Big props to Eric and Jay @ YotaMasters!

[SoCal_80]

I had YotaMasters install gears, lockers, etc a few months ago and could not have been happier. Since the 80 is not my DD I only put on a few hundred miles since. I drove it a few times last week and began to hear a "noise" around 30mph - 0 when decelerating. Not good. Called Eric and made an appointment to bring it back. Eric and Jay tore into it, identified the problem was coming from the rear diff and said "no problem, and will cover it under warranty". After pulling the 3rd member and performing an autopsy, Jay found the pinion bearing was bad. The kit i bought i thought came with Koyo bearings but we found it was a Timken. So, they called over to Toyota, got a replacement and all is well now. Since the bearing failure was not YotaMasters' issue, they could have easily and without any argument from me, charged me for the R and R. But nope, they stood by their initial assessment and still, no charge.

So again, i can't say enough about YotaMasters, their work as well as how they stand by their word! (A rare combination these days). Like it or not Eric, you have a customer for life (or the life of my 80, which ever comes first)!

 

[bluto]

With all the happy SC80s people posting, I am considering going the distance to get the job done right.

 

[woody]

agreed, great shop...had some 'emergency' repairs handled there a few years back, definitely treated me right!

 

[mattafact]

I had YotaMasters install gears, lockers, etc a few months ago and could not have been happier. Since the 80 is not my DD I only put on a few hundred miles since. I drove it a few times last week and began to hear a "noise" around 30mph - 0 when decelerating. Not good. Called Eric and made an appointment to bring it back. Eric and Jay tore into it, identified the problem was coming from the rear diff and said "no problem, and will cover it under warranty". After pulling the 3rd member and performing an autopsy, Jay found the pinion bearing was bad. The kit i bought i thought came with Koyo bearings but we found it was a Timken. So, they called over to Toyota, got a replacement and all is well now. Since the bearing failure was not YotaMasters' issue, they could have easily and without any argument from me, charged me for the R and R. But nope, they stood by their initial assessment and still, no charge.

So again, i can't say enough about YotaMasters, their work as well as how they stand by their word! (A rare combination these days). Like it or not Eric, you have a customer for life (or the life of my 80, which ever comes first)!

Almost the identical thing happened with me only my bearing was a Koyo. They took care of me 100% and like you said, I'm a customer for life.

 

[kovsky]

Had my front and rear axles serviced there, new radiator, all new hoses, rotors etc.. Recommended!

 

[redcheetah]

I am going to go ahead and jump in on the love fest. As I have been improving my mini truck in the last six months, both Eric and Jay have been immensely helpful in providing advice and completing work on my truck. They have helped me with everything from general tuning of the engine to locating a skid plate that is appropriate for my dual cases. They have completed every job with great skill. I am headed back to them shortly to have my front axle rebuilt with all of the parts I have been scavenging off of CL.

Just two weeks ago my buddy broke a rear brake line while swappng out my rear springs. I was stuck at work so he headed to Yotamasters to get a new one. They provided him with one and he came back raving about the shop and their outgoing attitude. He is talking about getting a Toyota now!

 

[Eric@Yotamasters]

Almost the identical thing happened with me only my bearing was a Koyo. They took care of me 100% and like you said, I'm a customer for life.

Except yours was completely our fault Matt. Yours was set up a little tighter on the pinion preload then average. We thought it would be OK, we were incorrect. Ill post up a pic of SoCal_80s pinion bearing on Monday. I honestly dont know exactly why his failed, but it was not a preload problem. We found one bad spot in the inner race of the outer pinion bearing. Strange failure for sure.

 

[fjc8871]

I called Eric last week to inquire about re-gear and knuckle rebuild as well. Looks like I will be making an appointment for early December if funding comes in

 

[mattafact]

I called Eric last week to inquire about re-gear and knuckle rebuild as well. Looks like I will be making an appointment for early December if funding comes in

Do it! Regearing was the best mod on my cruiser yet. It's so much more fun to drive now.

If you end up out in my area I'll let you drive it. You wont believe it's the same cruiser.

 

[SOCALFJ]

I just returned from a 1200 mile trip with no problems on our fresh gears. Bitchen and not surprising they took care of you. I was just there this morning and Eric and Jay are great honest people. They're donating to our Toys 4 Tots raffle too. Couldn't ask for more in a shop.

 

[Eric@Yotamasters]

Here is Socal_80's outer pinion bearing. No damage to the rollers, we had to cut the cage off to find the damage. Bad bearing.

Here is Mattafact's pinion bearing. Too much pinion preload did this.

 

[Parker Elements]

I'll jump in too... I just moved here from the east coast and bought my 80 about a month ago. I had an issue with it last weekend with what I thought was a bad transfer case issue. There was a lot of weird grinding/whining noise coming from the truck.

Dropped it off and they checked it over and told me that all was good. So while it was there I asked them to do some PM work for me. Not once did they try to upsell me on anything at all. As a matter of fact, I kinda found myself pushing work on them instead!

How rare something like this is nowadays. So far they have been nothing but upfront and totally honest. They will 100% have my business from here on out!

 

[Parker Elements]

Oh ... and when I dropped off my truck on Monday, there was a badass 40th Anniverary sitting over there. Whoever owns it...my hat's off to you. That is one heck of a clean rig...

 

[fjc8871]

Hey Parker, you found us!!

I have most of my parts from CO. My plan is drop off the rig @ yotamasters this week. If not then maybe next week.

 

[Parker Elements]

I'm picking mine up hopefully tomorrow night if I can get there on time. I ordered the PHH and firewall kit and Eric is installing it for me.

And here's another cool thing about these guys. I told Eric that I was going to be stuck down in Long Beach at the motorcycle show all day. He knows I've only driven this thing like 3 times since I bought it and that I'm jonesin' to get it back. He told me that if I couldn't make it back to the shop before they closed that he'd meet me over there in the morning (on his day off!) so I could pick it up.

Seriously - that's awesome service!

 

[DAILY80]

The best Shop in SO. Cal