Broken bolts on spacer lift

[kickback]

I have been reading the forums on TS for years, I really enjoy the Questions and the
Answers, There are a lot of great mines working here for free just to help people
you may never meet..
The reason I decided to post is because I read a post in the Tundra area about
Corrosion between raw aluminum and steel bolts on top mount strut lift spacers.
Cause Corrosion between the two different metals to the point after a few months
they can not be taken apart in most cases with out braking the bolts or studs that mount the spacer to the truck, I have had a set of 3" front lift aluminum spacers on my Tacoma
for the past 6 months, Which I bought on ebay as a kit ( Front And Rear ) The first thing
I found out was that Pro comp 13120 add- a - leafs are not designed for my 09 Tacoma
But the seller told me not to worry about the 13120 they would work fine. I forgot the correct part number, But I think it's Pro Comp 5706B, You might want to check the number, I know for sure it is not 13120 from 2005 thru 2009.
My real problem ( And your welcome to call me stupid after all these year reading TS
I still went and bought this lift., I have always had the clunk in my front end after installing the lift, But I have always been real careful, I went out this morning and just for the heck of it I tried to remove a spacer mounting bolt, ( NO WAY ) I sprayed the hardware
with liquid wrench and WD 40 for 24 hours The next day I still broke 2 bolts on each
spacer, I work in a Machine shop so I know I can drill them out and repair them
but what a waste of time, I think I’ll fix them the correct way, Sell them and get
a different lift.. I think the person I bought this kit from was called suspensionsystems.
Please don’t hold me to that It was over 6 months ago and there are a lot of new sellers
pretty much selling the same thing.

[kickback]

Well I took the spacers to the shop and drilled out the broken bolts ( They where really soft ). I also over drilled the size of the holes and taped them for steel inserts, So when I get them back from hard anodize I can install the inserts and the Grade 8 bolts I install will be steel to steal not aluminum to steel and the should solve the corrosion problem,
For you that don’t understand, When ever possible you should not mix steel hardware
with threaded aluminum. I learned the hard way. I also machined 1/8” off the top of the spacer That will lower the front just a little But I hope it gives more room between the
upper ball joint knuckle and the strut spring and I won’t have to hear them hitting each other anymore. The front was setting a little high anyway, Maybe now it will be level.
I’m going to install the spacers Saturday, I’ll let you know how it works out.

[Tundradrenalin]

You put a threaded steel insert into the top of the aluminum spacer? nice. They should come like that from the manufacturer.

[kickback]

I just gat back from the front alignment shop, After Modifying and reinstalling
the aluminum spacer lift , My front end still measures 2 7/8” of lift, Which is working out great, The guy on ebay sold me Pro Comp PT # 13120 add-a-leafs for the rear that are
not correct for late model Tacoma or Tundra, But that is the only add-a-leaf he sells with
all his lifts, But I guess after it sagged a little and I reworked the front spacers the truck
rides grate and I haven’t heard the ball joint knuckle hit the springs at all, And I tried to make it hit, I don’t thing I would go crazy off road with this kit, But it does look good going down the street. I hope anyone that Manufactures top of strut Aluminum spacers
reads this and picks up on the improvements at least to the spacers, As fare as the add-a-leafs, I have no idea how long they will last or what is different from the correct ones,
You might want to call your local off road shop if you have a late model Tacoma or Tundra, All I know for sure the wrong ones cost less and they sage in a few weeks