, but I bet it wheels different without it, if not better. I know all the rear weight on mine makes the frontend lightfooted on hill climbs.
Pictures are awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Your truck looks weird without the rear bumper, but I bet it wheels different without it, if not better. I know all the rear weight on mine makes the frontend lightfooted on hill climbs.
- Thread starter
- #24
Yes it has.. Happy to finally ditch it. It can be someone else's problem lol.
I almost hate the way it looks without the rear bumper. I got so use to it. I haven't noticed too much of a difference, but yes up hills feel a little better. Downhills do not haha.
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@JWaldz Is that Runner a TRD Pro? Love that bumper though! My father recently purchased a '15 Trail Premium and I tried to convince him to get a steel bumper but he went with the rigid grill/lightbar insert instead...I have searched your site a few times and I'm really liking the products you guys are putting out! Any thoughts on future 100 series products???
- Thread starter
- #26
Hey man, I think his is just a Trail. We offer it in aluminum too wink wink..
Not sure about any 100 series products at this time. I think we're going to be doing a GX470 soon though. There's a few things we have in development that aren't on the site yet.
- Thread starter
- #28
Update 5/11/16 [part 1 of 2]
Lauren and I are finally home owners! We've been going through to tedious process of buying a house for the past few months and we closed on May 2nd. I finally get a garage haha. To top it off, it also has a 980 sq/ft unfinished basement with walk out and portion of it has tall ceilings. I was granted permission to do whatever I want with it, hmmmmm. We're looking at redoing some of the interior and bringing in a more modern look. It was built in 2004 so it's not entirely out of date. 2700 total sq/ft and big enough to raise a couple children in it till college. The house also provides an amazing view of pikes peak.
Lauren and I are finally home owners! We've been going through to tedious process of buying a house for the past few months and we closed on May 2nd. I finally get a garage haha. To top it off, it also has a 980 sq/ft unfinished basement with walk out and portion of it has tall ceilings. I was granted permission to do whatever I want with it, hmmmmm. We're looking at redoing some of the interior and bringing in a more modern look. It was built in 2004 so it's not entirely out of date. 2700 total sq/ft and big enough to raise a couple children in it till college. The house also provides an amazing view of pikes peak.
- Thread starter
- #29
Update 5/11/16 [part 2 of 2]
Towards the end of January I ordered me an 8" Full Float Diamond Axle to swap out the POS rear semi-float drum brake axle found on these 3rd gens. They're doomed with leaky seals and faulty brakes and I was just tired of it all. I decided to keep the axle build more simple with factory geometry. The rear geometry for these 3rd gens actually allows for a lot of flex. With upgraded links, I'd have no problem getting where I need to go. After all, the stock axle has gotten me this far. I'll look at possibly stripping and bracing the axle down the line to a true 4 link when I decide to go with a 3-link SAS. This axle will get all the fixings, and be done right the first time. All early pickup solid axle outers and v6 disk brakes. She's still my daily driver so it needs to function properly. Here's some axle porn for you guys.
Towards the end of January I ordered me an 8" Full Float Diamond Axle to swap out the POS rear semi-float drum brake axle found on these 3rd gens. They're doomed with leaky seals and faulty brakes and I was just tired of it all. I decided to keep the axle build more simple with factory geometry. The rear geometry for these 3rd gens actually allows for a lot of flex. With upgraded links, I'd have no problem getting where I need to go. After all, the stock axle has gotten me this far. I'll look at possibly stripping and bracing the axle down the line to a true 4 link when I decide to go with a 3-link SAS. This axle will get all the fixings, and be done right the first time. All early pickup solid axle outers and v6 disk brakes. She's still my daily driver so it needs to function properly. Here's some axle porn for you guys.
That house is perfect for any Razorback guys wanting to come wheel Colorado!
YotaJosh
SILVER Star
That's what I was thinking!That house is perfect for any Razorback guys wanting to come wheel Colorado!
Axle looks nice. The front axle sitting next to it is the one you really need.
Are you going to build a rear bumper to replace your CBI one?
That's awesome, Waldo!! Happy for you guys! Hope sometime soon some of us can make a trip out to see you and have you show us around some of those amazing trails.
M0untaineer
Montani Semper Liberi
Looks awesome Waldo- looks like you've put down some roots out there-can't think of a better place to be- good job brother!
