Doing some adjustments today and preparing to paint the calipers (maybe) and install a Borla exhaust, and just happened to catch this butt-puckering issue on my passenger side lower control arm.

Inspect everything while you're under your car. Every time.

 

Wow.

Mine's getting checked today.

 

Dang, good catch. Had you noticed it driving or steering any differently? Wonder how long it's been like that?!

V.

 

When asked to torque to specs but was looking at the manual for Corolla.

 

Feeling not so much and since I had the mufflers deleted I can't hear anything, including myself think. I think the bolt just hanging in there kept it from feeling much different. I have Figs spherical bushings on the rear, so I doubt I would have felt much until it failed.

 

I assume this was a bolt that you have removed at some point correct? Can't imagine factory bolts are just backing out. We hope haha.

 

That's the scary part, never touched it. Not even once.

 

Would appear I have some things to do this weekend.

 

Part of every scheduled maintenance interval. Check all chassis bolts...

 

Then the dealer has some explaining to do.

 

Someone, somewhere down the line, has touched this bolt....No way it backed out by itself, no way.
Of course you wouldn't know unless something like this happens.

V.

 

That bolt would have likely been removed when you had your headers installed. I wonder if they just didn't torque that one? Luckily you caught it before it came all the way out. Good catch!

 

I'm pretty convinced they only inspect the air filters (cabin and engine) and call it a day.

 

As a flat rate tech, you get paid .5 hours for an oil service, and in some cases less, assuming they don't use a teenage lube rack kid. Trust me, nobody is checking the torque on your bolts during your oil change, and even during a major service nobody is digging that deep outside of a visual inspection.

A backed out bolt, yeah, that I would hope a tech would see. But that's assuming it was backed out at the time of inspection. Most techs are looking for upsales which would include bushings so might have spotted it.

Just giving my experience. I used to be a tech, and was a good one. Which is why I left the industry. Too smart to be making **** money wrenching on cars. Don't miss it in the slightest.

 

So you've got the spherical rear lca bushing and the stock front one?