6 week old tundra, serious front end issues

I've been following this thread and something just occured to me. OP, have you checked into the wheel/tire combination? I've seen several instances where shops will put tires on wheels that don't belong together just because they "fit". In other words, putting metric tires on a standard rim or vice-versa.

In fact, I actually had this happen to me once many years ago. I needed some new shoes, but the shop didn't have what my rims needed. The sales guy said that he had some tires which were not made for my rims, but would 'fit just fine'. Being young and dumb, I said okie-doke and bought 5 new skins.

What I learned later was that the tires did mount and were "fine" under most circumstances. The problem was that, if put under extreme stress (such as happened in your case), the tire may not stay on the bead because they were never designed to be there in the first place.

I'm blathering on, but just throwing this out there as a possibility. Perhaps check with the rim and tire manufacturers to see if this combination should have been together to begin with. If they were okay, then no harm in checking. If they weren't, then you have the dealer's ass for putting your safety at risk.

 

That rim looks bent

 

Is there anyone in the Virginia Beach area who knows a reputable off road shop? I think at this point, I want a shop to have a peak.

A lot of guys around here like Pungo Offroad. Chances are the dealer didn't install it. You might want to find out who did, whether it came to the dealer lifted or if the dealer had it done locally. Is the dealer named Charlie?

 

100% BS. What a Mess OP

Gonna need a lot of for this one

 

Ditto X2 on that. This will get really interesting before it is over.

 

I'd say I can't believe they're arguing this but when you think in terms of liability I can.
Way I see it - if it was as simple as a tire/wheel repair it be done no questions asked. However, having frame issues, this goes to a new huge level. There has to be a reason/explanation behind what the cause was. Since there is a lift on it that the dealer installed that's the most likely culprit - but for them to admit something was under torqued puts them at fault with them filing an insurance claim and so forth. That said, they'll argue to the death that you're, the OP is lying and hit something and try their best to make this a claim on the op's insurance. Their hopes, to wash their hands of any responsibility and then sell you another one the next day once you settle with your own ins.

 

Updates:



1. I spoke with an attorney, and they said to go get the truck before they have a chance to do anything to it. It's sitting in my driveway right now. I took the liberty of getting a torque wrench to test the driver's side torque. Sure in sh*t, it failed the test. Videos below for your viewing pleasure! Bring more !

Videos part 1 and 2:






2. So as I mentioned, I brought it home. I looked at the service order, and it said I made a "right hand turn" which caused the issue. I wonder if this is all the confusion with everyone. Toyota isn't going to cover it. Neither is the dealership, neither is my insurance. So I guess that leaves me, huh? I'm done with this dealership. It will never go there again. By the way, every convo has been audio recorded, including my phone calls. My story has been the same since day 1. The dealership knows something's up: They offered to send me to a partner that does rim repair, and 'waived' my labor fee for this problem. So far, out of pocket is $0. Truck still isn't fixed though.

The truck is going to an offroad shop this weekend to get some certified paperwork. Nothing on that front end is torqued within spec, and I'm blaming it on that. So is my insurance company. So will an offroad shop.


3. I got a copy of every service order they had on the truck. 4 to be exact.
1. Initial inspection and receipt of the truck
2. Installation of the lift kit, tires, rims, window tint, and window deflectors.
3. Aftermarket products (paint protector, underbody spray, etc.)
4. This incident.

So after studying the paperwork, #2 and #4 have the same technician. It's pretty clear at this point that the dealership is covering it up. Having the same technician check it out, taking the truck apart for an obvious diagnosis that could have been made by simply looking, the service order (#4) stating I made a right hand turn instead of a left, ToyCorp being completely unresponsive to any questions I had after the Regional Supervisor inspected the damage, etc. I didn't really check #1 and #3 yet, but I'm sure it's the same tech.


P.S. When the hell would you use this icon?

 

It is, there's a flat spot on it.

 

According to the service order, it was installed by a technician at the dealership. It was done with 1 mile on the truck. The technician's name is on the order, and it isn't Charlie. I don't want to put his name out there though.

