[Figured out] Where did this broken bolt come from?

[FerrisBueller]

This sheared bolt fell on me while I was under the LC. It fell from somewhere directly in front of the drivers front tie rod but, which I was tightening and was bumping around a bit right there.

It's a T25 torx, 1.25mm thread.

 

[Myanmar Shave]

That's an unusual looking bolt. Are you sure that it is broken, and does not just have short threads?

 

[2021 LC200]

That bolt had a brittle failure (see smooth surface and slight angle) and for its size would have had more threads on it. For sure worth figuring out where it came from and replace.

 

[FerrisBueller]

Searched entire engine bay from above and below with a shop light. Could not see anything missing a bolt or any bolts that looked similar.

Definitely a strange bolt to find around the engine. It has a tiny head, and intuition says it probably was meant to hold together a component's enclosure (e.g., like the enclosure around the alternator, but it's not from that).

 

[04UZJ100]

Does not look like anything from a 200

 

[FerrisBueller]

It came from the swivel head of my ratchet wrench!!!

The head did not fall apart, and still swiveled like normal even without the bolt.

 

[tincan45]

Ha. Reminds me of the time someone posted about a transfer case leak and it turned out to be a mountain dew that leaked in the console fridge was dripping under the car.

 

[2021 LC200]

Just curious, did the bolt fit back in or was some of the thread missing...?

 

[FerrisBueller]

Just curious, did the bolt fit back in or was some of the thread missing...?

Yes, it fit back in. The end looked sheared / broken for sure (and perfectly clean, no dust), but it actually wasn't broken. The end of the bolt on my other wrenches look the same. I think it being inset a bit must have kept it looking pristine like a freshly cut bolt.