Warning - Broken control arm bolt!

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by NEexpat

This is exactly why I haven't attempted to replace these myself ".....so I am now in the process of figuring out how to get it out."

I check mine periodically to see if the bolt heads are still there and whenever the yari is at the dealer I ask them to check them, they always say they are fine. Of course I don't know what their "inspection" involves.

Scott let us know what wizardary you employ to get that out. I would guess some drilling and a broken bolt extractor. Big extractor.

One day I may slide under there with a breaker bar and give them a crack, I won't be doing it in my garage or driveway, I'll be doing it in the big chain parking lot adjacent to the dealer so if I shear one off, I'll be about 200 yards away.

I'm so glad I recently got new bolts and had them put in. The heads looked good, but there was rust on the threads of both of my original bolts (and my Yaris has only been exposed to fewer than 10 days of 'wimpy snow' here and not many more days re ice exposure.....and, IIRC, zero road salt exposure). We do, however, get a fair amount of rain from big storms that dump quite a bit of rain in a short period of time .

The head of the bolt, at least in some cases, doesn't seem to tell the whole story. This leads me to think that the only way to thoroughly check them is to remove them.....and if you're going to do that, or have it done, they might as well be replaced with new ones.

[CTScott]

^Indeed. The heads on both of these looked fine, which is why I gave them a go.

I finally broken the sub frame free. The only thing holding it was the bond between the bolt and its metal sleeve on the A arm. A couple hours of PB Blaster, pounding, prying, torching, and bleeding and it suddenly popped free.

Tomorrow I will weld a nut onto the bolt and see if I can free it.


Control Arm Bolt - Broken.jpg

[CB900F2]

^^^^^^ dam!! I sure hope the tsb that what done my yaris a couple of years ago resolved this issue...

[nookandcrannycar]

^^^^^ Wow, that is quite a sight. Better if the break hadn't happened at all, but thank goodness it didn't happen while the 'Ohio owner' was driving the car (we all know it wouldn't happen if you decided to drive it for even a week before selling it.....would have to meet your standard first).

[CTScott]

Welding on a nut worked like a charm. The broken bolt is now out.

While searching for some info on how Toyota deals with the broken ones I ran into a case where someone had one replaced before the TSB, and they paid for 7 hours of labor (over $600) and $10 for the bolt. I can definitely understand they labor part after dealing with this myself.

Here's the big nut welded on:

Welded Nut.jpg

And, here's the broken bolt, finally freed:

Bolt Out.jpg

[NEexpat]

What a nightmare this entire issue is.

I realize the problem lies beneath the bolt head. Unfortunately I have neither the inclination nor expertise to jack or ramp up my car and take a swing at these things.

Look at what Scott just went through, I was sweating bullets when I was splicing into wires for my keyless entry for fear I would screw something up .

I just went through a front brake job where the inside of the rotors were awful. I have no doubt in my mind my bolts are corroding and for now I just have to rely on the dealership to tell me they are ok.

Months ago I thought of contacting Scott and suggesting, when he generously offered his garage and services for a get together, that I would order and buy pairs of bolts for those who would come and wanted that done, interest waned so I never did.

Imagine if it had worked out and what happened with Scott's recent bolt adventure had happened to another member. I am grateful none of it ever took place, I for one would have felt terrible about it.

I think once the originals are out and new ones are in, I would then replace them every year, fiquring the odds of them not shearing off were now in my favor, but the first ones, no thanks.

[CTScott]

^Exactly. I suspect that everyone who lives where salt is used on the roads is in exactly the same situation. Replacing them yearly truly makes sense.

After spending many hours under there I also now understand where the seam sealant needs to be applied to reduce the water entry and will post a DIY on that as well. Seam sealing will not completely eliminate the issue, but it will definitely help, as there is a pocket above the subframe that can collect water and then drip it into the bolt's sleeve.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by CTScott

there is a pocket above the subframe that can collect water and then drip it into the bolt's sleeve.

A-ha...I imagine this might be a contributing factor as to why I had rust (given my very low exposure to snow/ice/road salt and large exposure to a lot of rain per storm).

[Hershey]

Toyota needs to make it mandatory . They won't because a T.S.B. saves them money . The past 5 years has diminished our faith in Toyota . Before that we were avid fans .

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Hershey

Toyota needs to make it mandatory . They won't because a T.S.B. saves them money . The past 5 years has diminished our faith in Toyota . Before that we were avid fans .

Even after going through the nightmare of replacing the broken one, I really don't blame this on Toyota as much as I do on the people who choose the Winter chemicals to use on our roads.

