Alignment tabs...

Talking with other welders, they HATE the marlin kit. It's a huge PITA to weld on and involves welding at some weird angles. I have done a few TC kits and it's ridiculously easy. I recommend going that route.

 

Not being a subject matter expert here; your comment gets some serious weight.

Anybody else got an opinion? I'm all ears.

Thanks for all the replies.

 

After getting the alignment corrected, go back and check/ snug up the cam bolts and verify with a torque wrench.
I came in a little too hot into a parking spot and the curb helped slow me down. It shifted my alignment, so now i double check the torque after a tire shop alignment visit.
The Total Chaos kit is the ultimate solution but is hard to justify if you don't have and or know how to weld.
My suggestion would be:
1. Correct alignment and correct bent tab.
2. verify everything is torqued and locked in. Mark position with a paint pen.
3. Find a reputable fab shop and ask if they can throw a few weld beads on the back side of the tabs. A couple seconds with a wire wheel should be enough to prep the areas.
4. when complete, clean, prep, and apply a paint.

 

First thing I gotta do is make sure the bolts aren't seized in the bushings. If they're not, GREAT! If they are... More fun to be had. Im planning on having to cut the bolts out

I would like something reasonably substantial as a fix to prevent this from happening again. I know a couple welders, so I'm not totally porked.

 

Get you some Total Chaos Alignment tabs and then you wont have to worry about it! But yeah i would take it back and ask why the felt is was safe for them to return the truck in this condition.

 

MKIII Supra guys have been welding those tabs for years. The TC kit is really nice looking, but for a daily driver/pavement queen, bend 'em straight, run a bead behind them and move on with your life. I've never had one bend after welding behind it. Save the $120 for beer.

 

@shaeff it does spend most of it's life on the road for sure. I'm looking to idiot proof this as much as I can.
That can be difficult at times though...

 

I have the TC alignment tabs. They are easy to install.

 

Good to hear. Got my welder lined up. I'm going with TC.
Gotta get an air hammer and some ear plugs. Lol

 

Haha. Yeah an air hammer will do the trick for sure.

 

I had no problems at around 100k miles on the truck.

 

No it won't. If those bushings are froze, the only way to get them out is to cut them out with a saw zall or a thin grinding disk.

I really don't want to brag, but I'm a pro when it comes to these fucking bushings. Every Toyota truck I've had in the last 20 years needed at least one control arm cut out because of froze bushings. My Tundra right now has a one that I need to cut out so I can get it properly aligned. I hate Toyota for this.

It should be mandatory. Have the dealer pull those bolts and grease them at 30,000 miles.

 

i guess so. Just replaced my OEM LCAs with Total Chaos and had zero issues removing the old ones.

 

Make sure the bolts arent seized, grab some anti-seize to coat after you take the bolts out.., or if they are seized, then buy some new bolts from Toyota for around $220 and put anti-seize on them, get some new bushings. The bead behind the tab is the easy cheap route. The TC tabs run about $120.

 

you are also in TX, where rust doesnt exist

 

Yeah, I don't think I'm gonna go that route. $120 will get you new bolts, bushings and an A-arm from Rock Auto. This is something that doesn't need to come from Toyota.

 

I have some spare LCAs that I have been rebuilding as a side project. I dont know what bushings Im going to put in yet, but they will be for sale for this exact reason - soon..

 

He’s talking about chiseling off the stock alignment tabs, or so I presume. An air hammer works wonderfully with that.

 

In that case, yes. Thanks

 

Hopefully,Wednesday I can get the truck in the garage. Mom's car popped a brake line Saturday. Not only is that more important, the car is in the middle of the garage waiting for the part to come in tomorrow. And the techstream cable today. Ah, the joys of abs and.... Life in general.