I got my 4Runner used from Carmax. I had them do an alignment while they fixed the front driver's seat (that TSB).
One day I noticed the front skid plate was lower on the driver's side.
I looked under and found that only the two bolts on the passenger side were there and the front one wasn't screwed fully in.
I raised hell with carmax and 3 weeks later they finally sent me some bolts in the mail (I live over an hour from carmax).
I figured out that the fron passenger bolt wouldn't go in all the way because the metal tab was bent wrong. I fixed that, but the threads in the hole are slightly stripped.
When I tried to put the other two bolts in they wouldn't thread in correctly and I ended up stripping a couple of the threads on both bolts.
It looks like it wasn't Carmax's fault, the holes are rusted inside and the bolts probably weren't in there when Carmax got the vehicle. I still blame Carmax for not telling me about the missing bolts after they did the alignment.
Anyway, I think the only real fix is to rethread the holes.
I have two options:
1 - Drill out the holes and tap them for 10x1.25mm and get new (better) bolts to fit.
2 - Get a Helicoil kit, drill out the holes, install the Helicoils with 8x1.25mm coils, and get new (better) 8x1.25 bolts.
What do yall think? Just go up in size or stay with the same size bolt but install Helicoils?
Will the helicoils stand up to putting bolts in and taking them out better than the frame's steel?
One day I noticed the front skid plate was lower on the driver's side.
I looked under and found that only the two bolts on the passenger side were there and the front one wasn't screwed fully in.
I raised hell with carmax and 3 weeks later they finally sent me some bolts in the mail (I live over an hour from carmax).
I figured out that the fron passenger bolt wouldn't go in all the way because the metal tab was bent wrong. I fixed that, but the threads in the hole are slightly stripped.
When I tried to put the other two bolts in they wouldn't thread in correctly and I ended up stripping a couple of the threads on both bolts.
It looks like it wasn't Carmax's fault, the holes are rusted inside and the bolts probably weren't in there when Carmax got the vehicle. I still blame Carmax for not telling me about the missing bolts after they did the alignment.
Anyway, I think the only real fix is to rethread the holes.
I have two options:
1 - Drill out the holes and tap them for 10x1.25mm and get new (better) bolts to fit.
2 - Get a Helicoil kit, drill out the holes, install the Helicoils with 8x1.25mm coils, and get new (better) 8x1.25 bolts.
What do yall think? Just go up in size or stay with the same size bolt but install Helicoils?
Will the helicoils stand up to putting bolts in and taking them out better than the frame's steel?
