LCA bolts

[calgator73]

About 8 months after an alignment job by the dealer I started experiencing a pretty significant clunk in the front end on hard left hand turns usually parking lot speeds almost at lock.  Occasionally get the same on hard rights too.

 

Discovered that the lower control arm attachment bolts are TTY and only to be used for a single use. And then I found some evidence of a TSB that indicates you can over torque those fasteners to about 130 foot pounds.

 

Asked a local shop to investigate and they found 3 out of four bolts loose and retorqued.   I've ordered the MOOG    K100421 lower control arm bolt kit that is completely reusable and not TTY. 

 

Is the 80 ft pounds a realistic number?  Anyone have experience with those bolts?

[davester]

You might find the specs on https://lemon-manuals.la/

or subscribe to alldata.com for your truck.

[calgator73]

19 hours ago, davester said:

You might find the specs on https://lemon-manuals.la/

or subscribe to alldata.com for your truck.

I appreciate that.  I'm waiting on a call from Moog because I'm sorting through some conflicting info.  The OE bolts are as the link provided (Thank you for that) But apparently the Moog parts are not TTY.  Don't want to under/over torque these.

[newdude]

On 7/12/2026 at 8:47 AM, calgator73 said:

About 8 months after an alignment job by the dealer I started experiencing a pretty significant clunk in the front end on hard left hand turns usually parking lot speeds almost at lock.  Occasionally get the same on hard rights too.

 

Discovered that the lower control arm attachment bolts are TTY and only to be used for a single use. And then I found some evidence of a TSB that indicates you can over torque those fasteners to about 130 foot pounds.

 

Asked a local shop to investigate and they found 3 out of four bolts loose and retorqued.   I've ordered the MOOG    K100421 lower control arm bolt kit that is completely reusable and not TTY. 

 

Is the 80 ft pounds a realistic number?  Anyone have experience with those bolts?

 

 

The LCA bolts are NOT a one time use fastener.  GM does not have them called out as such at all.

 

They are torque plus degree, but not a one time use TTY.  Nowhere in the service manual does it call out for replacing the LCA bolts for being one time use.  The factory spec would apply to the Moog bolts as well. 

 

I see two things different.  The Moog bolts are greaseable (which I see no point in) and they don't have one of the washers welded to the bolt like the factory bolts, so they can be used in all 4 positions.   

 

Think about it.  The LCA bolts are now the alignment adjustment point, instead of the UCA bolts like the prior generation.  A bolt that is meant to be adjusted for alignment...would it make sense to make it a one time use component?  How would you get an alignment done in the first place?  You couldn't.  

 

 

Also.  What TSB exactly?  There is no TSB that I see for 2019-2026 for over-torquing LCA bolts.  There was a PI, PIT5533C, but that covered 2014-2018 body trucks for re-torquing LCA mounting bolts.  But those trucks to a 2019-2026?  Not the same, so PIT5533C does not apply.    

Edited 6 hours ago by newdude

[calgator73]

2 hours ago, newdude said:

 

 

The LCA bolts are NOT a one time use fastener.  GM does not have them called out as such at all.

 

They are torque plus degree, but not a one time use TTY.  Nowhere in the service manual does it call out for replacing the LCA bolts for being one time use.  The factory spec would apply to the Moog bolts as well. 

 

I see two things different.  The Moog bolts are greaseable (which I see no point in) and they don't have one of the washers welded to the bolt like the factory bolts, so they can be used in all 4 positions.   

 

Think about it.  The LCA bolts are now the alignment adjustment point, instead of the UCA bolts like the prior generation.  A bolt that is meant to be adjusted for alignment...would it make sense to make it a one time use component?  How would you get an alignment done in the first place?  You couldn't.  

 

 

Also.  What TSB exactly?  There is no TSB that I see for 2019-2026 for over-torquing LCA bolts.  There was a PI, PIT5533C, but that covered 2014-2018 body trucks for re-torquing LCA mounting bolts.  But those trucks to a 2019-2026?  Not the same, so PIT5533C does not apply.    

I really appreciate the response.  I guess I was confused about torque angle vs torque angle yield.  The individual bolts don't have a warning on reuse but the part number for the LCA nuts does.

 

Regarding the purpose of the moog grease fittings on their bolts .. Guessing to reduce possibility of corrosion locking the cams or seizing to the bushing inserts.

[newdude]

2 hours ago, calgator73 said:

I really appreciate the response.  I guess I was confused about torque angle vs torque angle yield.  The individual bolts don't have a warning on reuse but the part number for the LCA nuts does.

 

Regarding the purpose of the moog grease fittings on their bolts .. Guessing to reduce possibility of corrosion locking the cams or seizing to the bushing inserts.

 

 

 

 

I would argue that GMPartsDirect has that info wrong. 

 

The service manual for R+R the lower arm and for adjusting camber/caster, none of the steps say to discard and replace the nut or the bolt. 

 

The only part that gets discarded is the plastic cam adjustment retainer that is in the eccentric from the factory.  

 

The LCA nut torque spec is: 

First Pass: 180 Y (133 lb ft)

Final Pass: 90 –105 Degrees

 

That is WELL past 130ft.lbs per the TSB that you reference that does not apply to this scenario.  

 

As for your clunk.  I'd say it needs to be diagnosed thoroughly.  Assuming the LCA hardware is tight, you could have a problem with the UCA, sway bar end links, etc.  

 

 

Edited 2 hours ago by newdude

[calgator73]

1 hour ago, newdude said:

 

 

 

I would argue that GMPartsDirect has that info wrong. 

 

The service manual for R+R the lower arm and for adjusting camber/caster, none of the steps say to discard and replace the nut or the bolt. 

 

The only part that gets discarded is the plastic cam adjustment retainer that is in the eccentric from the factory.  

 

The LCA nut torque spec is: 

First Pass: 180 Y (133 lb ft)

Final Pass: 90 –105 Degrees

 

That is WELL past 130ft.lbs per the TSB that you reference that does not apply to this scenario.  

 

As for your clunk.  I'd say it needs to be diagnosed thoroughly.  Assuming the LCA hardware is tight, you could have a problem with the UCA, sway bar end links, etc.  

 

 

Thanks again man.  I haven't had an issue since the local shop torqued everything down but it's def on my radar.   I made an assumption that torque  angle = torque angle yield and with the info from gm parts direct went down a rabbit hole.  Really appreciate it.