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Objective: Install urethane subframe bushings, delrin control arm bushings (8) and have diff freshened and the Trac-loc replaced with a Torsen T2.

Components purchased so far (1/2/05): MM urethane subrame bushings, 14mm IRS bolts (surprise), 'gt40 made' delrin control arm bushings, big damn tub of silicone grease from Energy Suspension, Torsen T2, diff master rebuilt kit, IRS specific carrier bearings (surprise, apparently they are different for an IRS), MM urethane spring isolators, 03/04 Heavy Duty Diff. brace.

Also replaced: fuel filter, spark plugs, rear rotors (OEM stock replacements from TireRack) and pads (Hawk HPS).


Project Begins	Subframe out, burning out rubber bushings on the sidewalk

bits and pieces	rubber bushing removed, bits of leftover melted rubber removed from burning out bushing, need to sand out steel sleeve to accept urethane bushings

all rubber bushings removed	urethane bushing installed

all urethane bushings installed	recieved the diff back from Earl. Subrame and diff installed back into the car 12/??/04

subframe and diff back in the car for the first time.	subframe and diff back in the car, for the first time.

Earl installed a drain plug in the bottom of diff to help facilitate easy fluid changes.	IRS Bushings
Lower Control Arms

LCA	LCA rubber bushings, use a drill bit to walk the rubber bushing out to the point where eventually you can knock it out with a hammer and punch.

Rubber bushings out.	LCA, rubber bushing out, need to finish cleaning out rubber and start sanding steel sleeve to accept delrin bushing

LCA sandblasted	LCA cleaned up

LCA delrin bushing installed	LCA, binding needs work
Upper Control Arms

UCA rubber bushings	UCA rubber bushings

UCA rubber bushings	UCA rubber bushings

UCA rubber bushing removed	UCA delrin bushing installed

subrame back out of car, UCA delrin rubbing on ears, needs work	needs work

UCA back in, no bind	UCA back in, no bind... yes that is a broken bolt, I'm a moron.

UCA, now shimmed using standard washers and bearing washers	Both UCA bushings shimmed, new Grade 10.9 bolt from Tacoma Screw to replace broken bolt above.

LCA, delrin bushing shimmed.	Installed 03 IRS Diff. brace

03+ Diff. brace	Subframe ready to go back in.

Half Shafts installed and spindle bolted to UCA/LCA. Note: I had marked the UCA and the camber washer and resinstalled them in the same orientation.	subframe back in the car, this time it was went smoothly, practice makes perfect, I am re-connecting the drive-shaft.

Ready to install springs.	I had intended to use an internal spring compressor I bought at Harbor Freight. This little bastard broke when the 800+ lb spring was fully compressed, luckily no-one and nothing was hurt or damaged.

Dangerous combination I guess, I had compressed springs before using this set-up with no problems.	I ended up undoing the rear subframe bolts, lowering the rear subframe, installing the springs and then lifting (using floor jack) the subframe back into place and tightening everything back up. I installed new urethane spring isolators to replace the totally shot OEM originals.

Ready for rear brakes	New OEM Brembo Rotors and Hawk HPS pads ready for installation.

Brakes installed, and ready to be bled.	Here is a snap of the shop area behind my car.

Ready for a test drive...	Back from the test drive, the rear sits a little higher now due to the brand new spring isolators.

Driving Impressions (1/2/05): First test drive: I noticed an immediate improvement in how the rear end responds. I applied 'extra' throttle out of a right turn in first gear, the wheel-hop appears to be totally gone. Shifted to second, and still no wheel hop, the rear end was much more receptive to a slight correction without having to back off. It was a cold day (34*F) so I was trying not to overdo it. Later that day my wife and took the car shopping for baby furniture... the first thing we noticed is far too much 'bounce' at freeway speeds. I was able to dial the rear HAL shocks back down to level 3 and eliminate 92?% of the 'bounciness'. Before I tried level 3, I tried additional dampening at level 8 and quickly realized that this would be a 'track only' setting.

During the days testing / driving I also noticed an additional amount of noise/vibration from the rear of the car, not annoying just different. I see no noticeable degradation in overall ride quality but did notice that going over bumps and road turtles was 'louder' than before (similar to the Griggs sever duty CA with hiem joints up front). I also noticed a definite change in how the car reacts mid corner, it is a little difficult to explain (for me anyway) but I definitely notice and improvement / change in how easy the tracks and accelerates in a long sweeper (like an on-ramp).

My thoughts are scattered, if anyone that helped has anything they think I should add, let me know.

If you have specific questions about the install or driving impressions let me know and I will try and address those as well.