 

Thanks for that! Do you know if any of the technicians are ASE Certified? I want to go official with the diagnosis.

 

After looking at the video now. There is ALOT and i mean ALOT of marks that are just plain wrong i mean REALLY WRONG. You have paint missing on the coil in more than a few places. That tells me you have some motion in there that shouldn't be. To me the shock looks to far extended. Upper and lower ball joints looks like they are near MAX if not over. That said the stress levels on the cams is very HIGH for a stock LCA with larger wheel combo.

Imo there cheap way of doing the lift is BITING you in the badly. They have changed the geometry so much and using factory parts. factory parts and ball joints where not designed to handle that load and stresses at those angles you will have failure in time.. Tundra is a HEAVY truck.

Now bolt torque is questionable. Not only could you move then one makes me wander what else. Those bolts are flange nuts (locking nuts) but with the video, i wander if the back side of the nut is smooth not ridged like it needs to be for locking. Someone can not tell me no one has messed with those UCA bolts at least 10 times plus with the marks before you touched it. More red flags.

just my observation.

 

Agree with Mike. Most dealerships throw a cheap block lift on with no regard to geometry. The truck may look good, but it's going to have issues.

Some of those bolts are torque to yield, meaning one time use. Even if they only had 1 mile on them, they should have been replaced with the lift.

Everything points to shoddy work.

 

My 07 already had the spacer lift when I bought it. There have been no noticeable issues EXCEPT..........the inner CV boot clamp slid off onto the axle allowing some grease to escape on the passenger side axle and I replaced it. There was no apparent damage to the boot or marks on the axle, so I am sure nothing hit it like a big rock or something while 4 wheeling. THE KICKER>>>> my service records show that the passenger CV boot was replaced with a new kit the year before I bought the truck. (2 yrs time total now) Coincidence??? Too much stress on the CV/axle? It's only a 2.5" or 3" at most lift spacer(looks like the pro comp one). A diff drop isn't usually needed for that type of spacer lift(so they say, the spacer sellers). If it happens again then I will do the diff drop or just dump the spacers altogether and do it right with ToyTec or OME . (Iam not sure if spacer was done by the previous owner or the dealer install like freqsounds was)

 

Update needed! I want to know what is going on!
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Op, did you name the dealer you purchased from?
I'm seeing Norfolk-VA Beach mentioned in this thread a bit. I purchased mine from Checkered Flag, so I'm interested.
Good luck.

 

Grab another and stick it in the ! No updates yet, I'm still working on which shop I'll have to take it to. I really need to hear back from my attorney to find out what's going to hold in Court. For now, the truck is collecting dust in my driveway while I shell out a second mortgage payment every month. Hopefully I'll have something by the end of next week. My life is pretty busy with 3 jobs and being a single dad. It's already getting difficult to find the time to handle this. But I will definitely keep you posted!

I didn't name the dealership, but I'll just say that I've become last priority in Chesapeake.

 

Was a single dad with two. Hardly any extra time for me then. Now single Grandparent with five. Still hardly any extra time. The more things change the more they stay the same.

 

I didn't name the dealership, but I'll just say that I've become last priority in Chesapeake.[/QUOTE]

Now I'm even more interested. My priorities are in Chesapeake also.

 

It's going to the "winning" dealership in Chesapeake this weekend for a full torque setting report. Hopefully have an update next week!

 

Sounds like movement now... good.

 

I hope you're the main priority, of their first team.

 

Dand, would that be the Checkered Flag off of Va.Beach Blvd, that's where I purchased mine.

 

Yes that's where I bought mine. Bought my 2013 Tacoma there also. Very happy with them so far.

 

Yeah no complaints from me, tried to buy from Elizabeth City Toyota, but they didn't want to agree to anything. There loss in my book.

