Rear Lower Control Arm Troubles

[cartrouble]

A month or so ago I had an ICON Stage 5 suspension installed. Given the complexities with KDSS, I opted to have a very reliable shop install the suspension and everything seemed right until I started hearing some odd popping type noises at low speeds. Bumps seem to worsen it. I've been trying to figure out what is going on for a while and I think today I finally figured it out...

Here's the drivers side frame mount of the lower control arm. Notice the loose spacer and the contact with the frame mount. I noticed this after feeling it was loose.


For reference, here's the passenger side frame mount for the LCA which seems to be problem free:


So my question is first of all, does it look like this is installed correctly? Second of all, does the loose spacer seem like something is broken?

Thanks for taking a look!

 

[Crikeymike]

You can't make the "good" one flex as far as the "bad" one?

The heim could have gone bad, but it's hard to tell. You could pull it off without too much difficulty and inspect the "bad" side.

 

[mwray8909]

It doesn't take a whole lot to drop it and inspect it. That's what I would recommend. But to answer a part of your question. No it doesn't look quite right

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G890A using Tapatalk

 

[Trail-AMMO]

A month or so ago I had an ICON Stage 5 suspension installed. Given the complexities with KDSS, I opted to have a very reliable shop install the suspension and everything seemed right until I started hearing some odd popping type noises at low speeds. Bumps seem to worsen it. I've been trying to figure out what is going on for a while and I think today I finally figured it out...

Here's the drivers side frame mount of the lower control arm. Notice the loose spacer and the contact with the frame mount. I noticed this after feeling it was loose.


For reference, here's the passenger side frame mount for the LCA which seems to be problem free:


So my question is first of all, does it look like this is installed correctly? Second of all, does the loose spacer seem like something is broken?

Thanks for taking a look!

Super easy fix as I highly doubt given the age of the kit that the hiem is already worn.

Step One back off that jam nut, the large nut behind the hiem. It seems the hiem is rotating the threads vs. the hiem. (Prob already loose, the jam nut hence allowing the hiem to rotate the threads vs the hiem)

Use a wrench and center the hiem vertically, then tighten down the jamb nut.

Should give you equal distance on each side of the hiem and no more clunk as you describe if this is in fact the issue.

-A

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Was the suspension retorqued after installed?

A lot of people miss that step, it probably became loose. Should be easy enough to fix just by unbolting it, tighting the jam nut and reinstalling.

 

[infinitedev]

Looks like the bolt going through the heim is loose, and that allowed the misalignment to pop out a bit - see the red circle.

My bet is that this misalignment bushing is getting caught in when the heim rotates. There is usually a Teflon sleeve around the ball portion of the heim, and this sleeve may be damaged due to hitting on the loose misalignment bushing. If this sleeve gets damaged, the heim will become very loose and will need to be replaced. If the sleeve isn't damaged, you should be able to tighten down the bolt running through the heim and pull the misalignment spacer back in like the other link.

Also, looks like the jam nuts on both links could need to be adjusted and tightened.

 

[wfo9]

I don't think it should be rotated like that. It should be centered at ride height. I'm guessing the jam nut and/or the pinch bolts are not tight enough.

If you have to take it apart to align and tighten it back up.. You may need some type of ratchet strap or puller to get the bolts lined back up when putting it back together. The axle tends to shift forward or backwards when you knock the bolt out and it is too heavy to pull it back in line on your own...

I'm not exactly sure how the ICON ones work. I can see the allen pinch bolts, but is it also threaded? I would try loosening those pinch bolts and rotating it. Then get the jam nut tight as you can.

Also verify the frame bolt is as tight as it should be...

 

[Ducmonsta]

I don't think it should be rotated like that. It should be centered at ride height. I'm guessing the jam nut and/or the pinch bolts are not tight enough.

If you have to take it apart to align and tighten it back up.. You may need some type of ratchet strap or puller to get the bolts lined back up when putting it back together. The axle tends to shift forward or backwards when you knock the bolt out and it is too heavy to pull it back in line on your own...

I'm not exactly sure how the ICON ones work. I can see the allen pinch bolts, but is it also threaded? I would try loosening those pinch bolts and rotating it. Then get the jam nut tight as you can.

Also verify the frame bolt is as tight as it should be...

All correct info. The allen bolts you see underneath are only for attaching/replacing the skids of the control arms. There are 2 pinch bolts on top (not pictured).


The other problem is, if the heim has been loose for a long period of time, the threads in the aluminum control arm could be damaged requiring complete replacement.

 

[cartrouble]

Thanks to everyone who took some time to provide their solutions. I took both LCA down to inspect, loosened the pinch bolts, realigned the heim and then reinstalled and retorqued everything. Everything seems to be alright. After a short cruise around the neighborhood the popping noise has disappeared and the heims are staying aligned. We'll see how it holds up to some light wheeling maybe this upcoming weekend. Guess I'll be adding a 12pt 3/8" socket to the recovery kit for the pinch bolts.

Also, for anyone else having the same problem, I later stumbled across this thread which deals with the same issue:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/210771-trailing-arm-uniball-crooked.html

Thanks again!

 

[Jkempton]

Been there, done that. I doubt they will stay aligned. Oh, and the heir has an annoying rattle at low speeds. Here is your long term solution.

http://www.spcalignment.com/compone...Runner&year=2010 - 2016&from=USAFrom&to=USATo

 

[Trail-AMMO]

Been there, done that. I doubt they will stay aligned. Oh, and the heir has an annoying rattle at low speeds. Here is your long term solution.

http://www.spcalignment.com/compone...Runner&year=2010 - 2016&from=USAFrom&to=USATo

If we are going to recommend other solutions it's hard to beat these for two simple reasons.

Metal Tech 4x4 FJ Cruiser/4Runner Offset Rear Lower Replacement Links

- 1 steal lower links will slide over objects vs. dig
- 2 hard to beat a johnny joint for flex and completely serviceable

-A