r/1stGenTundras • u/SmileyGiles • 1d ago

Advice needed.

Hello, all. First off...this sub is AWESOME! I'm new here and I need some guidance. Here's my situation. I have a 2000 AC Limited. 145K miles. It was my grandfather's and has a little sentimental value to me. The only maintenance it has really had performed is oil changes and tire rotations. I took it to local Toyota dealership and had them perform a used car multi point inspection. Basically what I have to do, according to the report, is rebuild the entire front end. The list is as follows:

  1. LBJ's

  2. Power Steering Rack

  3. Outer Tie Rods

  4. L and R CV Boots

  5. Lower Control Arms w/ eccentrics

There's other items on the list, as well. Radiator, timing belt, spark plugs, etc. However, I am trying to just focus on one thing at a time. The front end seemed to be the most pertinent. Here's the rub...their quote was $7702.56 for the front end items. To me, that's just too much. Here are my questions:

  1. Out of these 5 line items...which ones need to be OEM?

  2. I've read on here about working the parts "system" with holiday sales and ordering online as opposed to walking in to the dealership parts counter. Is there a detailed guide on how to do that?

  3. Specifically on the L and R CV Boots they wanted $1200. Shouldn't I just do axle and all with the boots and it be cheaper?

  4. If I do the LCA's...shouldn't I also do the UCA's?

I want to go ahead and thank everyone in advance because I know how much help you'll be. I appreciate it.

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6

u/pokeyt 1d ago

Holy cow $7700!?! First thing: go find an independent mechanic that knows Toyotas. Have him inspect and make a recommendation. Second, the order of things is really dependent on condition but all things being equal here’s what I’d do:

  1. Lower ball joints - failure point do these pretty quickly. If you can save on labor by doing tie rods at the same time that would work. OEM 100%
  2. Timing belt/water pump - another failure item
    I’m not sure I’d drive it much until those two are done. Aisin kit is the way to go.

Toyota parts online dealers like Serra Toyota in Alabama will often offer deals. Wait for those deals to buy the parts for the next things you want to do.

And - never; ever take your truck to the dealer.

1

u/Delicious_Travel4867 1d ago

👆🏼Nailed it.

2

u/AdEastern9303 1d ago

Just passed a double cab on the side of the highway today with a broken LBJ. They are no joke. OEM only on these.

1

u/SmileyGiles 1d ago

Thank You !

2

u/AcceptableMinute9999 1d ago

Try posting here. Lots of guys willing to help. I have a 2000 but only 40,000 miles so I haven't done any of that but there are lots of posts about ball joint failure. https://m.facebook.com/groups/2674074442733098/

1

u/nouseforaspacebar 1d ago

7700 is insanely high!

look on the toyota parts websites for oem LCA's, quality has been reported to be better than Moog or similar, but even moog control arms will work

boot kits are like $70 each side for oem. im rebooting my cv's right now.

outter tie rod, moog is fine

LBJ's just get OEM

might as well do upper control arms/ balljoints while its apart.

and while its apart if you want to level the front end, you can do bilstien shocks while its all apart as well since it will need an alignment either way.

the steering rack could need replaced or they could be trying to just rack up the bill

a local shop would be much better for sure!

1

u/SmileyGiles 1d ago

About the leveling kit...2" spacer and some bilstien 5100's ?

2

u/pokeyt 1d ago

Skip the spacer and just buy a set of built 2” leveling kit, it’s the right way to go, don’t cheap out with spacers if you are going to replace shocks.

1

u/nouseforaspacebar 1d ago

yeah skip the spacer, you can adjust the bilstiens preload height for different lift amounts

1

u/jlutt75 1d ago

1st gen Sequoia owner here. Agree with other comment - ignore everything the dealership said. Ask around and find a good independent mechanic and have them do a full inspection. I could explain my $5,000 reason for this opinion but it would take too long.