Weird

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PhiloCruiser

PhiloCruiser

10 Year 15 Year
Joined
Feb 16, 2011
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16
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146
Sorry if discussed but couldn't find it...kinda weird to me that these giant bolts protrude into the wheel well and aren't covered? I don't remember these from my 2016?
2032333
2032334
 
have them in my 2010 LX.
 
Some might have a rubber disc partially covering the end of the bolt, added to protect the threads before body undercoating and paint. The bolt is designed to push this out of the way when seatbelts are installed and sometimes it hangs on one side.
 
True, but this is the standard location for the seat belt retention bolt for our vehicles. Whether this bolt is capped or not will not change its position in the wheel well.
 
2008Cruiser said:
My 08 does not have those.
Click to expand...

My 2008 does. It is weird for sure.

The only rationale I can think of is it makes it a 1/2-second visual check for a tech to make sure the bolts are fully secured, and Toyota avoids a lawsuit. Other than that goofy thought?
Ya. Weird place for a bolt to stick through.
 
I would either put an acorn on it, or more likely grind it off. Even if the tire doesn't hit it a tire chain to tire cable could.
 
Possible (probable?) that regulations mandate the bolt protruding past the threaded portion of the welded nut a certain amount for full strength, and in the event the bolt starts to back out.

As for why there, seatbelt location for safety probably trumps all kinds of other design objectives.. like having a bolt protruding into the wheel arch area. As an example of regulations dictating stuff like this.. check the thread size/pitch. These are probably not metric threads. I know on my 80 the 3rd row upper belt anchors can be replaced with 7/16 fine thread eye bolts for one end of a hammock setup.

I can't understand why it bothers people.. why grind? There is a TON of room for chains/cables to clear. You'd be hitting mud flaps well before that bolt. By cutting you risk messing up the threads in the weld-nut if you ever pull the bolt out. If anything I'd say use fluid film or LPS3 to prevent corrosion and just ignore it.
 
bloc said:
Possible (probable?) that regulations mandate the bolt protruding past the threaded portion of the welded nut a certain amount for full strength, and in the event the bolt starts to back out.

As for why there, seatbelt location for safety probably trumps all kinds of other design objectives.. like having a bolt protruding into the wheel arch area. As an example of regulations dictating stuff like this.. check the thread size/pitch. These are probably not metric threads. I know on my 80 the 3rd row upper belt anchors can be replaced with 7/16 fine thread eye bolts for one end of a hammock setup.

I can't understand why it bothers people.. why grind? There is a TON of room for chains/cables to clear. You'd be hitting mud flaps well before that bolt. By cutting you risk messing up the threads in the weld-nut if you ever pull the bolt out. If anything I'd say use fluid film or LPS3 to prevent corrosion and just ignore it.
Click to expand...

I think it bugs people visually because seeing a bare bolt within the smooth-ish wheel wells just seems odd. But ya. Totally normal. What I’m curious about is...why do some 2008’s not have it and others do. That part is weird indeed. Not bad or a problem...but weird is a good word. :)
 
ckkone said:
I think those that don’t see it are looking for the rear seat belt bolt in the front wheel well.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I don’t see how this could change on certain years.
 
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