Yea dude, ive literally lagged it like three months haha. For sure, gonna be a few weeks though, midterms and shit coming up!

So i was driving on the freeway about a week ago and like a dumbass i decided i wanted to drive through some puddles on the side bank (right side). I guess the rain really softened up the dirt along the asphalt so i had some wheel spin as i went through it. No real loss of control but it was pretty stupid of me.

Later that day and the following there was a strong burning rubber smell coming from the RR wheel well, and i checked for any gear oil spattering or anything stuck to the muffler and i didn't see anything. After those two days i didnt really smell much, but then 2 nights ago coming back from a late dinner i smelled it again (not as strong) after getting off the freeway. It seems there is a FAINT smell now after going highway speeds but not around city driving.

I searched and searched here and on YT, and people were mentioning the valve cover gasket being loose (even thought there was no smell in the engine bay), so i tried my best to tighten the 4 outer bolts on each side. I'm hoping that some crap in the runoff water or road grime stuck to my muffler and was just burning up. I haven't had time to pull the wheel and drum off but im definitely doing that this weekend..

Also i was posing my car with my roommates for a friends film project and something else creeped me out. I was on a decline in a parking lot and there was a sound (not sure where, but it was from the passenger side) when i broke and it sounded like the 5th gens a trac system: i think my drum may be sticking or there was just some extra friction in the front caliper. I replicated the sound twice that night, but haven't been able to since.

I'll let you guys know.

Before you pull the whole drum assembly apart, try just adjusting the drums first (loosening them). There is an adjustment hole on the backside of the rear hubs, just stick a flathead screwdriver in there and go up or down on the notches (tightens, loosens the drums).

Meh, I usually always pull the drum when inspecting to clean and be sure theres no gear oil and for even pad wear: im used to the work associated with it lol: 1995, 1999 camry, 2004 sienna, and now this baby. All have rear drums -__- ..

Thanks for the advice though

Ah I gotcha. Lol I just hate putting rear drums back together, too many damn little parts.

Really? I don't disassemble the whole assembly, but i just pull the drum off and leave all the springs, retainers, and nuts and bolts in. Just spray it down with brake cleaner and brush with a nylon brush or a toothbrush!

Yeah I just figured if you were getting that burning smell it might just be from the rear drums sticking, therefore you could just loosen them up a little. of course your method is way easier than disassembling hahaha. I could have done that last time but I remembered I took the drums off to pull the axle and I replaced the drums anyway lol so yeah I guess you don't need to disassemble the drum. I was over-thinking it.

Yea dude, the shoes are just a mess and a headache to deal with. I got around 55-60 cruising today on city streets on the way home from school, no smell. Getting on the freeway later to go to costco: hopefully the verdict is the same :l

Nice build so far man! How are you liking the ride of the coils so far? I've read a lot of people's opinions on here and still kinda in the middle. I'm looking at trying to get some sort of lift under mine pretty soon, and I like the look of yours just don't want it to be a completely stiff ride as this is my dd.

Stiff is so subjective its really hard to tell. I like the ride of my truck a lot haha. They are a stiffer than a cadillac ride but they are good. Most of the streets i drive on are pretty smooth so that makes my ride fairly smooth, but i do notice if im driving over a crap street it will translate through the truck. It reduces body roll a bunch (dont take turns at 40 mph though), and feels way more solid now then it did before.

Haha I gotcha...I wasn't expecting Cadillac style but just wasn't sure how much it changed it from the stock feel. I think I will probably end up going this way, as opposed to just getting the 2.5" spacers.
How much of a pain is it to get the dash off to put the LED's behind the gauges?

Its fairly straight forward, there was a write up not too long ago with all the needed pictures. Just be careful when pulling the center console piece because the tabs (upper and upper right) are pretty brittle and can break fairly easily like mine did. And be sure to follow Ripcord's chart since the bulbs vary by year and trim.

any updates?

Good job on the truck man.

Wow man this is the first time I looked through your thread. You did a great job with the detailing interior and exterior. Very tasteful mods so far (I'm on page 2 lol) and it looks great.

Any update on the retrofit? You did the group buy, correct?

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