JDMcQ's Build Thread

jdmcq

Will pay to see Cmack get tased
I bought my 2003 Tacoma Double Cab brand new from Del Toyota in Thorndale, PA. I was on my way to have new tires installed on my 96 Ranger and decided to drive through the dealer lot. They had 2 DCs sitting there, a silver one and a red one. I sat there for a few minutes and thought about all of the money that the Ranger was going to cost me over the net year, new tires, trans rebuild, suspension work. It started to look expensive so on a whim I talked to a salesman. We took the silver truck for a drive and I loved it, except for the color. The only difference between the silver and red trucks was the silver had the towing package. The red truck looked so damn good and the numbers worked out so I signed on the dotted line. I did have to cal the tire dealer and explain to them why I would not be in for the tires that they ordered for me, they were quite understanding.

Here's the rest of the story:

Funny, I don't actually have any pics of my truck when it was stock, I did find a web photo of a similar truck:

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Along the way I added a tonneau cover, Sirius Radio, Hella driving fog lights and a Set of Helo 842s with 265/75/16 BFG Ats. No lift here, the tires rubbed a bit.

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As a quick fix, I added a set of 2" lift spacers from Fat Bobs Garage.

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Added a Grillcraft insert next. (truck sure was clean that day)

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After a while, the truck was starting to get a bit old and saggy. I decided that it was time to breathe some new life in to her, so I fired up the credit card and compressor and tore all of this crap out:

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And replaced it with this crap: New OME shocks, coils and leaf packs. Threw on some Total Chaos UCAs and extended brake lines. Wheelers Off Road hooked me up

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It took me all weekend:

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But, I got it done:

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The weekend after the suspension was installed I took it to Rausch Creek to try it out. Everything worked great, I could not be happier. After banging a couple of low hanging parts, I had some ideas for my next steps.

My fiance bought me sliders as an early Christmas present. Stubbs Welding, HDSKO. Much better than the steps, Not afraid to tear them off:

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jdmcq

Will pay to see Cmack get tased
For my 40th birthday, we got a set of Bud Built skids, front and middle. Also added an E-locker guard from Marlin Crawler.

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I also added a set of Wet Okole seat covers from the TW group buy. They add a little bit of padding and they have built in heaters.

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jdmcq

Will pay to see Cmack get tased
Took it out on the trail a few times. Everything works pretty well and flexes nicely. At full stuff the rear tires hit the fender flares (tore one up a little). It could use more ground clearance, but couldn't we all.

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jdmcq

Will pay to see Cmack get tased
Oh yeah, I forgot. Last weekend I waxed it and took it to the mall.

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jdmcq

Will pay to see Cmack get tased
It needs front brakes now. I am not happy with the EBC slotted rotors, they pulse a bit, probably slightly warped. I cannot decide if I will go back to stock style, Powerslot and Hawk Pads or try out the Tundra brake upgrade. Any suggestions?

Edit. I went with stock replacement rotors and Duralast Gold pads from Autozone. The slotted rotors didn't hold up real well and the Tundra brake upgrade was looking a little expensive. The Duralast pads brake quite good, but do create a fair amount of dust.

Something is banging around in the rear when flexing, maybe the leafs in the pack shifting about.
 
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AlienXtx

Nignog
Nice truck man, I don't think I have ever seen a pic of your truck in your "other" build thread...lol
No ideas on brakes for you, haven't done any research on 1st gens much, just shocks on my dads 96.
 

jdmcq

Will pay to see Cmack get tased
Nice truck man, I don't think I have ever seen a pic of your truck in your "other" build thread...lol
No ideas on brakes for you, haven't done any research on 1st gens much, just shocks on my dads 96.

Yeah, they yell at me over there when I talk about building the truck. And Thanks!
 

yotarob

Kiss My IFS
Nice man, I had some brembo rotors on my 1st gen back in the day, only used them for about a year before I sold the truck but I was pretty happy with them. Also in my experince the Toyota brake pads have always seemed to do me right.
 

Silverback

Lima Gulf Bravo Foxtrot Juliet Bravo
that sucks! I have the EBC slotted rotors on my Taco and they are great, no issues at all. As for options, not sure whats out there for 1st gens. The Tundra brake upgrade sounds like it might be the way to go, bigger rotors and calipers are always better. I wonder if you can put in a larger master cylinder.
 

jdmcq

Will pay to see Cmack get tased
NOT garage #2!

The EBC rotors sometimes wear unevenly due to the hub being slightly out of skew. They recommend having the rotors cut while on the truck, but I can't find anyone with the correct machine around here.
 

taco4x4rar

Well-Known Member
Get the tundra brakes, It is cheaper and works quite well.
 

taco4x4rar

Well-Known Member
NOT garage #2!

The EBC rotors sometimes wear unevenly due to the hub being slightly out of skew. They recommend having the rotors cut while on the truck, but I can't find anyone with the correct machine around here.

The hub should not be skewed at all or something else is wrong, I say try having the rotors turned in the typical fashion and see what happens worst case your out like 25 bucks for a shop to turn the rotors.
 

jdmcq

Will pay to see Cmack get tased
The hub should not be skewed at all or something else is wrong, I say try having the rotors turned in the typical fashion and see what happens worst case your out like 25 bucks for a shop to turn the rotors.

It's not really skewed. EBCs website says that the mounting surface mightnot be perfectly flat or something. It is apparently common with their product, they even have a video showing how to remedy it on their website.

The Tunndra brakes would cost me about the same as slotted Tacoma rotors with new pads, by the time I bought, pads, rotors and calipers.
 
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