Builds DRANGED's GX470 build/ownership thread (26 Viewers)

[DRANGED]

Great to see another GX on air bags. Thanks for posting the how to.

Auto-levelling when fully-loaded, and still gain 1.6" lift in 4LO when crawling! No-brainer!
I'm still basically stock (save 0.75" strut-top leveler in front, and 0/25" spacer for rear=0/5" rear lift)), so makes the most sense for my use case.
I'm still inspired by the Expo 470 and will go that direction if/when I cough up for front struts (Dobinsons).

I've read through a couple write-up on that 470 and understand dialing the rear was tricky with a custom spacer and fiddling with the airbag sensors...
" The rear suspension took some work to incorporate a lift using the factory airbags, including configuring a custom spacer and adjusting the height sensors. The rear BP-51s are long travel, so spacing the bags is critical to prevent damage at full extension."

Keep on keepin' on!!

 

[Timujin]

We are on the same page collecting take off air bags like Smeegle.

I have a 1.5” spacer and 2” spacer to fiddle with soon.

 

[DRANGED]

Bought bits for a front end refresh!

outer tie rods:
LCAs
555 upper ball joints:
UCAs:
*UCAs started with with 2019 Taco ake-off hoping I'd use the arms once Taco ball joints out... ended up being a no-go on that 'money saver' parts on-hand idea)
KDSS bushings, front outer:
KDSS bushings, front inner:
KDSS bushings, rear:
inner CV seal (diff):
Pass CV (ordered 2 years ago awaiting the proper time): PartSouq.com 4343060061 $474.40
outer CV seal (spindle)
Toyota front wheel bearing
oil seal:
Car Quest hubs:
Bilstein 5100s (for use with on-hand '06 Tundra TRD OR soils):

outer tie rods:	45046-39505	58.34	mylparts.com
LCAs Lt	48069-60020	462.23	mylparts.com
LCAs Rt	48068-60020	462.23	mylparts.com
555 upper ball joints:	SUS43310	30.5	cruiserteq
UCAs: Rt	DELPHI TC3325	133	rockauto.com
UCAs: Lt	DELPHI TC3324	133	rockauto.com
KDSS bushings, front outer:	BSK74089PR	9.11x2	rockauto.com
KDSS bushings, front inner:	TD5629W	7.67x2	rockauto.com
KDSS bushings, rear:	TD5630W	10.26x2	rockauto.com
inner CV seal (diff):	SLS710573	30.49x2	Car Quest
Pass CV (ordered 2 years ago awaiting the proper time):	4343060061	474.4	PartSouq.com
outer CV seal (spindle)	90311-47027​	16.18	mylparts.com
Toyota front wheel bearing	43570-60011​	190.11	mylparts.com
oil seal:	90312-96001	16.18	mylparts.com
Car Quest hubs:	BRG 930-403	47.49x2	Car Quest
Bilstein 5100s (for use with on-hand '06 Tundra TRD OR soils):	Bilstein 24-324359	160	exitoffroad.com
Dobinson's tophats	Dobinsons Strut Top Plates Pair | Tacoma 05-23 4Runner 03-24 FJ Cruiser GX470 GX460	102	exitoffroad.com

 

[DRANGED]

Notes to self [and y'all] about some scavenged Toyota springs and unknown spring rates....

These are as follows left to right:
gen 1 Tundra Lt (06 crew cab, TRD OR 4x4), 2019 Taco TRD OR center, GX 470 rt

Lexus GX 470 take-offs: 17mm coil diameter
grey/grey and blue

2019 Taco TRD OR: 18.5mm coil diameter
red/blue(maybe grey) and red/green

1st gen Tundra (2006? TRD OR crew cab 4x4): 18.15 coil diameter
Driver 14.75" tall
Pass 14.5" tall

 

[DRANGED]

Tundy coils a scosh overall wider but they'll seat on lower spring perch and upper tophat okay...

lower spring perch:
GX-Taco-Tundy

Tuphat (Hmm, those Dobinson's tophats look tall like Taco....)
GX-Taco-Tundy

 

[DRANGED]

Shock body diameters
GX-'19 Taco TRD OR-Bilstein 5100 (B*-324359)

 

[DRANGED]

Way nicer to use this style compressor than the Janky parts store loaners!!!!

 

[GXO]

I still hate those compressors. Unless it is a wall mount unit I don't even bother and head to the local shop. Scary!

 

[Rednexus]

TBH I've never had a problem with the threaded spring compressors. I put the shock/strut in a bench vice and use a $40 set of OEMTOOLS compressors from to compress the spring and let off the tension with my M18 impact. I've probably used it on at least a dozen struts/shocks.

 

[DRANGED]

So, I've kind of exhausted the strut talk, LOL.

What I should update with is the rest of the job.
*sigh*
Turns out...it doesn't matter how pre-prepped I think I am, I'm wrong
I got LCAs, bearings, inner hub seal, outer tie rods from online Lexus parts distributors; three-5 upper ball joints to press into my UCAs
I only started tearing into it last Friday, but by Saturday evening I started running into the unpredicted details. I'd planned to have things up for a trip to Denver this coming weekend. . .

