So pardon this being my second thread of the night. I have done a fair amount of maintenance myself recently and am just now getting the time off work to write it up.
So a couple of weeks ago I replaced the LBJs and Outer Tie Rods, as they were both originals, and both shot. Vehicle is an 02 4runner coming up on 200k, so these were both long overdue as the bushings were shot and the LBJs moved for anything. Stopping the vehicle felt like re-entering the atmosphere, so it was time. All parts are OEM to include new bolts and Timmy the Toolmans instructional videos and a couple of write ups from the 3rd Gens forum.
Tie rods werent an issue at all, and the LBJs were much easier than I thought they would be. Right up until I was installing the very last of the 8x 14mm mounting bolts that is. Not sure if my Torque Wrench is off or if I just screwed up, but as I was tightening it, the bolt head sheered off. Completely inside the LBJ. Bolt is going all the way through and out the other side of the knuckle, with locktight on it. Head appears to have broken off just inside the LBJ so there is nothing on the underside to grab on to. The bolt is still completely inside the LBJ and knuckle.
So I took it to the shop to get a 2nd opinion and alignment. And here is where Id like a third opinion. Its a local Midas that I have used for a while, and the specific mechanic I ask to do the work has the same year/model 4runner so hes pretty familiar with the issues of the gen. Iv never had issues with them in the past, and hope I am not now. He tells me there isnt much I can do, but that it shouldnt be too big a deal. He also tells me when it comes to suspensions, they dont use a torque wrench, the simply locktight everything, hand thread them, then use an impact wrench to get them good and tight. A little weird to me considering how specific ever write up I read went into getting accurate ft/lbs.
I use this rig for offroading and a daily driver. Losing 1 bolt puts about 8% more pressure on the remaining 3 (4x bolts carries 25% of pressure each, 3x bolts carries 33%), so while I can drive it for now, Im not comfortable doing much off the pavement. I want to get this thing fixed, preferably soon. The bolt is locktited and still going through both the LBJ and knuckle. The way I see it my options are to either replace both the LBJ and knuckle (NOT preferable), attempt to somehow reverse it out from the top with pliers, possibly a tap and drill by a pro, or ignore it (not going to ignore it!!!). Hoping someone on here has had a similar experience or some insight as to how I can fix this. This thing isnt a rock crawler or anything, but the CO Mountain trails are not exactly gentle and I dont want to lose an LBJ 40 miles from a paved road or cell signal. Any insight at all would be appreciated.
So a couple of weeks ago I replaced the LBJs and Outer Tie Rods, as they were both originals, and both shot. Vehicle is an 02 4runner coming up on 200k, so these were both long overdue as the bushings were shot and the LBJs moved for anything. Stopping the vehicle felt like re-entering the atmosphere, so it was time. All parts are OEM to include new bolts and Timmy the Toolmans instructional videos and a couple of write ups from the 3rd Gens forum.
Tie rods werent an issue at all, and the LBJs were much easier than I thought they would be. Right up until I was installing the very last of the 8x 14mm mounting bolts that is. Not sure if my Torque Wrench is off or if I just screwed up, but as I was tightening it, the bolt head sheered off. Completely inside the LBJ. Bolt is going all the way through and out the other side of the knuckle, with locktight on it. Head appears to have broken off just inside the LBJ so there is nothing on the underside to grab on to. The bolt is still completely inside the LBJ and knuckle.
So I took it to the shop to get a 2nd opinion and alignment. And here is where Id like a third opinion. Its a local Midas that I have used for a while, and the specific mechanic I ask to do the work has the same year/model 4runner so hes pretty familiar with the issues of the gen. Iv never had issues with them in the past, and hope I am not now. He tells me there isnt much I can do, but that it shouldnt be too big a deal. He also tells me when it comes to suspensions, they dont use a torque wrench, the simply locktight everything, hand thread them, then use an impact wrench to get them good and tight. A little weird to me considering how specific ever write up I read went into getting accurate ft/lbs.
I use this rig for offroading and a daily driver. Losing 1 bolt puts about 8% more pressure on the remaining 3 (4x bolts carries 25% of pressure each, 3x bolts carries 33%), so while I can drive it for now, Im not comfortable doing much off the pavement. I want to get this thing fixed, preferably soon. The bolt is locktited and still going through both the LBJ and knuckle. The way I see it my options are to either replace both the LBJ and knuckle (NOT preferable), attempt to somehow reverse it out from the top with pliers, possibly a tap and drill by a pro, or ignore it (not going to ignore it!!!). Hoping someone on here has had a similar experience or some insight as to how I can fix this. This thing isnt a rock crawler or anything, but the CO Mountain trails are not exactly gentle and I dont want to lose an LBJ 40 miles from a paved road or cell signal. Any insight at all would be appreciated.