The difference in corrosion between the 2007 100K+ mile California Yaris that I recently parted out and this 2007 70K mile Ohio Yaris is incredible.

Recently I was chatting with a guy who works for the CT highway department and he was telling me about how bad the trucks that spray the road chemicals disintegrate in a single season, and it is just plain scary.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by CTScott

Even after going through the nightmare of replacing the broken one, I really don't blame this on Toyota as much as I do on the people who choose the Winter chemicals to use on our roads.

The difference in corrosion between the 2007 100K+ mile California Yaris that I recently parted out and this 2007 70K mile Ohio Yaris is incredible.

Recently I was chatting with a guy who works for the CT highway department and he was telling me about how bad the trucks that spray the road chemicals disintegrate in a single season, and it is just plain scary.

Wow. I wonder what the California Department of Transportation uses for 'winter road treatment' ? Unlike CT, OH, etc., relatively few well traveled roads in densely populated areas that would need any Winter treatment. I would think the main concern would be the Interstate Highways (plus U.S. 50) where traffic has to go over a good size mountain range/pass to get to another state.

[nookandcrannycar]

Currently on the 'story wheel' on the Yahoo home page ----- 2014 Audi R8 Convertible and a fleet of 1984 Audi 4000 Quatros having fun on 600 acres --- in the snow. I wonder what the fleet of '84s look like underneath?????


http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoram...173509726.html

[Viperoni]

I posted in one of these control arm bolt threads, soon after I got my Echo, and called out an OP on them. Now I've got my tail inbetween my legs. I've had a few bolts snap on me that should not have ever snapped - the worst two being the thermostat housing *studs*.
Basically it's horrendously cheap quality metal.

Anyone else have trouble with bolts snapping due to poor quality metal on their Yaris?

Given my experience with my Echo, and then reading this thread and the TSB's out there for the issue... is coming close to ticking the Yaris off my "next car" list...

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by Viperoni

I posted in one of these control arm bolt threads, soon after I got my Echo, and called out an OP on them. Now I've got my tail inbetween my legs. I've had a few bolts snap on me that should not have ever snapped - the worst two being the thermostat housing *studs*.
Basically it's horrendously cheap quality metal.

Anyone else have trouble with bolts snapping due to poor quality metal on their Yaris?

Given my experience with my Echo, and then reading this thread and the TSB's out there for the issue... is coming close to ticking the Yaris off my "next car" list...

I would probably feel differently if I lived in a Winter climate like yours, but I'll probably be willing to give the Prius C a shot after (hopefully) many more miles have elapsed on my Yaris.

[Viperoni]

Originally Posted by nookandcrannycar

I would probably feel differently if I lived in a Winter climate like yours, but I'll probably be willing to give the Prius C a shot after (hopefully) many more miles have elapsed on my Yaris.

Everybody's said that, but this is the only car I've had this "weak bolts" problem with, and I've been through a few cars... and have done a ton of work on them too.

Probably the best example was with my old 92 Nissan NX2000 that I had before my Echo (which I bought in 2010), meaning the NX was 18 years old at the time, I was able to get control arms bolts, header bolts (at the motor and collector), and some others out reasonably well. No snapping, just breaker barring it out. The car had around 180k at the time and was winter driven by the previous owner.

[CTScott]

Originally Posted by Viperoni

Everybody's said that, but this is the only car I've had this "weak bolts" problem with, and I've been through a few cars... and have done a ton of work on them too.

Probably the best example was with my old 92 Nissan NX2000 that I had before my Echo (which I bought in 2010), meaning the NX was 18 years old at the time, I was able to get control arms bolts, header bolts (at the motor and collector), and some others out reasonably well. No snapping, just breaker barring it out. The car had around 180k at the time and was winter driven by the previous owner.

I have seen far more bolt issues as of late as well, but not just with the Yaris. I was helping a buddy of mine change his rear shocks on his relatively new Jeep and we sheared two bolts in the process. I swear that it has nothing to do with the manufacturers cheaping out on bolts, but rather on these new road salts that are being used.

[Lars]

Originally Posted by CTScott

After spending many hours under there I also now understand where the seam sealant needs to be applied to reduce the water entry and will post a DIY on that as well.

Please do... you guys are scaring me sh*tless...

I have no idea what they put on the roads here in Germany but I sure hope it's not as aggressive as what they put on yours!!

[Hershey]

Never had this issue with cars of the past . Would go 250,000+ miles and no bolts for suspension would fail . Struts and other related parts , yes , that's expected . Poor design of the control arm . Who supplies those to Toyota ? Subarus and other manufacturers have the same problem .