What are you gonna do about an ebrake?
I'm betting line lock cause that is what I would do...
Unless Colorado does inspections. I'm thinking some states require you to have a mechanical parking brake. I know there are TLCA events that list it as a requirement (but no one ever checks).
- Thread starter
- #37
Thanks everyone.. Once we get settled in and furniture in the place anyone is welcome to come visit!
Eventually.. Will likely end up replacing the front ARB as well. We do a lot of aluminum products here and will probably do front and rear aluminum bumpers.
Line-lock is really my only option. The other would be a Transfer Case parking brake but I don't think any of them out there would fit my truck.
Colorado does do inspections but not in my county.
If I really wanted to keep ebrake, Brian at FROR/Diamond Axle has came up with a way to use 5th gen 4Runner outers that retains Ebrake and ABS. It's pretty cool, just really $$$
Eventually.. Will likely end up replacing the front ARB as well. We do a lot of aluminum products here and will probably do front and rear aluminum bumpers.
Line-lock is really my only option. The other would be a Transfer Case parking brake but I don't think any of them out there would fit my truck.
Colorado does do inspections but not in my county.
If I really wanted to keep ebrake, Brian at FROR/Diamond Axle has came up with a way to use 5th gen 4Runner outers that retains Ebrake and ABS. It's pretty cool, just really $$$
- Thread starter
- #38
Hey guys, have been quite busy lately and haven’t updated this thread. Been updating the house a lot, went to London for 10 days back in mid July for vacation, dealing with looking for a new job since late June (got laid off, not my fault, crappy situation), and now just started a new job (first week of work).
However, on the bright side Lauren managed to get a full time position with the school she’s been subbing at. Now that we both have full time jobs things are looking up! This was really the first speed bump (well, more like red light) we’ve hit since being here. I’m now a Drafting Coordinator for a PreCast Concrete company called Stresscon. So far, so good.
Through all the above mess, Lauren’s car ended up being totaled in a nasty hail storm we had here. We left the car in Denver at a friends house while we went to London. They had a bad hail storm roll through and it took a toll on the car. In the end, the car was totaled and we took a check for it….
So, we ended up with this!!! 2014 Trail Premium 4Runner! Black on black and full loaded. Even came with TRD Pro wheels
Sorry for the crappy pics, we literally brought it home lastnight and haven't had any time to really take it in!
However, on the bright side Lauren managed to get a full time position with the school she’s been subbing at. Now that we both have full time jobs things are looking up! This was really the first speed bump (well, more like red light) we’ve hit since being here. I’m now a Drafting Coordinator for a PreCast Concrete company called Stresscon. So far, so good.
Through all the above mess, Lauren’s car ended up being totaled in a nasty hail storm we had here. We left the car in Denver at a friends house while we went to London. They had a bad hail storm roll through and it took a toll on the car. In the end, the car was totaled and we took a check for it….
So, we ended up with this!!! 2014 Trail Premium 4Runner! Black on black and full loaded. Even came with TRD Pro wheels
Sorry for the crappy pics, we literally brought it home lastnight and haven't had any time to really take it in!
YotaJosh
SILVER Star
Very nice! Time to start ignoring the wheeling rig.
- Thread starter
- #40
Very nice! Time to start ignoring the wheeling rig.
lol I know right.. Since this is Lauren's DD I probably wont go too nutty with it. Future plans are at least a nice lift and 33's. I actually want to sell the TRD Pro wheels and maybe get some SCS wheels. Hopefully get sliders and some aftermarket skids as well sooner rather than later. She actually said she really liked the look of my rear bumper I had on my 3rd gen. Soooo, there's the possibility of front and rear bumpers as well. But those are a ways down the road I'm sure.
I still need to get all the rear axle parts to finish it up and slap it in. I got a set of used Rokmen (Toytec Branded) aftermarket adjustable links for it a few months ago so I can really dial in the pinion angle and placement of the axle. It's in need of a new steering rack and I'd like to get rid of the overly aggressive tires and go to a hybrid all terrain like the Cooper ST Maxx or Mickey Thompson ATZ P3. Looks like General Tire is coming out with a tire called the X3. May be a little too aggressive for what I'm aiming for. They look more like a M/T