 

Small update:

I towed it to the 'winning' dealership on Saturday. They said they need authorization from Toyota to so much as take a look at it. I called Toyota and they said they don't need to authorize anything -- that any work I need done in regards to this issue would be out-of-pocket. ToyCorp said I could write their legal department (ATTN: HQ11) with any concerns. Still waiting to hear back from the dealership on whether they're going to proceed with a torque status report.

 

Save me some popcorn, he has my attention... If you make the news, be sure to record that segment so we can all watch!

 

Hope you get a big W for the consumers.

 

Update:

On Friday, I got a call from the "winning dealership" who stated that the FR and RR camber bolts were torqued under spec. Specifically, 150 ft. lbs. Hmm... Sounds about what an impact wrench would torque to, right? They also inspected the rest of the suspension and didn't find any other problems which is kind of weird. But still not a bad find, considering the installing dealership hadn't touched the rear of the truck during the initial findings.

I immediately called Toyota Corp. and let them know about the findings. They reiterated that I would be responsible for the diagnostics fee for the incident because they have already denied responsibility. The case manager for ToyCorp called first thing this morning to get some more information on the findings. He said he was going to call the "winning dealership" to see what information they had. About 20 minutes later, he called back and said that ToyCorp's decision still stands -- that they weren't going to cover it. I reiterated back to them that I wasn't expecting them to since it's not a manufacturing flaw. I also reiterated that I expected them to push back on the installing dealership to get this issue resolved, and that I have an attorney on retainer. Of course, they didn't have a comment about that. He just said "I'm sorry you're going through all this..." as if it was supposed to make my day or something.

I called the installing dealership after ToyCorp and spoke with the Customer Relations Manager (CRM). I explained the phone call I had just received and she acted like she had no idea what I was talking about. I understand she may not know the technical aspect of a vehicle, but this is getting crazy now -- she should know what parts I'm talking about, especially as long as this has been going on. So she puts me on hold for about 5 minutes as she looks for the Shop Foreman (the guy who called me a liar to my face). She comes back empty-handed and said that she'll have him give me a call back in a few minutes. To date, still no phone call.

I've been trying to get a hold of the installing dealership all morning. I think their phone lines are down or maybe my number is black-listed; my phone rings once and hangs up. I tried 3 different numbers and finally got through on one of them. I was forwarded to the CRM and had to leave a voicemail. That was at 12:35pm EST, and it's now 1:08pm. Probably at lunch or something. I'll give her till 2pm and call back. I'll have another update after this.

I called the "winning dealership" after I left a message with the installing dealership to verify what had been done. In particular, I was curious about the caster bolts as well as the strut assembly bolts/mounts. She said all that was checked and looked good. Then I asked if I could have an estimate to fix the truck. She said the only way they'll fix it is to put a new chassis under it. They won't even attempt to weld new eccentrics to the frame. I think she wanted to close the gap of liability just in case the repair failed. She's drafting an estimate now and will be sending it to my email.

In the meantime, I think it's time to call in the troops. I'll be getting a hold of some TV stations today and see who's "on my side". I'm done with the games and I just want a new truck like I'd bought.

 

This whole situation sucks. Chassis replacement is $$$$$$$. Call in troops.

 

Update #2:

The CRM called me back a little bit ago. She said she called and left a voicemail on Friday (which she didn't, I checked...) and advised that they won't do anything to the truck. She told me that ToyCorp would have to authorize them to do the work to the truck, and since they won't authorize it, they can't do anything with it. I told them that I was told multiple times by Toyota that the reason they won't do anything is because they're aftermarket parts... Not OEM, and that releases their liability. I also told her that the evidence is pointing to an improper installation of the lift kit which has nothing to do with Toyota at all. This is the liability of the dealership. She said she's going to talk with the shop foreman again and see if anything changes. I also reminded her that not only are two separate companies, including another Toyota dealer, calling this a mechanical failure, but there's also an eye witness to the incident, and there's an attorney on stand-by who is chomping at the bit to step in. Not to mention, now there's physical evidence of a poor installation.

So now it's a waiting game again, with multiple fires. Now I just need to figure out which one to fuel...