Alignment tabs...

FYI, those tab's only job is to aid in moving the position of the bolt. They are in no way "holding" any thing. Tightening the fn bolt is what holds it from moving.
If not tightened enough though, hit bump, bolt slides, then that cam tab gets bent.

 

It’s easy to get caught up in upgrading. I know the feeling, I’ve fallen victim to classic snowballing modifications on numerous vehicles including an old Supra.

I drove that car HARD with the same style alignment tabs. I ran a wire wheel behind them to remove paint, bent them back square, welded a bead behind them and never looked back. Potholes, sliding the car around parking lots, you name it- never a problem again. That’s the route I’d suggest for sure.

However, making it idiot proof- the TC kit is nice. I’d probably just make my own, but I’m cheap like that

Also, I’ve mentioned this before- there was a guy on the MKIII Supra forums years ago that drilled holes/ chamfered the alignment bolts and installed zerk fittings on the ends. No idea if it helped reduce seizing, but it’s an idea.

 

I did the TC kit and it was a pain, I wish I would have just put some weld down.

 

Rear bolt on the passenger side LCA is seized up tighter than..... Fill in the blank.
TC tabs should be here Monday. Yay
I didn't realize these bolts are keyed with flats. New bolts, hardware, and bushings. Fun times.

 

I had one I bent trying to remove a frozen bolt with the dedicated c-clamp type press. It didn't work.
I bent the tab back up and had it aligned. It moved and bent the tab down again, and I verified it was well tightened.
I'd highly recommend putting a bead of weld behind them.

 

If the bushing is seized to the eccentric bolt there's no way to prevent the tabs from bending. Cut the bolts out, use marine grease upon replacement, weld behind the tabs, have it aligned.

 

What are the chances of the bolts popping out with an air hammer?
If I cut the bolt, then I need to replace at least one bushing. And if I'm doing one I should probably do all four.
I hope this is a small can of worms. LOL

 

One thing that may work, and has for me in the past is a u joint press kit. Cut the bolt, then use a press and a powerful impact gun to push them out. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.

 

After while they get weak and break. They are very thin and its easy to bend. I would recommend you to get Total Chaos Lower Control Arm Tab Gussets. They are a lot stronger then the factory ones.

 

They were dropped off today.
<<< I hope that's bacon.

 

Pretty darn sure that’s a hot dog lol

 

Damn

 

If you point the cursor at it, it says dancing bacon.

 

Yep, that's exactly what I did with all four lowers. New bushings and the whole enchilada.

 

I did the Marlin kit but recently. With a MIG welder it would have been extremely easy. I only have a TIG machine. That made it a challenge with the angles.

For roughly $20 more, the Marlin kit is thicker and supports far more. If off-roading is a regularity, it is much more valuable.

A can of weldable paint is also highly recommended. That's good stuff.

 

@Torspd weldable paint? Never heard of it. Who makes it?

@Muddinfun saw on another related thread that you had mentioned to the OP in that thread to set his cams before he went for an alignment. I was getting confused reading it.
Where would I do the same?

 

That is what we used on his frame. Arc'd easily. As if it was bare metal.

Can grind all of the weld area clean, then spray that over everything, so it all stays protected. Then weld right through it. Touch up if necessary. Nothing gets left unprotected.

 

As I mentioned earlier in the thread, the marlin gussets are a bitch to install. See quote below.

 

Oooooooook.
Cam tab gussets. ✓
Air hammer. ✓
Complete replacement hardware for mounting the LCAs ✓
1 each front and rear LCA bushings. ✓

If I'm gonna do one, I should do them all. Can't afford that, and I'm not just doing the one. The other LCA will get some love down the road.

How bad do these bushings suck to replace? If the air hammer doesn't do the trick on the seized bolt, it's getting cut. From there: a drill, jigsaw, and a chisel. It IS coming out. Oh, ya let's not forget the bfh...

Putting the new ones in though, will a c clamp be sufficient or do I need a bj press? Or will they hammer in?

 

Yaaaaaa, those bushings just looked up and laughed at me...
Got one side done. Ended up replacing the LCA though. 5 sawzall blades later and it was out.