Torque your UCA nuts!

In another thread, (Ironman UCA recall thread) I mentioned that the other day my UCA came loose on my RT side doing 30, I skidded off the road into a ditch. I was along for the ride, but it scared the shat out of everyone in the intersection I went through. No damage to the truck other than scraping all that beautiful lime green paint off of the spring when the tire cocked into the wheel well, and the UCA lodged against the exhaust manifold. The bolt was fine, and funny enough the washer was Laying right there on the frame. No nut! Probably in another state somewhere.

In ordering a new M14 X 1.5 fine thread nut from Toyota, I noticed that on the parts website front and center that the nut is one time use only. This is a huge statement in the aircraft world where I make a living.

I have seen ton's of vids installing all these lift kits with new UCA's, (not exclusive to Ironman BTW) that simply reuse the nut as is. When I received the new nuts, and bolts for safe measure, they are indeed impregnated with some kind of compound, not sure if it's red loctite or not... But it's red.

I still blame myself for not checking the torque a few hundred miles after I installed everything. But good info to note. My nuts were properly torqued, but still backed off. Not surprising as it spends its whole life going up and down.

 

If a nut, reused or not, is properly torqued, and loosens on it's own, you have a problem somewhere.
That's like saying lug nuts are a one time use.

 

I always check after test drive.

they are not one time use, they just need to be torqued correctly.

Oddly the castle nut is one time, not the main bolt.

 

Yea, the problem is no one says that the nut needs loctite or some other locking feature, because it actually rotates with the bolt. That's why they have a locking feature on the factory nuts when you buy them and labeled one time use only. Almost any lock nut with a locking feature has a time life, usually one time use only. Common in aviation. These nuts need to be one with the bolt as the bolt itself can move, unlike a lug nut where the bolt itself is very stationary. This is like saying you don't need a castellated nut and cotter pin on a ball joint.

 

This is not a plane.
Loctite is a given for anyone better than a horrible shade tree mechanic.

 

Guess my friends, you are missing the part where TOYOTA says they are one time use only. And from what I can see on the replacements, they are impregnated with red loctite. Which in retrospect, I should have used! Torque means nothing to a part that is susceptible to rotation. That is what locking features are for, be it castle nuts, tab washers, nylock or othewise.

 

If I see loctite, it gets the same color of loctite. Pretty simple. As a matter of fact, many things I do get loctite, or anti seize. Depending. Not hard. And I have reused alot of castle nuts with no issues. They do not crunch or deform most of the time. But, if a castle nut has a wallowed out section where the cotter pin was? Definitely replace. This is just good observation and practice. Sorry you had an issue.

 

Toyota does not say one time use. I’m looking at the manual.

 

Boom. Thank you Toyota expert whom I trust implicitly. I rest my case. Sorry @Lonnie Mac

 

I work on Commercial vehicles and castellated nuts are disappearing... they are a single use locking nut but no cotter pins.


As for the UCA bolt, if properly torqued it will not loosen. Mine hasn't loosened off, and I just torqued it dry with the suspension in the normal riding position.

 

Thanks fellas for setting me straight on the rotating bolt that don't need a locking feature. (which it actually comes with) I figure you fellas are getting your parts STRAIGHT from Toyota. I was just giving a simple PSA. I have to get my parts from a dealer. Hell, the first 6 on this list say this part can not be reused or reinstalled. Physics, sucks sometimes.

2 Wheel Drive W/PRERUNNER. 2WD. 4 Wheel Drive. 4WD. AWD. Bolt. FWD. Lateral Arm Nut. Nut that secures Suspension Stabilizer Bar Bracket. Part cannot be reused/reinstalled

 

Actually if properly torqued, it can loosen. I think that was my point.

 

From someone who calculates bolt torques, if done properly, it won't loosen.

 

When i installed the accutune UCA, they were VERY clear in the instructions to apply RED loctite.
Im guessing this has happened before

There are one time use fasteners but generally those are torque to yeild and literally stretch. I dont think these are those
Sometimes i just wish more things were drilled for saftey wire

 

After riding V-twin motorcycles for 20+years, I’ve learned that even properly torqued fasteners come loose. It’s taught me to Loctite almost every nut on every vehicle I touch. Cheap peace-of-mind IMO....

Also, I’ve re-used (and Loctite’d) plenty of ‘one time use’ fasteners and never had any problems...