'88 Toyota Pick-Up Questions

Two questions: I need to a new e-brake cable (snapped close to the pull
thingy), new front calipers, new front brake pads / shims / rotors /
repack wheel bearings, free up the pivots (?), and I think I need to
replace the brakes in the back, as well. Having never done a lick of
brake maintenance on a vehicle before, what are the chances my dad (who
has much more experience in this department) and I will be able to pull
it off?

Secondly, I've only had this truck for eight months and I love it (it's
only got 73K on it). Should I start making money hand-over-fist, is it
possible to add A/C to a vehicle that never had it? This baby's only
option is sliding rear windows...

Thanks,

mothy

In article <1150831801.654383.91390@b68g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
"mothy" <mothman@fritter.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
> Two questions: I need to a new e-brake cable (snapped close to the pull
> thingy), new front calipers, new front brake pads / shims / rotors /
> repack wheel bearings, free up the pivots (?), and I think I need to
> replace the brakes in the back, as well. Having never done a lick of
> brake maintenance on a vehicle before, what are the chances my dad (who
> has much more experience in this department) and I will be able to pull
> it off?
>[/color]

The brakes on those trucks are very easy to work on.
I have been fixing mine for 15 years.
It was the first thing I learned to fix on my 85 1ton.
Parts should be easy to get from brake supply shops.
Try to find an actual brake supply house.
They are usually a little cheaper than the regular car parts shops.

[color=blue]
> Secondly, I've only had this truck for eight months and I love it (it's
> only got 73K on it). Should I start making money hand-over-fist, is it
> possible to add A/C to a vehicle that never had it? This baby's only
> option is sliding rear windows...
>
> Thanks,
>
> mothy[/color]

It is possible by complicated.
You would have to see if you have the necessary wire harness in the
truck, if not it would have to be salvaged from another truck and
transplanted.
Check junk yards for the parts, but start by finding a factory manual on
eBay.

--
Welding Instructor - South Seattle Comm. Coll.
- Divers Institute of Technology
CWI/CWE
WABO Examiner

Thank you, Ernie. The truck used to be a delivery vehicle at a local
body shop, and it came with a factory manual (that, and a little piece
of paper in the ashtray with every tank of gas, oil change, and date
written down). Like I said: it has been love at first sight (even
though I'm getting rust along the bed panel seams...)

Thanks again,
mothy


Ernie Leimkuhler wrote:[color=blue]
> In article <1150831801.654383.91390@b68g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
> "mothy" <mothman@fritter.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
> > Two questions: I need to a new e-brake cable (snapped close to the pull
> > thingy), new front calipers, new front brake pads / shims / rotors /
> > repack wheel bearings, free up the pivots (?), and I think I need to
> > replace the brakes in the back, as well. Having never done a lick of
> > brake maintenance on a vehicle before, what are the chances my dad (who
> > has much more experience in this department) and I will be able to pull
> > it off?
> >[/color]
>
> The brakes on those trucks are very easy to work on.
> I have been fixing mine for 15 years.
> It was the first thing I learned to fix on my 85 1ton.
> Parts should be easy to get from brake supply shops.
> Try to find an actual brake supply house.
> They are usually a little cheaper than the regular car parts shops.
>
>[color=green]
> > Secondly, I've only had this truck for eight months and I love it (it's
> > only got 73K on it). Should I start making money hand-over-fist, is it
> > possible to add A/C to a vehicle that never had it? This baby's only
> > option is sliding rear windows...
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > mothy[/color]
>
> It is possible by complicated.
> You would have to see if you have the necessary wire harness in the
> truck, if not it would have to be salvaged from another truck and
> transplanted.
> Check junk yards for the parts, but start by finding a factory manual on
> eBay.
>
> --
> Welding Instructor - South Seattle Comm. Coll.
> - Divers Institute of Technology
> CWI/CWE
> WABO Examiner[/color]

"mothy" <mothman@fritter.com> wrote in message
news:1150831801.654383.91390@b68g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
> Two questions: I need to a new e-brake cable (snapped close to the pull
> thingy), new front calipers, new front brake pads / shims / rotors /
> repack wheel bearings, free up the pivots (?), and I think I need to
> replace the brakes in the back, as well. Having never done a lick of
> brake maintenance on a vehicle before, what are the chances my dad (who
> has much more experience in this department) and I will be able to pull
> it off?
>[/color]

Well, we don't know much about your dad, but a snowball has a better chance
in Hell than you've got. If you tackle this job, please stay in front of me
and my kids as we drive about town ...



[color=blue]
> Secondly, I've only had this truck for eight months and I love it (it's
> only got 73K on it). Should I start making money hand-over-fist, is it
> possible to add A/C to a vehicle that never had it? This baby's only
> option is sliding rear windows...
>
> Thanks,
>
> mothy
>[/color]
It might be possible for me, but the snowball has a better chance than you.

Seriously, you've hit us with what is probably the MOST IMPORTANT system on
any vehicle -- its brakes -- and a job at the top of the Complexity List --
adding AC to a vehicle that never had it --
and said you haven't a lick of mechanical experience. You have managed to
select two very difficult jobs to learn car maintenance.

In article <1150858620.028804.86690@y41g2000cwy.googlegroups.com>,
"mothy" <mothman@fritter.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
> Thank you, Ernie. The truck used to be a delivery vehicle at a local
> body shop, and it came with a factory manual (that, and a little piece
> of paper in the ashtray with every tank of gas, oil change, and date
> written down). Like I said: it has been love at first sight (even
> though I'm getting rust along the bed panel seams...)
>
> Thanks again,
> mothy
>[/color]

That rust is chronic in any state that salts their roads in Winter.
The beds on these trucks were not made in Japan.
They were made in the US and added to the trucks in California.
The 2 problems they have are the rusting side seams, and the spot weld
dimples on the outside of the rear wheel-wells.
The rust stopped on my 85 when I left Indiana.

