Talons cat shield

I purchased and installed their shield on my 22 SR5P in early June22, today I found a bolt head on my garage floor. I crawled under the car to find 4 of the 8 bolts broken that hold the side shield along with those cross member braces. Does anyone know if all the bolts for the shield are the same length m8x40? For some reason I thought a couple were shorter, are they stainless steel? What should I use now? Thanks

 

Have you tried contacting Talons Garage? They are usually pretty responsive on the forums.

 

Yes, we texted back and forth. They said this was a first they heard this happening. I want to get new bolts, just want to know if all bolts are the same length. I can’t find the instructions that came with my shield.

 

That shield is pretty pricey. I'd think Talon would be all over sending you a new set of bolts...unless you purchased the more expensive "security" bolts with the special key...

@Talon2006 ?

 

https://www.talonsgarage.com/4runner-install

 

If the heads are breaking off the supplied bolts, then they sound like a low grade bolt. I’d find an equivalent grade 8 bolt.

 

^^^What he said. I can't imagine the length of the bolts is all that critical, as long as they're close. More the correct threads.

 

The bolts are the same standard ones supplied with the kit when I got mine, ordered on 4/20/22. if you look at the instruction online now the bolts have a different head( hex I think). In a returned text Talons stated m8x40 is that a fine or course thread? Can I buy them at Ace hardware? I am not a mechanic, just trying to learn. Thanks.

 

I would think you need stainless button head bolts, so they're at least rust resistant, and not removable with a standard wrench. Can you remove one of the remaining bolts to take to a hardware store to compare?

 

I looked into this and saw where we were emailing back and forth and, but it seems you were not receiving our emails back. Switched to Text and seems we went home before we finished texting. Sorry to leave you hanging.

I am pretty sure you have a version of the plate before we added the little winglets. You should of received 10 bolts. All the bolts are M8 1.25-40mm. M8 is the diameter, 1.25 is the thread pitch and 40mm is how long they are. A 50mm long bolt will also work if that is all there is. We also use 4 M8-1.25-25mm Bolts on the winglets if you have that version.

As far as the bolt heads in the instructions being different then what you have, the install guide was made with our very first version of the plate. Back then we used some JIS head bolts that we ordered in. We quickly went to the button head bolt as it provided more security.

Here is a link to the size of length of bolt we use. We supply ours locally. We can send you a new set too if you cover shipping.
https://www.boltdepot.com/Product-Details.aspx?product=15669

 

Currently we are sending a steel alloy zinc coated bolt that is sourced from a local Houston area supplier. I could call and see where they source it from, but they don't sell junk

The alloy steel is a 12.9 grade of bolt, which is actually stronger then the 10.9 metric bolt which is roughly equivalent to a grade 8 bolt.

I did some of my own testing in the garage on these bolts a few months ago and could not break one. I think I eventually stripped one out after putting a 3' cheater bar on it and putting WAY more torque on it then it was designed for. I actually ended up twisting my tekton 5mm Allen socket permanently.

 

That sounds really good. Maybe it was a fluke.

 

I am actually glad I didn't see this until this morning. This is the type of thing that will keep me up all night wondering how did it happen? has it happened to others?

 

I’m sure you’ll figure it out. I don’t pay a lot of attention to this subject, but I think this is the first post I’ve seen regarding this problem. (Bolt heads).
I don’t think it’s systemic.