Cam Tabs Seized?

Took my truck in for an alignment, and it appears the cam tabs are on their way to being seized. Can still move, but very combative. Hit it with "a shitload of PB blaster" per the tech, and it moves, but not as much as they'd like. Got it "good enough" and told me to come bring it back in a few days when the penetrating oil has soaked in.

Realistically, what are my options for the future? Bolt/tab replacement, new LCAs, something else?

 

You can buy the cam bolts online most places for about 40 bucks, or spend a little extra and get greaseable ones for about double that.. I cant imagine you would need anything else beyond that..

 

This is not uncommon on our trucks. I bought my truck knowing they were seized and would have to be cut off. If I were you, I would purchase some OEM replacements (suggest staying away from Moog) and have them on hand for the next time you get the alignment done...I wouldn't replace them just yet since you paid to have your alignment done. Maybe hit them with some more PB blaster in the interim so they don't get too much worse. Hopefully, you can get those bad boys out before they seize up in the bushing, if they haven't already. Otherwise they might have to cut them out and either have new bushing pressed in or replace the LCA which is just more unnecessary expenditure. My 2 cents.

 

My alignment guy recommends pulling the bolts and slathering them with antiseize. I haven't done that yet but regular shots of PB Blaster, Sea Foam Deep Creep etc have become a regular item whenever I'm under the truck.

 

The whole bolt seizes. I've replaced them on my 2012. They're starting to stick again - making noise when the suspension articulates. I need to antiseize/ grease them again.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...part-numbers-and-bushing-part-numbers.403162/

 

Since they apparently still move pull them, clean them, light sand to knock of rust, and grease/antiseize them.. Then look into replacing them if they are too badly rusted.

 

I'd recommend pulling the cams since they're not seized yet. Most likely covered in surface rust. Depending on how bad they are, you can choose to replace with new or wire wheel them and give them a good coating of grease and reinstall (then get an alignment). Also wire wheel and grease the inner sleeve of your LCA bushing. I did that with mine and they turn with very little effort and are protected from seizing in the future. Regreasing gets added on to my major milestone maintenance list along with flushing coolant and trans.

 

Replace em, lube em up with anti seize or Lucas red-n-tacky grease, slap em back in, get it aligned and dont worry about them

 

I got the Big O alignment deal where you can get re-aligned like 4 or 5 times in a year. I was gonna have to take it in again in the next few weeks after I installed a bumper and tweak the coils anyway, so I may just order the SPC replacement kit.

Had I not just put in Kings (hence the alignment) I would go for the TC stock lower kit, but another 1700 + labor isn't super appealing right now.

 

As my luck would have it, our machine shop guys came into my office this morning and was like "your truck is bad ass; you'll probably want this since we were gonna toss it"; And then handed me a mayonnaise sized jar of anti-seize.

 

If you got that deal, then the cost of the alignment isn't really a factor, and I agree with what most have said, sooner rather than later.

 

Good news is the tech that worked on my truck is the resident Tacoma/FJ expert as well as fellow enthusiast. Sounds like we are gonna get this figured out one way or another.

 

Which location did you go to?

 

I purchased the cam tab bolt replacement kit from Wheeler's when I got my cam tab gussets.

I figured while I'm in there I'll remove the old bolts, lather them in anti seize and throw them in. Should be good.

 

Big O in Sandy Just of 9000 South. I live 100 yards from it, and now I know the tech(s) there know their stuff. Had a few people point me there in the toyota community.

 

The SPC kit with the poly sleeve? I was just looking at it on Wheeler's.

 

These guys:

 

Yup, those are the ones. Any complaints about them?

 

FYI, if you manage to get grease on the threads of the cam bolts, it changes the torque spec. You might get a clunk if you torque to factory specs. If so, just give it another ugga-dugga or two and you should be good. Always remember to double check suspension torque after a few days.