Tech and Fabrication

If you want to change, modify, fabricate or maintain your rig you should find it here.

Tire Balance

Posted on August 28th, 2011

By Tony K

If you wheel anything like I do, knocking off wheel weights in the  rocks seems to be a common occurrence.  Or maybe I am just unlucky that way.  By the time I replaced my last set of tires I don’t think I had a single weight left on any of the rims.  Read more...

Brakes and Lift Kits

Posted on August 28th, 2011

By Tony K

Anybody who has driven a 60 knows the brakes are not very good.  But part of the problem is actually self induced.  It has to do with one of the components in the brake system on our wagons.  At some point in your messing around with wagons you will come across the following, LSP&BV.  This is short for Load sensing, proportioning and bypass valve.  What this thing does is tell the brakes what to do when you slam on them and lets them know how loaded your rig is.  In the most basic sense it is a mechanical anti-lock braking system.  Pretty smart on Toyota’s part if you think about it.  Read more...

Mechanical Oil Pressure Gauge

Posted on August 27th, 2011

By Tony K

Some really low readings on the stock gauge in my BJ got me worried and made me wonder about the accuracy of the factory gauge.  I had heard about the questionable nature of the stock gauge and this was reinforced by several mechanics that I work with.  They all said you can’t trust the electronic oil gauge.  My feeling is that most factory gauges are just idiot lights with arms…   The only way to be sure about the pressure is to check it with a mechanical gauge.  And what I found somewhat funny is that in the Factory Service Manual even Toyota says to hook up a mechanical gauge to find out what the pressure is.  Read more...

Rear Diff Pinion Seal

Posted on August 21st, 2011

By Tony K

This one tends to come up often as our rigs age and get more and more miles on them.  Toyota has a specific way they want this replaced but it involves more money and tools than just a new seal.  Read more...

Motor Oil

Posted on August 20th, 2011

By Tony K

Learned more about motor oil in the last few days that I ever really wanted to know.   What I was really trying to find out was, what oil should I run in my motor, how often should it need to be changed, can I improve the performance of the lubrication system, etc.  Some of my questions got answered and some just created more questions.  If you thought oil was simple, think again.  Hopefully this will give you a basic understanding of that slippery stuff you dump into your engine.  Read more...

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