When I got into the job:
1. yes even a desert rig, my front alignment cam kits were siezed...had to cut them out.
2. I didn't look deeply enough on ordering parts that the hub is pressed onto the bearing so I had to get hubs (Car Quest next day), then 'the' shop option in town wouldn't touch the hub-bearing job and recommended buying assembled hubs to bolt in
3. 'the' shop option wrecked the taco ball joints coming out and wouldn't press the three-5 ball joints in, said they looked different and didn't think they'd work and the press kits I have access to are inadequate for this ball joint job.

So:
1. I have Lexus bearings and Dorman hubs and the hub seal (nut not O ring) and 'the' shop won't do the job.... I can check one other shop or this janky outfit a friend told me about. I could get built hub assemblies from toyotahubsandbearings but that's still several days out and NAPA has limited lifetime warranty (Dormans) assembled hubs on the shelf but don't know what bearing is in them. so difference of several more days or parts in hand today.
2. I still need UCAs with ball joints (I like the moog problem solver idea, and rock auto is out of the Lt SPC knock-off for $196 but the right is in stock), so seeing what NAPA and Car Quest have or can get (so that's still another day or few)
3. I now need to get an inner hub seal for the CV-knuckle
4. I got off the shelf alignment kit from Car Quest. It's not Toyota parts, which I ordered a new kit from PartSouq on Monday) BUT they're in-hand right now.
5. need to assemble the other B8 5100-Tunrda strut.
6. I should get an inner CV oil seal for the front diff side, then install the CV joint.
7. this isn't going to be back together for my trip to Denver on Saturday.

BUT, it'll be back together for Baja in December but it will likely not be the full set of Toyota/Lexus parts I wanted in there...

 

[DRANGED]

TBH I've never had a problem with the threaded spring compressors. I put the shock/strut in a bench vice and use a $40 set of OEMTOOLS compressors from to compress the spring and let off the tension with my M18 impact. I've probably used it on at least a dozen struts/shocks.

Bah! Hahaha!
@Rednexus

The Bilstein instructions specifically say, "don't put these in a vise."

And those compressors you like are specifically the ones I'm avoiding with these truck springs!

They were fine+ish with Subaru coils...ish.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

So, I've kind of exhausted the strut talk, LOL.

What I should update with is the rest of the job.
*sigh*
Turns out...it doesn't matter how pre-prepped I think I am, I'm wrong
I got LCAs, bearings, inner hub seal, outer tie rods from online Lexus parts distributors; three-5 upper ball joints to press into my UCAs
I only started tearing into it last Friday, but by Saturday evening I started running into the unpredicted details. I'd planned to have things up for a trip to Denver this coming weekend. . .

When I got into the job:
1. yes even a desert rig, my front alignment cam kits were siezed...had to cut them out.
2. I didn't look deeply enough on ordering parts that the hub is pressed onto the bearing so I had to get hubs (Car Quest next day), then 'the' shop option in town wouldn't touch the hub-bearing job and recommended buying assembled hubs to bolt in
3. 'the' shop option wrecked the taco ball joints coming out and wouldn't press the three-5 ball joints in, said they looked different and didn't think they'd work and the press kits I have access to are inadequate for this ball joint job.
View attachment 3781096

So:
1. I have Lexus bearings and Dorman hubs and the hub seal (nut not O ring) and 'the' shop won't do the job.... I can check one other shop or this janky outfit a friend told me about. I could get built hub assemblies from toyotahubsandbearings but that's still several days out and NAPA has limited lifetime warranty (Dormans) assembled hubs on the shelf but don't know what bearing is in them. so difference of several more days or parts in hand today.
2. I still need UCAs with ball joints (I like the moog problem solver idea, and rock auto is out of the Lt SPC knock-off for $196 but the right is in stock), so seeing what NAPA and Car Quest have or can get (so that's still another day or few)
3. I now need to get an inner hub seal for the CV-knuckle
4. I got off the shelf alignment kit from Car Quest. It's not Toyota parts, which I ordered a new kit from PartSouq on Monday) BUT they're in-hand right now.
5. need to assemble the other B8 5100-Tunrda strut.
6. I should get an inner CV oil seal for the front diff side, then install the CV joint.
7. this isn't going to be back together for my trip to Denver on Saturday.

BUT, it'll be back together for Baja in December but it will likely not be the full set of Toyota/Lexus parts I wanted in there...

Wow…sounds like you gonna be busy.

I’m not as handy as you, so I don’t run into some of these pressing issues!

I’m surprised about your seized cams. What kit you had that seized?

I have the TacoTabs and I’ve been wondering if their cam bolts will seize too or not.

And how far into Baja are you going? Ive been to Baja (Tijuana, Rosarito, Valle de Guadalupe, Ensenada, Puerto Nuevo, San Quintín, Cataviña, Bahía de Los Ángeles, SAN Felipe) a few times in my lifetime.

