OK, so after 22,000 miles with no bulges I now have a definite bulge on the driver's side and a slight beginning of a ripple on the passenger side. My build date is 5/06. I had it documented at Gresham Toyota where Bernd had his done. The new inner fenders are very different than the original ones. The placement of the crumple zones are different and there are some different holes. I think the new ones are the ones on the '08s. The crumple zones are more than an inch apart as opposed to the original fenders being almost on top of one another. I would be willing to bet that if the fenders had no crumple zones at all, they would still be having a problem and that problem would be much much worse as the crumple zones are confining the problem to the one area. They are doing what they were designed to do. I would put money on this happening to '08s. I don't think it has anything at all to do with a flaw in the fenders, but something to do with the body mounts. It's obvious that the body is not being alowed to flex as it should and is being twisted instead. So I wouldn't be looking for the real fix to come in the form of a new fender or some kind of reinforcement for the fender. The fender is just the area where the problem shows up, but not the cause. I told the service manager that I was going to hold off and not have it "fixed" until they come up with a real fix or give me a new truck.
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'07 Voodoo Blue~ 3" RevTech lift, 17" Ultra Goliath wheels w/ 295/70/17 Toyo Open Country MTs, Chopped Body mounts (by Metal Tech), Garvin Wilderness rock rails, HiLift, shovel, and axe roof rack mounts, Bud Built skids, A-Trac hack, 3 additional 12V outlets, including one in the driver's side glove box for my Garmin RINO 530hcx so the wires don't hang across my dash and two more in the center console, Cobra 75 in center console, Scan gauge II, relocated rear breathers,
After reading this thread I looked this morning to see if I had any bulging/rip on my FJ. Everything seemed fairly straight and did not notice any rips but I did notice a little dent looking thing. It looks like it is bulging inward instead of outward. I'm trying to figure out if it is related to the bulging/rip that some FJers are having. I have two pics of the passenger side underneath the hood. The pics are not very good and it really is hard to tell that anything is there but I highlighted the general area of where this dent looking thing. I havent really noticed before but am concerned that it may be a problem later down the road. I actually took it in to Gresham Toyota and spoke to the Service Director and he basically told me I don't need to worry about it. And most of the rip/bulge happens on the driver side. I just wanted to post and see what you guys think. By the way it is a 03/07 Build. I have not done any hardcore offroading just sand driving and city driving.
Yep, those are the crumple zones. That's where the fenders will give in an accident. What you want to do is take a straight edge (like a credit card or your driver's license) and hold the edge to the fender in that spot. hold it parallel to the top of the fender between the crumple zones. The bulging happens between (parallel to the top of the fender)the two crumple zones, and then the rips will go through them (perpendicular to the top of the fender). I'll try to take pictures of the bulges on mine this weekend, with a straight edge to it. Without the straight edge to it, you can barely notice it.
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'07 Voodoo Blue~ 3" RevTech lift, 17" Ultra Goliath wheels w/ 295/70/17 Toyo Open Country MTs, Chopped Body mounts (by Metal Tech), Garvin Wilderness rock rails, HiLift, shovel, and axe roof rack mounts, Bud Built skids, A-Trac hack, 3 additional 12V outlets, including one in the driver's side glove box for my Garmin RINO 530hcx so the wires don't hang across my dash and two more in the center console, Cobra 75 in center console, Scan gauge II, relocated rear breathers,
Yep, those are the crumple zones. That's where the fenders will give in an accident. What you want to do is take a straight edge (like a credit card or your driver's license) and hold the edge to the fender in that spot. hold it parallel to the top of the fender between the crumple zones. The bulging happens between (parallel to the top of the fender)the two crumple zones, and then the rips will go through them (perpendicular to the top of the fender). I'll try to take pictures of the bulges on mine this weekend, with a straight edge to it. Without the straight edge to it, you can barely notice it.
Have you not taken your vehicle in to be repaired? If not you should. If anyone has a hint of the problem, please take it into the dealer to be documented at the soonest possible time. Most dealers will take the stance that they have not heard of the problem... that BS. The TMS field travellers supporting the dealerships have had plenty of meetings on the issue. I'm just worried that there is enough customers being vocal about it to the dealers.
Have you not taken your vehicle in to be repaired? If not you should. If anyone has a hint of the problem, please take it into the dealer to be documented at the soonest possible time. Most dealers will take the stance that they have not heard of the problem... that BS. The TMS field travellers supporting the dealerships have had plenty of meetings on the issue. I'm just worried that there is enough customers being vocal about it to the dealers.
