Notching lower control arm

Hey guys I'm new here and new to trucks been into JDM cars my entire life. Anyways I bought FBG vated coilovers for my 2010 tundra and had a truck shop install them. I looked at the work a few days later and noticed they notched the lower control arms. They did a hack job on it also. So I called and they told me this is necessary for the bigger struts and they do it all the time. I asked them if it was safe to drive like that and they said o yea your 100%. My question is it normal to do this and is it safe, like does it reduce integrity of the control arm. Thanks guys any input will help.

 

Sounds super sketchy. Did they notch it and then add material and re-weld it, or just cut it? If you can, Pics would be great to determine if it looks safe or not.

 

It was just cut around where the lower part of the shock mounts to the lower control arm. I'm at work right now so I'll try to get a pic up later.

 

Here's a pic of what I'm talking about however this isn't my truck. On mine they didn't cut it as clean as this

 

That's messed up! I've never seen anyone do that for a coilover installation. That cut makes a weak point in that area that, if stressed, will continue to tear.

 

That's what I thought but they said they do that all the time for lifts. And mine is worse than the one pictured. I tried to get them to do something about it but they said that's how they do it and there's nothing they can do.

 

Dude that is very concerning. I don’t think it will fail right away, but even in the pic you posted which I realize isn’t your truck, the cuts run past each other. Sharp corners and extended cuts like that WILL crack further into the metal and eventually fail. The best way to do this cut would be to drill holes at the corners so they’re rounded, and possibly plate the cut area for reinforcement. That’s without really being able to look at it in person and think about the forces on the LCA, but I would be very concerned about driving with them cut like that long term. I would just keep an eye on it and make sure the cuts don’t start cracking.

 

Yea the cuts on mine are worse than that pic. Man it really bothers me I usually do all the work on my vehicles because of crap like this. There not willing to do anything about it.

 

@dcsleeper408 what you think?

 

How hard is it to replace lower control arms on these trucks?

 

Dealership just quoted me $750 in labor not including the parts to replace the lower control arms. Lol sounds ridiculous to me

 

You can't do shit like this! I guess the owner of the shop isn't concerned about safety and liability...dumb ass

 

Apparently you CAN.



Though I do agree that you shouldn’t.

 

The clearance is required for extended travel coilovers on these trucks. If done correctly and left smooth it's NOT an issue. Mine had been like that for 120K or so.

 

What shocks do you have? I've never heard of doing that with any kind of shock regardless if it's extended travel. OP idk what I'd do if I were you but it sounds fucked. Find a friend with a welder and at least weld it up where any cuts are to avoid stress concentrations.

 

Camburg 2.5" coilovers with UCA's.

 

Yea I was thinking that or just take my loss and replace the lower control arms

 

Shoot a picture of the cut and how much material they took off

 

Did they tell you prior to that they would be cutting the LCA?
If they didn’t they would be replacing the lower control arms or paying me to have it done elsewhere.
If not a nicely written letter from an attorney would follow.

 

I get off at 330, as soon as I get home I'll post a few pics. Haven't been driving it cuz I'm waiting on wheels and tires plus alignment.

 

Nope I had no idea, when I called to complain they said that they do this all this time and have never had any problems.

 

I fucking hate counter arguments like that. I hear that shit at work all the time, "well we did it this way at my last company". That doesn't mean they're right, it's more likely that they just never did it correctly in the first place.

 

Here's pics of the hack job, pisses me off more everytime I look at it

 

Did you pay for it with a CC ?

No just No but FORK NO.

They would be paying me for the cost of replacement. Period.

 

"This is the way we do it because this is the way we've always done it!"

 

Yea I did pay with CC

 

Dispute the charges with a quickness, that is some sketchy work at best. They cut the front of it too.

 

wth. A good alignment would have been better.

 

Call me crazy, but camburg doesn't make 2.5 inch coilovers... least for our truck that I've ever seen.

Several members including myself have extended travel coilovers and we didn't notch our LCAs. This is sloppy work and probably not safe at all.