Seized Suspension

July 14, 2009

A while ago while trying to have a full alignment done, the center told me they couldn't do the rear suspemsion cause everything had seized solid & they didn't want to risk breaking. I was tken around & shown the offending areas.

They were surprised to see a car this old (4years & 40k) to have this peoblem.

Since then I have found this is a common problem with 4.2 RAV's.

Toyota dealer's verdit was to replace all the seized parts (@ £300 total) & would not guarantee it would not happen again!

Has anybody come up with a permanent solution or has there been a recall about this? B)

July 14, 2009

A while ago while trying to have a full alignment done, the center told me they couldn't do the rear suspemsion cause everything had seized solid & they didn't want to risk breaking. I was tken around & shown the offending areas.
They were surprised to see a car this old (4years & 40k) to have this peoblem.
Since then I have found this is a common problem with 4.2 RAV's.
Toyota dealer's verdit was to replace all the seized parts (@ £300 total) & would not guarantee it would not happen again!
Has anybody come up with a permanent solution or has there been a recall about this? B)

You mean the shock absorbers have siezed?

July 15, 2009

the rear suspension has "cam bolts" for adjusting the toe & camber for each wheel. These generally seize which makes it impossible to make any adjustment B)

July 15, 2009

the rear suspension has "cam bolts" for adjusting the toe & camber for each wheel. These generally seize which makes it impossible to make any adjustment B)

Okey dokes - now I know what you mean. TBH I have never tried to slacken any so wouldn't know but do your tyres suggest that alignment is necessary? The reason I have never slackened any is because I have never ever seen any that needed it!

rear_susp.pdf

July 15, 2009

the rear suspension has "cam bolts" for adjusting the toe & camber for each wheel. These generally seize which makes it impossible to make any adjustment B)
Okey dokes - now I know what you mean. TBH I have never tried to slacken any so wouldn't know but do your tyres suggest that alignment is necessary? The reason I have never slackened any is because I have never ever seen any that needed it!
rear_susp.pdf

Well there was a slight uneven wear on the inside at 37000 miles so I thought fine I'll sort it out before changing tyre. Checks showed a slight camber & toe misalignment. Frankly it was almost insignificant but since I'd gone that far decided to have it done.

Most RAV 4.2 rear wheels sit at a slight angle if you look carefully and the uneven wear is not usually noticeable & as it is outside the 75% zone (in my case anyway), it passed the MOT test.

On your attachment it is labeled toe adjust cam (x2). Slightly confusing cause one is for toe in/out & the other for camber.

I spend a week with daily WD40 application & went back to the center. Luckily by then, there was enough movement on a couple of adjusters to get the alignment in spec. I can live with it now & hope it doesn't need doing again