LCA Cam Tab Gussets questions

geofox784

geofox784

New member
Planning on doing a 3" lift in a few months. Will be new struts, springs, and UCAs (all Dobinsons). I'll be doing the install myself and have KDSS. Someone (with a much more built rig) recommended installing weld on caster tabs. This is the first I have heard of these.

- How necessary are reinforced caster tabs? I plan on doing some wheeling but nothing too crazy. However, I'll be installing sliders and skid plates and I don't want to have a bottlenecked build where the OEM caster tabs are limiting me.
- How much extra work is it to remove the LCA's in order to do this install? I'll already have the UCA's and struts out
- Is there a guide somewhere on how to get the LCA's out?
 
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Are you doing lift mostly for looks or do you plan on doing some hard wheeling. If the most you will see is pavement and forest roads, not worth the effort. If you plan on real wheeling, rocks, bashing through whoops, then absolutely.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
 
It’s a good upgrade, I had a local shop install the TC cam gussets. I bent mine having too much fun at Calico. It’ll also keep inexperienced techs from bending them while performing an alignment.
 
rochmpr said:
Are you doing lift mostly for looks or do you plan on doing some hard wheeling. If the most you will see is pavement and forest roads, not worth the effort. If you plan on real wheeling, rocks, bashing through whoops, then absolutely.

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Mostly just overlanding, but I don't want to have to think "I have to skip that trail because my tab gussets could get bent." Already getting skids, sliders, and rear lower link skids. Do you know how much more difficult it would make a lift install? Can you just unbolt the LCA and pull it away once the strut is out or do you have to remove the axel and everything else? I've got a friend that can help with the welding so I'm not worried about the actual install of the tabs themselves, more the steps to actually get to them.
 
https://youtu.be/FIV8fQq4vN4
It's a good bit of work. Sprocket head does good job on this video. Notice the foil on the boots for protection during the welding step. I did this on my 4th gen but I don't have any relevant pics of the process.
Good Luck!
 
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geofox784 said:
Mostly just overlanding, but I don't want to have to think "I have to skip that trail because my tab gussets could get bent." Already getting skids, sliders, and rear lower link skids. Do you know how much more difficult it would make a lift install? Can you just unbolt the LCA and pull it away once the strut is out or do you have to remove the axel and everything else? I've got a friend that can help with the welding so I'm not worried about the actual install of the tabs themselves, more the steps to actually get to them.
Click to expand...

Overlanding? So dirt roads and Starbucks parking lots.

It is best to remove the axles to have room to drill the weldsnto remove the stock tabs, plus grinding and welding. Cheap insurance
 
rochmpr said:
Here you go.

Link thing for axle removal

Instead of the slide hammer, honestly, I have just used a pry bar to pop it out of the housing.
Click to expand...

Looks like quite the procedure. Already installing the lift and need to get it all done in one day because I'll be using a friend's garage space. Looks like in the taco video it's not a huge deal to have the axel there. Is the 4runner axel more in the way than the taco? If I have to remove the axel I'll probably have the skip the guessets for now.
 
geofox784 said:
Looks like quite the procedure. Already installing the lift and need to get it all done in one day because I'll be using a friend's garage space. Looks like in the taco video it's not a huge deal to have the axel there. Is the 4runner axel more in the way than the taco? If I have to remove the axel I'll probably have the skip the guessets for now.
Click to expand...

You are definitely trying to accomplish a lot for one day. I did my lift in my garage by myself, and it took all weekend (didn't help getting emergency calls from work and having to run in). It also took a weekend to do the cam gussets, especially with all of the disassembly, removal of existing, clean-up and prep, fit-up and weld out.

With some experienced people, you could most likely get all the work done over an entire weekend. Installing a lift with help, yeah, I can see getting that done in a day.
 
rochmpr said:
You are definitely trying to accomplish a lot for one day. I did my lift in my garage by myself, and it took all weekend (didn't help getting emergency calls from work and having to run in). It also took a weekend to do the cam gussets, especially with all of the disassembly, removal of existing, clean-up and prep, fit-up and weld out.

With some experienced people, you could most likely get all the work done over an entire weekend. Installing a lift with help, yeah, I can see getting that done in a day.
Click to expand...

Gotcha. I'll probably skip them durring the lift and then install them on my own later. As long as the top of the cam washer is at the same position will it effect alignment enough that I'll need to bring it in again?
 
geofox784 said:
Gotcha. I'll probably skip them durring the lift and then install them on my own later. As long as the top of the cam washer is at the same position will it effect alignment enough that I'll need to bring it in again?
Click to expand...

I would suggest a re-alignment after the cam gusset install. You can always get the "Life Time Alignment" at Firestone. Just don't expect them to actually do a good job.
 
FWIW - for folks considering this, Marlin has a kit that IMO is a better mousetrap. And they can be installed over the other aftermarket cam gussets.

<iframe width="720" height="405" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XIL_oAkv4oE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I've never had an issue with my cams moving or bending the tabs. The tabs should not be performing any function of holding the cams in place once tightened. They should be held in place by friction between the bushing and the frame tabs. That's why the bushings have teeth on them. My guess is most issues are from under-tightening the cam bolts.
 
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Jetboy said:
FWIW - for folks considering this, Marlin has a kit that IMO is a better mousetrap. And they can be installed over the other aftermarket cam gussets.

<iframe width="720" height="405" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/XIL_oAkv4oE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe>

I've never had an issue with my cams moving or bending the tabs. The tabs should not be performing any function of holding the cams in place once tightened. They should be held in place by friction between the bushing and the frame tabs. That's why the bushings have teeth on them. My guess is most issues are from under-tightening the cam bolts.
Click to expand...

awesome video. and yea they bend and alignments get loose. it happens
 
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