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Shock body diameters
GX-'19 Taco TRD OR-Bilstein 5100 (B*-324359)
View attachment 3778548 View attachment 3778549View attachment 3778550 View attachment 3778551View attachment 3778553 View attachment 3778554

I know you didn’t include the 6112s, but they are 2.6” thick and the bottom rod is way beefier than on the 5100.

I had a picture of someone measuring it with a caliper like you did on the 5100.

Edit: Found the pictures for comparison purposes…

 

[DRANGED]

Wow…sounds like you gonna be busy.

I’m not as handy as you, so I don’t run into some of these pressing issues!

I’m surprised about your seized cams. What kit you had that seized?

I have the TacoTabs and I’ve been wondering if their cam bolts will seize too or not.

And how far into Baja are you going? Ive been to Baja (Tijuana, Rosarito, Valle de Guadalupe, Ensenada, Puerto Nuevo, San Quintín, Cataviña, Bahía de Los Ángeles, SAN Felipe) a few times in my lifetime.

@HomersCanyonero
Bah!
Good one, 'pressing issues', ha!
They are pressing (time sensitive) now aren't they‽

The alignment bolts are stock. It's just the design, steel bolt tightly fitted inside a steel sleeve (rear) and a sleeving design for the camping mechanism (front). Moisture can get in there and rust, basically chemically bonding the bits together.

BAJA! I'll PM you on this one as I recall you prepping for a Baja trip a few years ago (I've been trying to locate that trip report write-up )

Unsure on details but mid-peninsula and entering via AZ staying in the Sea of Cortez side I think. 10-14 days total travel time. Ensenada and Bahía de Los Ángeles sound familiar. . . .

 

[HomersCanyonero]

Got it on the factory cam bolts seizing to the metal sleeve. I’ve seen YouTube videos on this. I wonder if that’s gonna happen with the TacoTabs cam bolts.

On Baja, yeah hit me up when you are ready.

I just went to vacation in Puerto Vallarta (flew in) which is in the mainland pacific side. The exchange rate is very favorable right now like MX$20 per US$1. Exchange your money at a “casa de cambio” = money exchange at the border in either side.

Shops and restaurants had horrible exchange rates as low as MX$13 to US$1, so carry Mexican pesos and use your credit card when possible (best exchange rate but some places charge a credit card fee, but still not bad compared to some of the ridiculous exchange rates at retailers).

Unfortunately, very few places in small towns take credit cards.

 

[Rednexus]

I liberally greased my cam tabs in anti sieze when I redid my front end in 2021. Might pull it apart and re-apply next time I'm under there.

 

[DRANGED]

Alright, I got the hubs pressed into the Toyota bearings

BIG shout out to Rich a new mobile mechanic in Moab!!! When in Moab, hit him up for repairs and i guess even some trail recovery work.

But!
While employing the 'ballistics-shield' creeper while hanging off the 20 ton shop press handle to seat those 555s into the UCA... NO-GO!!!
The 555 upper ball joints did NOT fit into the 2019 Taco UCAs....
So there's something more than just the shaft taper and length difference across those ball joints.
(Don't ask why we didn't caliper the 555 vs the taco UCA opening first )

*EDIT*
Mic'd, the diameter of the taco ball joint is 1mm less than the 555 spec'd ball joint for the GX 470...
So there's yer answer!

As such, Back to rock auto for some loaded GX UCAs.

And another week down.

 

[DRANGED]

outer tie rods swapped, Pass innser CV seal swapped and CV installed, LCAs ready to go on with new Toyota alignment kits (to be anti-sieze gooped)

5100 loaded with Tundra coils.

Hmm, I just noticed the on the GX strut take-offs, Driver side coil has fewer winds than the passenger side that I pulled out of the GX!
Interesting!!! I need to recaliper everything now for driver vs passenger!! LOL

 

[Augustiron]

I didn't see it listed, what LCAs did you go with?

I need to do Lower and uppers on my 04 with existing 2.5" eibach lift...

 

[Rednexus]

Bah! Hahaha!
@Rednexus

The Bilstein instructions specifically say, "don't put these in a vise."

And those compressors you like are specifically the ones I'm avoiding with these truck springs!

They were fine+ish with Subaru coils...ish.

Instructions.....meh . No vice, no impact? No fun! You'd really love how I disassemble struts....lay them on the ground, pointing away from me, and zip off the top nut with my M18 impact, then watch the spring and shock shoot across the garage floor . Learned that trick from watching a guy at a salvage yard work.

But in all seriousness, if you were to clamp down on the truck body, yes it would destroy it. There are other places you can more easily hold them.

TBH, after thinking about it some more, I may have never used the compressors on a truck spring. Just multiple Subie springs and other passenger car springs. My GX had prebuilt front coils, so did my buddy's Tundra. Either way, never had a problem with them and I'd use them again.