Alignment after UCA install

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Yes most people cut or pry out the inner fender lip to let the bolt pass through. Example: https://twstatic.net/attachments/ebdcef02-526c-4278-affc-f5e6b0e959b1-jpg.3342707/

I avoided this by cutting off the bolt head in-situ with an angle grinder, and installing new $20 bolts with the head toward the rear. Even then driver's side required unbolting 3-4 fuel line brackets.

 

Seems like the bolts are facing a certain direction for a purpose, no?

 

Yes, 8 sec faster for the assembly line worker to install it that way well before the body is dropped onto the frame.

 

Don't put them in backwards. The head of the bolt is higher for a reason. Is it a pain in the ass? Yup. Would you feel better knowing the orientation was correct? Yup.

 

General practice in aviation is to keep the bolt head higher in safety-critical applications, unless prevented by access. Toyota drops the cab onto the frame after the suspension is installed on the frame, so there's no consideration for access. Installing the bolt from the rear is better than doing this:

 

I mean I guess at the end of the day it's your call. Bending that little bit of sheet metal isn't hurting anything.

 

I used a pair of channel locks and bent the inner fender out to remove the bolt and then bent is back one replaced. It was a pain but not that big of a deal.

As far as the alignment I would just keep driving to a minimal depending on the date you have scheduled. A few days should be fine as long as you aren’t putting a ton of miles on the truck.