Alignment Cam Delete - Which ones?

Ohhh, probably not then. They didn’t Have the ss when I got my kit.

 

Looks like there is about 1/4 on each.

 

Perfect just got mine installed yeah got less than a 1/4” on mine I’m a happy camper

 

They’re a great upgrade

 

Looking for insight to my specific situation. I’m installing the Solo Motorsports LCA and have fox 2.5s. Just put 35” on it and while I’m a weekend warrior for off roading, I don’t want to have to rework. But I’m also aware that the tab install modification (replacing the factory with the ones from total chaos or otherwise), is very costly on top of the cost for the post alignment and LCAs purchase cost.
I would be lying to say that I don’t want to just install the LCA, get an alignment, call it a day. But I’m getting suggestions from both camps (mainly from shops I’ve been to) on whether or not it’s actually necessary for my use case.
This install has been put on the back burner for the better part of 6 months now, because every shop around quotes me an additional 8-900 for the tabs install and another 250 for alignment. Just looking to see if this is something I can do later or if it’s a must with the new heavy duty LCA. Thoughts?

 

The "heavy duty" lca isnt a factor on if you need cam gussets. Meaning if you arent flattening them and knocking out your alignment now it will be the same as the new lca.

The cam tab gussets are a good about of work to install, most people assume itll be like $100 and boy are they wrong. Totally worth it though.

 

Thank you! That’s actually pretty reassuring; considering that Solo Motorsports told me the same thing upon pick up.
the whole reason I was saving for it was because I didn’t know it was “necessary” until I asked the local shops for installation and alignment quotes. Most were really pushing to just get the cam tab kits, since the LCA will be removed... but at nearly the cost of these expensive LCAs, I had to wait till I had enough to just do it all at once.
An additional consideration that seemed cost effective, and was suggested by another shop, was to simply reinforce the the existing tabs by welding along the edge of the existing tabs until I can do the kit install. They said it should be much less expensive than the kit install.
Has anyone done this as a temporary preventative measure? If so, how long did it last? Would that even be a good idea?

 

Alot of people ask me to do this but I dont think it is a good idea for my climate. Reason being is most people around here woolwax or fluid film so the heat from welding melts it and draws it into the weld puddle and makes it come out like trash.

If you dont protect against rust it is ~fine to do.

Maybe see if someone here on tw will install the cam gussets for you rather than a shop? I might be able to recommend someone if I knew what state you are in

 

Thanks again.
I’m in Southern California, riverside. Not using rust protection here, I’m not located near the beach or in the mountains. Dry climate where I’m at.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ironryno-fabrication-cmc-service-socal.805396/

 

Was also looking at the Marlin LCA brace kit. Any exp with this?

https://www.marlincrawler.com/product/lca-frame-brace-2016-2023-tacoma

 

Hello fellow 3rd gen owner In case you missed my post on the previous page, our HD Frame Brace Kit does not require removing any suspension parts from your frame and therefore does not require a re-alignment:

Ideally, yes, it would be nice to do the install with the lower control arms removed because it'll be easier to spray paint and have better paint coverage (and via user preference I prefer not to spray paint over the top of factory hardware), but at least this is optional and many customers do the simple install method first, and then down the road when they know they'll be doing suspension work they then re-apply paint to the welded areas

As for labor costs, while I have never installed a Total Chaos or other traditional kit because I would never put myself or my rig through the punishment and hassle of drilling out and grinding off all those factory spot welds, but if I had to guess I'd say our kit is 75% easier and less time consuming to install.

Conclusion is (1) much less labor, (2) no re-alignment needed, and most importantly, (3) vastly stronger cam tabs that also adds double-shear bracing to each control arm mount along with angled deflection faces to protect alignment hardware from trail impacts.

Regards,
BigMike

 

Definitely gave your info a once over and I’m happy to say that I’m going to move forward with this option instead. My goal is to buy your kit, install the LCAs, get aligned and I get an available date from a local welder, get em welded on when I’m ready.
The main concern has been cost over timeline. Funny how a lot of local shops are selling me on the cam tab knowing it’s going to cost a hell of a lot more due to labor alone… and from the homework I’ve done, your kit will actually achieve the desired end result.

 

Since I'm here, I've came across some pics to share of factory eccentric replacements in use along with our HD Frame Brace Kit

Here are two pics of 333 Fabrications eccentrics + Marlin Crawler HD Frame Brace Kit



A pic of KP Off Road eccentrics + Marlin Crawler HD Frame Brace Kit (courtesy IG wt_tacoma)



And completely overkill + entirely badass: Bison Off-Road eccentrics + Total Chaos Tab Plates + Marlin Crawler HD Frame Brace Kit (courtesy @TacoTrigger16)

 

Ive looked at it a good amount but never installed it myself.

Imo its a great option. I can see where the bottom skid would help the lca mounts in good shape. However I think installing it with the LCA in place is very hacky. Again I live in a very different climate so corrosion is my #2 concern behind strength.

Also having a shop install these with the LCA in place they will 100% just burn them on quick without any regard to keeping the LCA bushings cool

 

We just uploaded a short YT video that includes a nice demo of our HD Frame Brace Kit's angled deflection parts protecting alignment hardware in action

Before you click, please know this is an advertisement for our heavy duty IFS and steering rack upgrade kit.

The video is only 2:28m long; Skip to the 29-sec mark for the alignment hardware action:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9SgC0uzvhpc

Here is a still from the 32-sec mark. You can see how our angled deflection plate kept that boulder in front of and then underneath my alignment hardware with zero issues, and moments later how our kit's double-shear frame mount design prevented the rock from getting snagged on my control arm vertical mount flanges, preventing any damage:



From the previous page, relevant reference image:



I am using my full stock/original Toyota eccentrics and all original Toyota alignment hardware including factory cam tabs and plates and have never had my alignment go out now across 4 sets and counting of 40" tires + our long travel...

...which place an insane amount of force on my alignment: tires & wheels weigh nearly 150 lbs each, longer control arms = more leverage on frame mounts, and our HD IFS parts are much heavier such as our replacement knuckles that weigh 30 lbs each (more than double stock knuckles, comparison pic). I've even accidentally clipped rocks larger than my 40s three separate times over the years--I don't forget these: twice on Rubicon, once at Moab--ripping my steering wheel out of my hands over to full lock and stalling my engine. One of those I thought for sure my air bags should have gone off. Get back on the highway, steering wheel always 100% dead center.

Regards,
BigMike