UCA bolt came out...

so, truck is at the dealership because the nut fell off the UCA, and the bolt started backing out to the point where my drivers side UCA almost came off. (until it hit the sheetmetal and stopped). I had bilsteins put on, but the dealership is saying they are not obligated to cover it since they didnt install them. They claim its the mechainics fault because he installed the coilovers and touched the UCAs. I know its not because he never touched the UCAs with the bilstein install (I was there). So toyota says they dont have to cover it. I call BS.
What do I do? I'm caught in the middle.

Any advice how to approach this is good.

 

sounds like a dealership for sure. they tried to tell me that my sound system wires were interfering with my airbag sensors in the seat. they told me that they had cleared the code but the light will come back on if i dont move my wires.

Never moved my wires and the light never came on. Got charged 50 bucks for that little visit. my theory. there was a loose plug somewhere and they got pissed and wanted money.

 

I'm guessing you don't have aftermarket UCAs. Best I can think to do is explain the install process for the new shocks and point out that there was no need to mess with the stock UCAs. Other than that I'd either find another dealer or put in a formal complaint. It's not like this is a hard fix for the dealer either. I mean it's replacing the nut and placing the proper torque when putting it on. Dealers...pain in the ass.

 

Honestly, if they were just to give me the nut, we would be fine.
Im lucky I caught it, because the uca was riding on 1/2" of thread. Oh, they are stock UCAs too.
I explained to the mechanic how we did it and didnt touch the UCAs, but because they were not there to see it...and insinuated that I was lying. That pissed me off the most.

 

At this point I'd just get the but and do it yourself. It's a good thing that the bolt doesn't come out easily. I had to pry the sheet metal forward and even grind it down just to get it out.

 

The pin that keeps it from turning wasnt in there?

 

yeah, at this point I just want the nut so I can fix it myself.

Here is the kicker- since I know that nobody touched that bolt...what other bolts on the front end are loose from the factory? food for thought.

 

I'm suprised the UCA bolt backed out uphill on it's own

 

I think it's the top long bolt & nut. The bolt will not come out it will hit, I cut mine off then installed newones from the bottom.

 

It's the long one in the top that's hard to get out .

 

If you have a torque wrench and a socket set take a look at the FSM and find the torque specs and check the stuff yourself

 

Banned because of this comment? Owned noobs

 

I think Chris4x4 had a thread that had the torque spec. for the upper control arm bolt & the other ones. I think it was from 2009. It was a spring removal thread I think.

 

Horse hockey

 

bout 85 ft lbs IIRC

 

oh ok cool, I am just going to go through everything in the front when i get it back and check the torque on everything.

I should have taken a photo of it, it was freakin weird. I should add- i was taking it in on monday anyway for my 3rd AC motor.

 

X3, the nut must have been missing for a while