Alignment tabs...

My front end has started a slight shimmy on the highway and noticed this. WtF!? I had an alignment done after 5100s were installed 3rd gen Sport coils and icon 3 leaf aal.
Camber on the passenger side needed a fixing to begin with as well. Sadly, the bent tab in the pic is the drivers side; front side of front bolt.
THIS is why I do 99% of work myself. Why didn't I have a look when I picked it up? As customer, I'd rather hear," Sorry, we can't do this because....". Then show me, so I can understand what you're saying and I'll decide if it's worth it for me to have you do it or not. Most likely not...
Ok, my soapbox broke because I'ma fat bastid..

 

That's horse shit!

With that bent, there is no way to maintain the adjustment. 1st big bump and it will slide out of alignment.

I'd take it back and show it to the manager.

 

I think it may be too late for that but I'll give it a shot.
But yes, you are absolutely right.

 

This a common problem. If you can, take out the bolt and bend the tab back as best you can. Put a bead of weld on the outside of it to reinforce it. Total chaos also makes a beefy cam tab that you can weld on.

 

this is a very well known issue with these trucks. TC and Marlin Crawler have solutions. Who says it didn’t happen after the alignment?

 

This. The tab bends when the alignment tech continues to try and turn the eccentric after 1) not loosening the bolt enough 2) the bolt is seized to the bushing sleeve.

the Tech should’ve realized it was happening/happened and told someone, especially you. If they can’t weld it, they 100% owe you a frame.

 

Froze bolts won't cause that. There will be no rotation of the cams with froze bolts/bushings. I agree with the part of not loosening the bolt though.

I think a new frame might be a little excessive. Weld in new tabs and be happy.

 

I realize it's a known issue. My bitch is that either they did it during the alignment or it wasn't torqued properly.
They were fine before the alignment.
99% of my driving is highway, and I always steer clear of puddle camouflaged pot holes. I know I didn't hit anything hard enough to do that.

@Tacobot14 another new frame.... Sure why not.

 

There is no question the tech did that. I've never seen a bent tab from everyday driving.

 

Yea they will when you tear the bushing. I’m a Toyota Tech and thats what SET tells us makes it happen at least.

 

I do agree new frame would be excessive... I was joking around

but in reality, this happened to me and I got a TIG welder out, bent the tabs back and ran a bead behind them to keep them from folding over.

 

I bent the tabs back on my tundra after they were damaged from the rollover. stuffed a piece of keystock up against them and welded it in. Stronger than ever now (i would remove the control arm to do this though, bushings dont like heat!)

 

Not a bad idea but I didn’t have an issue. The actual welding takes a matter of seconds if you’ve welded before.

 

Mine was more of an issue because of how the tabs are setup on the tundra. Totally different setup from the tacos, can’t just weld TC tabs on. Or I would of done that

 

You must have serious impact gun. I've never got any rotation out if froze cam bolts.

 

I’ve torn the bushings trying to free mine up. Only way to get them free without destroying the bushings is an air hammer and luck

 

Seeing as you have an 06, and you're up in MA, I would bet that your alignment bolts are frozen in the LCA. Heck, even the outside is starting to rust. When the tech puts a wrench on and really gives her hell to try and break it loose, those tabs can bend. I've done it before.

 

Yep, mark the cams with a paint pen, loosen, tap tab back up into a standing position and weld behind them. If you take your time and don't burn them in all at once, you shouldn't put too much heat into the bushing. Just take your time. I had to do the same thing.

 

You need to get the tabs welded up, I had a shop weld 1/4" stock behind mine to reinforce the tabs

 

I don't weld sadly. Gonna get the Marlin tab gusset kit and ask a co worker do it.
Overkill for my highway cruiser, but better than drilling using the TC kit.

Edit: going with TC.