No Bueno

I need some advice on what to do here.

https://1drv.ms/f/s!ApWOz0R5UZF8hirdMxJJJ4ylgDfy

 

New lower control arms or new bushings and if you want cam tabs

 

Thanks. I was thinking something like that to start with, but was wondering if the "crossmember" might be wobbled out.

 

Have you tried tightening them.up? That's all it may need

 

I've had two alignments done in the truck in the last three weeks (lower ball joint then rack bushings), I'm assuming that would be included. After the last alignment the truck drove well for about a day then my steering wheel started creeping to the side and this happened.

 

This first. Seeing the cam adjustment markers move around says the bolts are loose. Those 4 bolts should be torqued down to 96ftlbs while the truck is sitting at ride height.

Try that and see what happens, look at the bushings while you're in there to inspect. If that works go get alignment, your truck is probably all over the road right now.

If that doesn't work then get new control arms, Moog would be good. New Toyota lower ball joints wouldn't be a bad idea while at it.

 

I'll try to tighten them first thing. I'm working in the mountains this week and need to drive it down this weekend. And yes, the truck feels like it is drunk.

I may go ahead and order those Moogs if those are good. I've already done the RF lower ball joint and the LF is on the list to do.

 

@Roman Is this the correct part # for the front lower left ball joint? 43340-39595

 

I guess this is a good time to ask, but couldn't one just replace the bushings? How are the control arms a wear item? I get how ball joints and tie rods need to be replaced but the control arms look like solid metal minus the bushings.

 

I think you have to press them out and in. So if I get the Moogs I think it's about the same price by the time I pay someone to do the pressing.

 

Yes, it is.

https://parts.toyotaofcoolsprings.com/oem-parts/toyota-lower-ball-joint-4334039595

 

Thanks! Order placed.

 

Some shops won’t swap bushings if they’re seized from rust. I was lucky since the lca’s were in great shape and didn’t take much to press out the old bushings. Most shops(including mine) will recommend new lca’s for an easy install.

 

Labor and high cost for Toyota bushings. I got Toyota bushings and intended to go that route for longevity sake but didn't have a place to remove the old bushings at the time. That was apartment life and a storm hit CA for 2 weeks, wasn't gonna pay 4 hours labor to swap those out so I got replacement arms and kept the old arms/new bushings for next time.

 

Gonna do the same. Also replacing the ball joint and tie rods.

 

I'm not an engineer but this seems like a stupid way to make these alignment "tabs". What can I do to fix this?

 

Just found a thread over on TundraTalk where @osidepunker and others were talking about TC cam tabs. I'll have to see if there is an option like that for the 1st Gen.

 

I just replaced my lca bushings and they were seized pretty bad. I wanted to try replacing the bushings by myself and it wasn't all that bad to do. All I did was heat up the bushing, press out the rubber leaving the metal sleeve. I then took a dremel and cut the metal sleeve where it has the lip about 1/4" long. Be careful not to cut too deep or you'll cut the control arm. Then heat up the metal sleeve and pry it up a bit. Now heat the whole sleeve and knock it out from the opposite side. The whole sleeve should pop out. Once you clean the inside the new bushing will slide right in leaving about 1/4" to be pressed in. I just used a large vise and a couple of sockets the same height to press in the new bushing. The sockets are used so the bushing won't bottom out on the other end.

 

Thanks. I may do them myself, it'll depend on on how much time I have.

 

So I'm thinking about grinding those stupid tabs off and having someone to weld on something stronger. Anything I should be aware of before I do?

@Roman What are the part numbers that I would need for the Alignment Cam Bolts?

 

The cam tabs will hold up just fine. Yours look a little rusty which may decrease their strength.
After 6 years of rock crawling my IFS Tacoma on some of the hardest trails around the country, the only thing that messed up my cam tabs was hitting a boulder bombing up a steep snow covered trail at about 30mph. I also broke a CV axle and took a chunk out of the rim.
My point is unless you’re doing crazy stuff you’re probably not going to have any issues.

 

Dude, if you look close I already have issues. The one is bent almost flat and another is quite a ways over. I think the previous owner ran it hard off-road with stock suspension and I didn't know enough to see it when I bought it. If you look really close you'll see the the "hinge" where the LCA attaches is even bent back.

 

Really tough to tell from the pics. Are the tabs already flattened out? I'm confused at what you mean by hinge. I don't see any hinges on the truck.

 

Yeah. I'll see if I can get some better pictures of it.

 

Yes, total chaos should have some cam tabs for you or any decent fab shop can make them. Arent you in SoCal?? Hit up @papasmurf , he can take care of you

 

Shoot me a PM I can help ya with install etc

 

I talked to TC and they said some of their Tacoma tabs might work. I have it in the shop now and may have them just weld some tabs on. I'm in SE CO. so unfortunately I can't meet up with @papasmurf, but thanks for the offer, guys.

 

I’ve got flattened tabs on my left front from the rollover... going to try and straighten them out then lay a bead behind them to make it more
Rigid.

 

Yeah thats what I ended up doing with my Tacoma when it happened. No issues after that.

This was after I got off of the trail and went down something like 10 miles of downhill windy mountain roads.
Excuse the photo quality. This first picture was a cellphone pic from 2011. LOL




This must have been right before or after replacing the CV that broke when I smashed the rock and flattened out the cam tab.




Talk about a crappy place to do a repair. I seemed to be good at breaking in bad spots.