Uhm, did you read the second to last post I just made?
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OK, so after 22,000 miles with no bulges I now have a definite bulge on the driver's side and a slight beginning of a ripple on the passenger side. My build date is 5/06. I had it documented at Gresham Toyota where Bernd had his done. The new inner fenders are very different than the original ones. The placement of the crumple zones are different and there are some different holes. I think the new ones are the ones on the '08s. The crumple zones are more than an inch apart as opposed to the original fenders being almost on top of one another. I would be willing to bet that if the fenders had no crumple zones at all, they would still be having a problem and that problem would be much much worse as the crumple zones are confining the problem to the one area. They are doing what they were designed to do. I would put money on this happening to '08s. I don't think it has anything at all to do with a flaw in the fenders, but something to do with the body mounts. It's obvious that the body is not being allowed to flex as it should and is being twisted instead. So I wouldn't be looking for the real fix to come in the form of a new fender or some kind of reinforcement for the fender. The fender is just the area where the problem shows up, but not the cause. I told the service manager that I was going to hold off and not have it "fixed" until they come up with a real fix or give me a new truck.
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'07 Voodoo Blue~ 3" RevTech lift, 17" Ultra Goliath wheels w/ 295/70/17 Toyo Open Country MTs, Chopped Body mounts (by Metal Tech), Garvin Wilderness rock rails, HiLift, shovel, and axe roof rack mounts, Bud Built skids, A-Trac hack, 3 additional 12V outlets, including one in the driver's side glove box for my Garmin RINO 530hcx so the wires don't hang across my dash and two more in the center console, Cobra 75 in center console, Scan gauge II, relocated rear breathers,
Uhm, did you read the second to last post I just made?
So reading the quote, you opted not to have the work performed... um, I guess that would be the concearn. Please understand the dealers are privatly owned. TMS would be responsible for paying the dealers to perform the repair... if you do not have the repair done, TMS for the most part not be to concearned with the issue. Each repair TMS makes will cost between 4k to 7k, depending on the dealer.
The crumple zones I understand is normal. I'm not sure it shows on the pics but I circled the area where this dent is. The dent is right above a black dot that I made by a black marker. Or located left of one the crumple zone. Sorry the pics suck and its not clear.
The crumple zones I understand is normal. I'm not sure it shows on the pics but I circled the area where this dent is. The dent is right above a black dot that I made by a black marker. Or located left of one the crumple zone. Sorry the pics suck and its not clear.
Looking at that photo... it doesnt look normal, and doubtful it came of the factory line like that.
So reading the quote, you opted not to have the work performed... um, I guess that would be the concearn. Please understand the dealers are privatly owned. TMS would be responsible for paying the dealers to perform the repair... if you do not have the repair done, TMS for the most part not be to concearned with the issue. Each repair TMS makes will cost between 4k to 7k, depending on the dealer.
We not really in it to try to break TMC. What I want is my truck fixed, and not to just throw a bandaid on it. If they put a new fender on it, and that fender in turn does the same thing, then the next repair will be more difficult. Every time you cut and reweld something, you are removing original meatal and replacing it with filler. You can only do that so many times. You are also degrading the integrity of the panel every time you do it. You increase the possability of rust in the future too. So yeh, I opted out of getting a bandaid put on since that's really not going to fix it. I'll wait until they actually come up with a fix.
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MelFeliFJ The crumple zones I understand is normal. I'm not sure it shows on the pics but I circled the area where this dent is. The dent is right above a black dot that I made by a black marker. Or located left of one the crumple zone. Sorry the pics suck and its not clear.
I see. I can't really see the dent in the photo. Is it a kind of dimple? Like someone took a smalt centerpunch and dimpled the sheet metal. I know there are a few of those in seemingly random spots. If not, can you take a photo with a straight edge up to the dent? The spot where the square is in you photo I don't think there is supposed to be anything. Also, can you take a photo that has both crumple zones in it, including the dent? It's kinda hard to tell where the dent is in relation to where the bulge normally hapens.
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'07 Voodoo Blue~ 3" RevTech lift, 17" Ultra Goliath wheels w/ 295/70/17 Toyo Open Country MTs, Chopped Body mounts (by Metal Tech), Garvin Wilderness rock rails, HiLift, shovel, and axe roof rack mounts, Bud Built skids, A-Trac hack, 3 additional 12V outlets, including one in the driver's side glove box for my Garmin RINO 530hcx so the wires don't hang across my dash and two more in the center console, Cobra 75 in center console, Scan gauge II, relocated rear breathers,
Bernd
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