[color=blue]
>
> Ernie Leimkuhler wrote:[color=green]
> > In article <1150831801.654383.91390@b68g2000cwa.googlegroups.com>,
> > "mothy" <mothman@fritter.com> wrote:
> >[color=darkred]
> > > Two questions: I need to a new e-brake cable (snapped close to the pull
> > > thingy), new front calipers, new front brake pads / shims / rotors /
> > > repack wheel bearings, free up the pivots (?), and I think I need to
> > > replace the brakes in the back, as well. Having never done a lick of
> > > brake maintenance on a vehicle before, what are the chances my dad (who
> > > has much more experience in this department) and I will be able to pull
> > > it off?
> > >[/color]
> >
> > The brakes on those trucks are very easy to work on.
> > I have been fixing mine for 15 years.
> > It was the first thing I learned to fix on my 85 1ton.
> > Parts should be easy to get from brake supply shops.
> > Try to find an actual brake supply house.
> > They are usually a little cheaper than the regular car parts shops.
> >
> >[color=darkred]
> > > Secondly, I've only had this truck for eight months and I love it (it's
> > > only got 73K on it). Should I start making money hand-over-fist, is it
> > > possible to add A/C to a vehicle that never had it? This baby's only
> > > option is sliding rear windows...
> > >
> > > Thanks,
> > >
> > > mothy[/color]
> >
> > It is possible by complicated.
> > You would have to see if you have the necessary wire harness in the
> > truck, if not it would have to be salvaged from another truck and
> > transplanted.
> > Check junk yards for the parts, but start by finding a factory manual on
> > eBay.
> >
> > --
> > Welding Instructor - South Seattle Comm. Coll.
> > - Divers Institute of Technology
> > CWI/CWE
> > WABO Examiner[/color][/color]

--
Welding Instructor - South Seattle Comm. Coll.
- Divers Institute of Technology
CWI/CWE
WABO Examiner

On 20 Jun 2006 12:30:01 -0700, "mothy" <mothman@fritter.com>
wrote:
[color=blue]
>Two questions: I need to a new e-brake cable (snapped close to the pull
>thingy), new front calipers, new front brake pads / shims / rotors /
>repack wheel bearings, free up the pivots (?), and I think I need to
>replace the brakes in the back, as well. Having never done a lick of
>brake maintenance on a vehicle before, what are the chances my dad (who
>has much more experience in this department) and I will be able to pull
>it off?[/color]


A digital camera, used to document the pre-dissassembly
configuration, can increase confidence a bunch! Use
liberally.
--
tbl

Your dad will easily be able to do the brakes if he has done any brakes
before. The fronts discs are easy on any vehicle and th rear drums easy
becasue they don't hafve the auto-adjusters found on cars. It helps to
have a couple good vise grips and eye protection for dealing with the
springs on the drum brakes, though. Also pay attention to which way the
adjsuters rotate to tighten the pads (on EACH SIDE).
[color=blue]
> The beds on these trucks were not made in Japan.
> They were made in the US and added to the trucks in California.
> The 2 problems they have are the rusting side seams, and the spot weld
> dimples on the outside of the rear wheel-wells.
> The rust stopped on my 85 when I left Indiana.
>[/color]

I don't know where the beds were made, but I don't think they were
assembled in CA. I live a 1/2 mile from the Fremont NUMMI factory where
they now assemble the trucks and I believe it wasn't even in operation
in 1985. I know that they didn't start assembling trucks there until
1993 because they announced it here when they did start. I bought a
late 92 before they switched to the US. All of the 92s (including my
late 92) have a "J"starting the VIN signifying they were assembled in
Japan.

I just had the front calipers, rotors, pads, shims and wheel bearings
replaced on my '88 Toyota pickup (original owner, 173K miles). I took
it in because it wasn't stopping straight when I stepped on the brakes,
and was told one of the calipers was completely seized up (I live near
the ocean). The local dealer did it, but had to order parts.

Mine was the most basic, stripped out model when I got it (didn't even
have a cigarette lighter). I had the dealer add factory air about a
year after I bought it new and it's worked great ever since. I
remember it wasn't outrageously expensive to have it added after the
fact. I would recommend the Toyota factory air setup instead of some
aftermarket brand, unless you get some strong unbiased recommendations
for something else. If your vent and A/C fan only works on the higher
setting, you'll need to replace the little resistor pack that controls
the fan speed when you have the A/C installed.

These trucks are pretty easy to work on. I'm no mechanic, but have
replaced body panels and done some minor repairs and accessory
installation over the years.

mothy wrote:[color=blue]
> Two questions: I need to a new e-brake cable (snapped close to the pull
> thingy), new front calipers, new front brake pads / shims / rotors /
> repack wheel bearings, free up the pivots (?), and I think I need to
> replace the brakes in the back, as well. Having never done a lick of
> brake maintenance on a vehicle before, what are the chances my dad (who
> has much more experience in this department) and I will be able to pull
> it off?
>
> Secondly, I've only had this truck for eight months and I love it (it's
> only got 73K on it). Should I start making money hand-over-fist, is it
> possible to add A/C to a vehicle that never had it? This baby's only
> option is sliding rear windows...
>
> Thanks,
>
> mothy[/color]