Welding Alignment Tabs

So I went to get the truck aligned the other day since I have developed a nice wobble since the last wheeling trip.

Got to the alignment shop and one of the tabs that holds the alignment cam centered is bent flat. I am planning on just bending it back straight and running a weld behind it to hold it in place. I will probably do the others while I am down there.

I have seen plenty of threads regarding the issue but am trying to get a definite answer about whether or not I can weld it without removing the LCA. Am I going to melt the bushing? Anybody done it with the LCA's on?

 

Don't do it with them on, you will toast the bushing.

 

Yup^^^^ if its only the 2 then maybe..... but you run the risk of melting the bushing. that being said... the only time ive seen them flattened is when that cam is siezed And somebody doesnt know how to do a proper alignment -or- said person doesnt know how to tighten the cam and it came loose. Also bad.

 

Yeah I took it in for an alignment about 1 month ago and think the damage may have occurred then. If not it was due to a hard hit I took on our last outing. I noticed the wobble after that outing so took it in to get the wheels balance and alignment setup at firestone. They came back and said that the tabs were bent and that they wouldn't be able to get the alignment in spec until after I bent it back and welded it into place.

They usually do a good job and the tech there always is helpful and knowledgeable but who knows. Maybe they messed it up. I didn't check before so there is no way to know if it was my fault or theirs.

 

Yeah... if it were me. Your truck is new enough the cams probably arent seized yet. Id rip the arms down, clean up the cams, weld your tabs, coat the cams in antisieze and reassemble. Then have it aligned. The longer you wait the more headache and $ it will be down the road.

 

I welded mine this weekend. dont just bend them back, it wont hold worth a dam. Buy yourself the total chaos ones or build your own like I did. Take your time welding, weld a side every 5 min etc.. I didnt remove the bushings and didnt have any problems. I'll post pics soon.

 

I just had my alignment checked again and nothing has moved. I am probably just going to get the TC kit and weld it on in a few weeks when I have some free time and lube everything up.

 

Can the truck be aligned with bent tabs? I'm running into this issue as well, need an alignment, but don't have time to fix the tabs right now.

 

My guy at Firestone said he couldn't get the camber to stay at zero bc the tab was gone and that is what holds the camber. He told me he couldn't get it to specs with the tabs gone. Sucks. Sounds like tearing down the LCA to weld new cam tabs on is gonna be a bunch of work. Thinking of biting the bullet and taking it to a 4x4 shop and paying someone to do it

 

Only two of my tabs are totally flat. The ones on the front passenger LCA. All the others are at least intact. I hope they can get it close.

 

It's a bit of work to tear it down and do it yourself but I can't imagine what a shop would charge to do it. Also, anti-seize the parts if you do it yourself. Could save you a headache down the road as they have a tendency to seize up over time. Non bent tabs could be reinforced with weld. And you could bend the tabs back and weld them but they won't hold as well. I'd say if your wheeling hard enough to bend them, it's time to upgrade them

 

A guy is selling tc alignment tabs in second gen market place right now too. Just fyi

 

Can't find them for sale. Depending on price, I'm definitely interested.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...sets-and-cab-mount-plate-san-diego-70.393990/
Maybe he'll ship eventually. After all he hasn't sold them yet

 

Curious as to why bending them back and putting a nice bead behind them wouldn't hold as well? My passenger side tabs are bent/almost flat. Thinking about bending them back and putting a thick bead behind them.

 

It'll hold better than stock no doubt, but I don't think it'll hold a well as the upgrade mainly because it's thinner material you're welding to. Stock is like sheet metal in comparison to the total chaos ones which are maybe 3/16"? I can't remember so I'm going by how thick I feel they are so my number could be wrong buts it is thicker

 

Gotcha, thanks for the info. Might try bending/welding for the time being and see where that takes me. If they flatten after that, Total Chaos gussets it is.

 

Does anyone know the OEM part number for these alignment tab plates?

 

My 15 is 2 years newer just down the road from Zach and seized as balls. Just depends on the truck I guess.