Basic Maintenance - Loose bolts after a hard track?

Hey TW,

I watch a lot of 4wd24/7 on Youtube and those Aussies say after a good hard track (crawling, loose gravel, steep slopes, etc.) - it's a good idea to check all the basics and tighten any loose bolts.

Questions is - what is a basic check? Air filters?

What bolts should I make a habit of checking up to tighten?

I have a 2021 Tacoma OF. 1st owner. 14k miles.

 

I spent many hours flying down FSRs over the years and haven’t checked a single bolt yet. Some parts of the roads are very rough and my truck bounces like crazy.

Should check my bolts? Probably. Rear U bolts come to mind though.

FWIW, I Haven’t checked a single bolt on my previous truck (Ford) for 7 years and never had an issue.

 

Good stuff! I think your Ford is testament and gives the answer I needed but didn't expect LOL.

 

Haha! Glad I could help!

 

If you modded something, suspension, etc, you check torque after a hard offroad session. If it's stock, no need to check as it will be fine.
Why? Toyota engineers do calculations, simulations and test. Aftermarket does none of these things. So check aftermarket stuff and leave stock stuff alone as it will be fine.

 

Thank you! I will have aftermarket suspension to look out for in a couple weeks from now. Much appreciated!

 

My front cam bolts have worked loose twice now after hard offroading. Once even sheared the alignment tab off. I ended up welding on some aftermarket gussets. So check those, especially if you've had an alignment done recently. Someone correct me if im wrong, the torque is 250 lbs.

 

the torque on the LCA cam bolts? i believe it's 100ft-lbs.

i am also fully reinforced, and that's evidently put a lot of stress on my cam bolts and I'm needing alignments way too often. i have a bit more front end work coming, and i plan to replace all the cam bolts at that time. that will be the third set of cam bolts on this truck. 86k, 2017 4x4.

 

I am a big fan of getting under the rig after a long bash, be it fire road at 80 mph or rocks at 1/2 mph. I like to get under the truck and shake things that look messed up. Do it often enough and you notice when things are messed up.

 

I've watched similar youtube videos and made it a point to torque and check bolts during when servicing at the 5k mile interval on my 2nd gen for about 2 years (around 60k miles with 30% of it being offroad)

The lug nut bolts, leaf spring bolts, u-bolts, rear shock bolts, UCA bolts, and front upper shock bolts all held their torque.

What was consistent in not holding their torque was the front lower shock bolts, and the LCA cam bolts, but not by much, maybe just a 1/16th to 1/8th of turn of the torque wrench.

 

All the more reason to leave it stock. Everything I've ever modified, from Carburetion, Exhaust, Suspension all turned into a PITA.
The only mod I've never had an issue wit is MSD Ignition.

 

The factory maintenance schedule covers most of it.

 

After a HARD day.

I always do a quick car wash, and usually a dog wash at the same time.

After:

I blow out air filters.
Wash rad and brakes out.
Inspect for damage, look at tires carefully.

Last time I nearly took out my radiator, overheated due to mud, damaged my skid plate and inverted my leaf springs.

 

I've also spent many km and hours flying down FSR and spur roads - a quick walk around and tire kick has been more than enough to keep my truck, and most of my crummy’s in one piece.

Listen with your ears, and your butt, if something sounds or feels off stop and check. Especially true is you’ve got a trailer on.

the only thing I go back to check multiple times are my wheel nuts. Buddy had his wheel come off half way down the Coq after changing a flat earlier in the day.. not a fun time.

 

I mostly agree, but you should still give them the hairy eyeball while you're down there.
Engineers you know. They like to think they know everything

 

I agree on hairy eyeball. We are smart but not invincible.

 

That damn truck of yours is gonna have $300k in it when u get all finished with it haha.

 

I check most of my suspension bolts and nuts. I don't retorque everything but after my initial torque I marked the bolts/nuts with a sharpie so if anything rotates I can see it.

 

I don't necessarily think this should be a "by the book / activity" sort of thing. Just get in the habit of always checking shit. Getting fuel, fuck it lemme kneel down and put eyes on the drive line n breather.

Changing the oil? Take an extra 8 mins and eyeball ball joints racks trans etc, look for wet spots and funny bolts.

Even when there's nothing to do but wait, there's always something to do.