Cam bolt question (now with answers and writeup)

I wouldn't think it was because you lubed them. In fact, I would pull all of them and lube them. Antiseize has been proven to be very effective. However, as I've mentioned before, a heavy grease like bearing or marine grade would work quite well, I would guess.

It's probably something else making the noise...like the AM bushing/LCA

 

I'm pretty sure it's the bushing in the Dorman LCA. But I was thinking that it could be a combo. If the aftermarket bushing isn't long enough, or tight enough, or whatever....it could be used to using the rubber to grip the LCA bolt (cant remember if it was rubber all the way through or if there was a metal sleeve). The grease could be allowing it to slide forward/backward and causing the noise. I'm trying to get my OEM LCAs back so that I can rebuild them and get rid of this Dorman junk.

 

Dorman parts junk? Oh come now! Personally, I wouldn't install Dorman valve stem caps on a vehicle I was trading in.

 

I had relative success (or so I thought) with them in the past. I figured they were a decent option, especially since i had read that Moog has gone WAY downhill. Lesson learned, I suppose. I try to stick with OEM whenever possible, I guess I should have sucked it up and spent the extra. Live and learn.

I will say that I've had pretty good success with the Dorman wheel bearing/hub assembly though. $25k+ on 2 of them and I've had them out on the trail a few times. Not saying I would buy them again, but they have been decent.

 

I used white line bushings, OEM bolts and sleeves with the TC cam tabs welded in place. Everything has been great. Mine was a 2014 that spent 1 winter in SC, 1 in Indiana and the rest in VA. Had to cut all of them out. Antiseize them, torque properly and never worry again. I cant believe they come like this from the factory so dry and seize so easy.

 

Good write up man and good reference. How have things held up since you did this? Im about to take mine all apart again to replace lower ball joints and or just replace whole LCA with already pressed in LBJ but we will see.

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...swers-and-writeup.502084/page-2#post-21120613

 

thanks for this. My 2004 has seized bolts and sleeves so when i cut them out, I will make sure to do this with the new parts. Looks like you just lube up everything EXCEPT the actual tabs?

 

I didn't lube up the backs of the actual cams. But everything else....yes. You can use antiseize or some kind of heavy grease....like bearing or marine grease

 

Great post Plain Jane. Thanks for the write up!

 

You're very welcome. Spread the word. I've been trying to for awhile now.

 

I'll be putting on my new Dirt King LCA's soon and have a fresh set of cams to grease up at install time.

 

Nice write up. Two suggestions.
1. Instead of anti-seize, use either Lucas Red n Tacky, or a high temp bearing grease. The anti-seize can get washed out easily where the two above mentioned greases will not.
2. Torque to 130ft#'s. The 100ft#'s is not enough.

 

I mentioned high temp grease in later posts.

As far as the antiseize....I did an update at 2 years later last summer. It's a few posts back. Zero issue with disassembly. Everything came apart like butter and the antiseize was still there....at least the brand I used.

As for the 100 ft lbs? That was the listing for the factory torque

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...swers-and-writeup.502084/page-2#post-19314471

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...swers-and-writeup.502084/page-2#post-21120613

 

@Plain Jane Taco

I screwed up and broke my bumpstop bolt and the only way to extract it seems to be to remove my LCA. Figure I’ll lube up my Cams following what you did, think there will be anything I have to do on top of your directions since I’ll be pulling the LCA out and putting it back in place?

 

I wouldn't think so. I've pulled my share of LCAs on many different vehicles, but never had to on a Tacoma. But it shouldn't effect what you're doing with the cam bolts

 

Thanks for this write up.

I have a had recent frame replacement and new LCAs so these bolts are all new. But I had some creaking noises when turning full lock.

I went ahead and tightened the bolts which weren’t anywhere close to 100 ft/lb. Seems to have fixed the issue.

 

Little thread revival here. Went back to all stock suspension, and it will need to be aligned now. A couple of years ago the cams were all pulled out and anti seize was used. Friday while the truck was on jack stands up front my alignment cams were checked with no weight supported by a jack. The rears moved perfectly but the front moved a little, if they were seized would they move at all? Or would you get zero movement because the LCA wasn't supported near the cams?