Loose/play in lower control arms

I just got my truck back from a frame replacement a couple weeks ago. I noticed a click, clack type noise particularly when I apply the brakes gently the let my foot off = clack. Also when going over some bumps. It sounded like it was coming from the front end, possibly driver side.

Today I jacked up the front to poke around. I noticed if I grab the wheel at 3&6 and wiggle, there is significant play on the lower control arms at the bushings on the frame side on both sides, more on driver than passenger. It's like where the bolt goes through them, the sleeve in the bushing is a larger diameter than the bolt. The bracket on the frame also seems slightly wider than the lca bushing width too. I'm pretty sure that's my noise somewhere in there. It looks like that's where the ??camber?? adjustment is.

Everything else seems tight.

The lca' s are brand new, replaced with the frame, they still have the stickers on them. Do they just reuse the old bushings? Do the bushings need replaced? Do the bolts just need to be torqued down properly? Should I just take it back to the dealer and show them?

Advice appreciated.

I took a crappy vidjayo and i'll upload it if it's needed (and if I can figure out how).

 

Take it back. They need to re-do the alignment and tighten those bolts to 100 lb/ft

 

I've got to drive it tonight. Is it unsafe? I drive deliveries in it and regularly put 100 miles a day on it. I guess they'll give me a loaner again though...


I guess I'll text boss man and tell him I might be a little late.

Thanks

 

Get the truck back in there as soon as you can but at least call the service writer immediately so he knows you're coming. If they left something loose they need to know about it sooner rather than later.

If you are fairly close, the dealership should send a tow truck so they can safely get the truck back on the rack in the shop. If you're far away tell the service writer that you're taking it to a shop so they can do the alignment and tighten the bolts and then you will bring the bill to them for reimbursement.

The phone call is important though you can't just show up with a bill in your hand from an alignment shop and expect them to pay you back, you have to call them and let them know what's going on

Or if you've got a 19 mm wrench you can tighten those cam bolts yourself and then it will at least be safe to drive temporarily. But again, call the dealership and tell him what you found so they will know what's up

 

I just rolled into the dealer with a video on my phone of the movement and they took it right in (dealer is close). I'm in the waiting room now. They know they just did the frame a couple weeks ago and these guys are actually decent. Service Writer took me right to the service manager and the manager just said "fix it, this is on us... Who was the tech?", then apologized to me. So they are doing the right things.

I just hope I can still make it to work tonight, if not on time at least IN time, if you know what I mean.

Thanks b_r_o you reply to a lot of my stuff and I appreciate you.

 

Just a quick close to this. The dealer had it re aligned and tightened up within a hour. No more odd noises, no more wiggle. I'll double check the torque on Saturday, I have a torque wrench.

I got to work about an hour late but boss man is understanding and ultimately nothing was negatively impacted by it so really he just saved paying me an hour and I lost an hour's pay over it.

It pulls to the right a little bit at speed though, but that might just be the brand new wheel bearing I put on that front right side still breaking in and having a bit more drag then the left. I dunno maybe I'm making excuses but I'm done hassling with it through the dealer for a little while anyway. I have a front end specialist that's been working in the field for thirty years that I take my beetles to that I trust completely. I'll take it to him when I've got the cash so I have somebody other than the dealer to give it a once over.

All the best,
Buggsy

 

Take it back and have Toyota fix it the correct way,on there dime.

 

They did, thanks.

 

Good job O.P