Suspension failed. Toyota looking into it.
- Thread starter Pepco
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- #4
Am I not interpreting it correctly, i.e. simply the bolt came out? As stingy as Toyota is with warranty issues, it must have been determined a factory issue was the culprit, such as lack of Loctite on the bolt?
Do the robots miss sometimes?
Although in the video I believe this couple claims to have never altered the suspension, in a previous video they show how they added an airbag suspension kit. I have never heard of this type of modification and cannot speak to what, if any, effect this would have had. Just found it interesting. And yes, they hauled a lot of weight over long and rough distances. Through washboards and sand dunes.
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- #7
Did not notice a modification in the video, and certainly they would not have been able to remove it on the road before taking the video. Air suspension is typically only installed on the rear, for added load capability, and it seems a heavy rear load would have lessened the load on the front.
The added air suspension is detailed and shown on their "modifying our LC250!" video from 4 weeks ago. To me it would seem this would have no effect on the front strut coming undone, but who knows. From this video showing the broken strut bolt, it sure looks like a lot of rust on and around that bolt area and in general under the truck - a new truck at that. They took it down to the ocean to drive right at waters edge with the salt water splashing the underside. Did they spray down soon after? Could this have had anything to do with the issue? I would think not but just something I did notice.
And by the way, yes air suspension is on rear, so again probably nothing to do with damage. But that is why you don't see it in recent video. Or could the different suspension (air) in rear alter the forces on the front in some way?
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- #10
Yes, noticed the rust, and on a such a new vehicle!
The Jeep in my avatar is 10 years old and i have driven it about 100 times to the beach and driven through saltwater puddles and ocean water many times. In the winter here in the northeast i'm driving on salted roads 8 weeks per year. I park outside on the wet and salted road all winter. That Jeep has been washed about 5 times in ten years on the outside. I usually let rain do that for me. I have barely any rust underneath and certainly not anything that would compromise a bolt. I would expect the same or better robustness from the LC. I think they were just unlucky and got a faulty bolt that just gave out on the washboard roads in Australia. Everything kills you in Australia, even the sand and the roads.
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- #12
With all the dry course sand/rocks in Aussie land, I could see where the protective coatings could be worn away allowing the rust to start very rapidly.
As far as the bolt........ IMO just a bad part. I have replaced several ball joints on Camerys, some with just 50K on the ticker.
As far as the bolt........ IMO just a bad part. I have replaced several ball joints on Camerys, some with just 50K on the ticker.
If you check their video history, the last couple of videos before this are about driving in deep mud, driving on the beach and getting stuck wheel deep in sand. I am willing to bet that they had caked mud, sea salt and sand in the bold housing that they failed to properly wash. Since the failed bolt is on a moving part, this may have caused it to get “sand blasted” while driving on washboard.
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Your jeep is either lucky or the frames are better than Toyos. The FJ is notorious for frame rust. This is why people mainly want to buy FJs from the south. When someone lists their FJ for sale, the #1 request is for underbody pics. I thought the TACOs had a bad reputation for rust also?
This air suspension was popular among FJ owners and I have it on mine. Its mainly for lifting up the backend when towing. It's nice because they go inside the springs so if they fail, you still have your springs. I have never had it negatively affect the front side.
With the shared platform with Tacoma's and the new 4Runner, I do wonder why we have bumpstops on the LCA vs built into the coil, and LCs have single sheer lower shock mount vs double sheer on the others...
Double sheer and that couple's bolt could have come out but the lower shock mount likely would have been retained in the pocket.
They are tough on their LC and until now seems to be taking everything they've thrown at it.
Double sheer and that couple's bolt could have come out but the lower shock mount likely would have been retained in the pocket.
They are tough on their LC and until now seems to be taking everything they've thrown at it.
I saw this video too. I see a design flaw. If anyone has replaced their front shocks on their old 4Runner or Tacoma knows the pain for seating the shock into the lower control arm. It is secured with a bolt and a nut between 2 support brackets in the middle of the control arm. With this new suspension design, Toyota moved the entire mounting point to a bolt into a hole in front the lower control arm. If you lose a bolt on the old deign, you at least have your suspension cradled by the arm. In this new design, your entire suspension collapses if you lose that bolt. I will be checking these bolts regularly. I suspect they unscrewed themselves. Rubber bushings cannot isolate the rotating friction if they are full of sand, dirt, and rust.
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If it breaks while driving on washboard, cradle wouldn’t be able to keep it in place.
I remember when the new Bronco came out there were quite a few similar instances like this that happened when people took them out offroading. Not necessarily the same component that failed. But after the first production year, they beefed up those weakest link in the following production years. I'd see this as product testing and I am glad someone is taking this vehicle beyond just the regular roads and mall crawling.
