Order of Repairs

[C6H12O6]

In preparation for our road trip to Montana this summer, I'm getting the list of PM/Repairs I need to do before our trip. School's out for teachers on Friday, so I'll have a few weeks of down-time if I need it. No major off-roading planned for this trip, but a lot of dirt and gravel back roads. Here is the list in the order of importance I'm thinking. Anybody have an compelling reasons to shuffle the list?

1. Rear Brakes ~ at about 10% right now, and they sound pretty bad when I brake in reverse, so probably the first on the list.

2. Fluid Baseline ~ Oil was just changed, but I'll probably put M1 in before the trip, along with fresh F & R Diff, Tranny, Coolant Flush, etc.

3. PHH ~ I don't know if it has been done, but with 165K miles, I bet it's ready again anyway.

4. Exhaust Leak at manifold ~ mechanic when I bought it said it was a small leak at the manifold gasket. Not a huge deal, but the rhythmic noise of exhaust leaks drive me nuts.

5. Rear u-joint ~ mechanic said the rear u-joint was pretty sloppy, and it does clunk a little every once and a while when shifting from R to D. Low on the list 'cause it doesn't seem that bad and it looks like it would be a pain in the @ss.


I still need to pick up the FSM before I start the major stuff. I was able to pull the sunroof windsheild and clear the drains without it, but I'll wait for the brakes and u-joint. Anybody have an old 1995 FSM they want to get rid of?

 

[Rich]

Unrepaired exhuast manifold leaks can erode the head and the manifold. If you are going to fix it, fix it soon.

 

[IdahoDoug]

I'd get the drive shafts lubed - buy a $20 hand lube gun with a flexible hose tip, and a $3 tube of grease and do it yourself. Likely stop the clunk in its tracks. Be sure to do a search on drive shaft greasing.

Skip the $90 tranny flush and simply open the tranny drain when it's just been driven. Buy a $5 tranny funnel (has long tube for tranny filling via dipstick) and a half dozen quarts of tranny fluid for $10 and refill with fresh. Consult the FSM for proper amount to put back in for a 95-97 tranny (different from 93/4).

A new air filter will pay for itself on MPG on this trip alone. Be sure to search on how to avoid cracking your rubber intake tube (remove it at both ends vs yanking the lid up on the air cleaner, basically).

Skip the M1 oil if the oil's just been changed - freeway driving's super easy on oil.

Change the PHH and flush the block (see drain location in FSM), and backflush the rear heater hoses (search). When you're convinced there's nothing left in your cooling system but water, refill with Toyota Red coolant and distilled water.

Bleed the brakes.

New wiper inserts are nice on a long trip (Toyota sells just the rubber inserts for cheap, and Consumer Reports rated them the best).

If they're in season, stop for gas at Exit 93 (I think)/ St Regis, MT and buy some of the best cherries you've ever had in your life.

Have fun!

DougM