Build What did you do to your Land Cruiser/Toyota/Lexus 4X4 this week?

[Stepmurr]

Spent Thursday night in Bulldog Canyon one mile in from the Wolverine entrance.

Friday morning I drove FR1356 out to Dutchman entrance and drive the Northern leg of FR3512.

I always thought that Bulldog Canyon was pretty tame, but I had never driven this route before. I actually had both front and rear lockers on to climb one hill on FR3512.

Then I hightailed it up to the Coconino forest to escape this weekend’s heat.

FR609 Coconino forest

 

[splitshot]

I see pic's like that and say "Soon".

Got the spindles free today and off for press work tomorrow. Also looked at the messed up angle on the UBJ's, cant afford the camberg's but
going to get some upper control arm's rolling this way while it's all torn down.

 

[splitshot]

The UCA's arrived yesterday! Problem is, there were 2 passenger side arms in the box

Maybe if I flip it upside down..

Right side is done, vendor is expediting the driver's side.

 

[splitshot]

I like this look over the plastic hubcaps.

 

[medtro]

I like this look over the plastic hubcaps.
View attachment 3326136

Is this another way of saying hubcabs don't fit?

 

[splitshot]

Is this another way of saying hubcabs don't fit?

You know, I didn't even think about that until now, and only for a split second.

 

[splitshot]

Woohoo, I have 4wd again! First trip is down for an alignment this next week.

 

[06reg4x4]

Took the lx450 out to bulldog canyon for a bit to show my big bro from Maryland things I love about az.

 

[Grimmjow]

Installed some goodies I snagged from a visit to Delta while in Boise, ID last week and a Trail Gear Rock Defense Bumper. Now I just need to find someone to fab a rear tire carrier that can attach to it.

Think the kids might miss their ashtray's in the back, and needless to say I'll be posting up original rear bumper parts and mud flaps to the classified section soon.

 

[splitshot]

Just a dumb question, are those historic plates the only "Stamped" plates left as an option?

 

[Grimmjow]

Just a dumb question, are those historic plates the only "Stamped" plates left as an option?

No idea, maybe check the AZDOT site? I got them 4 years ago so don't know what they currently offer.

Edit: I didn't see the historic plates on the site, but you can get a digital one (RPlate Digital License Plate | Reviver - https://reviver.com/rplate/) for $24.99 a month

 

[Stepmurr]

Fixed my Taco alignment at home. Drives great now.

Drove up to Blue Jay Peak to camp for the weekend.

View from Hurricane Pass road

Camped at 8200 foot elevation

 

[medtro]

Fixed my Taco alignment at home. Drives great now.

I thought you have lifetime alignment from some shop.

 

[Stepmurr]

I thought you have lifetime alignment from some shop.

You are correct, I have lifetime alignment with Firestone.

Unfortunately, I am at the mercy of the technicians currently working at Firestone.

In this post I was anticipating a nice driving truck after replacing the front coilovers and lower control arms. Instead the Firestone techs totally screwed up the alignment and sent me on my way. They actually told me that the truck would drive straight as long as I forced the steering to the left. What idiots they were and what an idiot I was for accepting that.

Build - What did you do to your Land Cruiser/Toyota/Lexus 4X4 this week?

I never paid any attention to alignments before, but having a dangerously undriveable truck made me do the research.

The “after” specs showed a 1 degree
Cross-caster that was 2 times Toyota’s specification and was always forcing the truck off to the right. I should have questioned them on this but my ignorance about alignments made me accept their bogus story.

I internet learned how to align the Taco and fixed the insufficient passenger side caster myself.

I’ll probably go back to a different Firestone and have them double check, but so far the Taco drives great (and straight) and no obvious tire wear issues.

 

[medtro]

They actually told me that the truck would drive straight as long as I forced the steering to the left. What idiots they were and what an idiot I was for accepting that.

I would ask for my $200 back.

 

[Stepmurr]

I would ask for my $200 back.

I paid $140 back in 2008 and am used to changing Firestone shops when they screw up the alignment.

This is the first time it was so bad that I actually had to learn what an alignment does and what is optimum for a Taco.

I’m a little over 3 degrees caster on each side with the passenger a little more than the driver side.

My cross caster is now about 0.05 degrees.

Truck drives straight on a perfectly flat road now with no hands on the steering wheel.

Before with the passenger a whole degree less than the driver it would drive itself into the side bar ditch unless I held the steering wheel to the left.

 

[splitshot]

You are correct, I have lifetime alignment with Firestone.

Unfortunately, I am at the mercy of the technicians currently working at Firestone.

In this post I was anticipating a nice driving truck after replacing the front coilovers and lower control arms. Instead the Firestone techs totally screwed up the alignment and sent me on my way. They actually told me that the truck would drive straight as long as I forced the steering to the left. What idiots they were and what an idiot I was for accepting that.

Build - What did you do to your Land Cruiser/Toyota/Lexus 4X4 this week?

I never paid any attention to alignments before, but having a dangerously undriveable truck made me do the research.

The “after” specs showed a 1 degree
Cross-caster that was 2 times Toyota’s specification and was always forcing the truck off to the right. I should have questioned them on this but my ignorance about alignments made me accept their bogus story.

I internet learned how to align the Taco and fixed the insufficient passenger side caster myself.

I’ll probably go back to a different Firestone and have them double check, but so far the Taco drives great (and straight) and no obvious tire wear issues.

I just used the Firestone on Tangerine and Thornydale. When I called to make the appointment, I was told I should choose Wednesday thru Friday, as the best tech was in on those days. I was happy for that information.

 

[Stepmurr]

I just used the Firestone on Tangerine and Thornydale. When I called to make the appointment, I was told I should choose Wednesday thru Friday, as the best tech was in on those days. I was happy for that information.

I’ll have to try that shop. I started out with the one on Ina, but after two failed alignments I switched to the one at Tucson Mall. They always did a great job on the Taco and the FJ40 because the alignment dude owned J@@ps and lifted Ford pickups and understood alignments. He isn’t there any more and the two guys that worked on the Taco were in over their heads. They spent an hour and a half on something that should have taken 20 minutes.

 

[AZdan]

Nice photos Steve. Last weekend we tried to go past Ft Grant up to Grant creek, but the gate was locked at Ft Grant. A few years ago I was able to drive up the creek and even caught a few trout in the creek. This time we ended up driving over to the east side of the Galiuro Wilderness off of FR 253 and camping for the night. The wilderness sign needs to be refreshed. It's blistered from the sun.

 

[Just Diddly]

Tore out my ABS/LSPV on Monday and yesterday I dropped the 80 off at Higgy's for the installation of my new 4.56 gears, ARB Air Lockers, and twin compressor! Now I just need to get my hands on a 20-Ton shop press so I can install my new lower range Sumo Gears & refresh the rest of my transfer case and I am ready for whatever summer adventures come my way.