Cali raised SS cat shields

Did you happen to notice if the supplied bolts are the same length as the oem bolts for the cross bars?

 

From my situation, the supplied bolts were actually a hair shorter than the OEM bolts.

 

Do you have the product? If so, have you tried installing it? If not, wait until you try to install them with the 30mm bolts, while the CR guy in the video appeared to do it with ease, it was a different story for myself, and many others here. I also documented that as well in my post around page 3.

They are a smidge shorter, I mentioned it in a post of mine on page 3 I think.

Seems like you are doubting us here (or don't want to believe us) that have real world experiences with the bolts and installation of them. We have no reason to lie or bend the truth. I am very happy with my purchase, if they included the M8 40mm bolts from the get-go, it would have been a 10/10 experience for me. I was fortunate and received all the hardware, plus a bonus spacer, washer or two as well.

Here is my post: Provided bolts struggle

 

For anyone wanting to cut or grind stainless, it's a totally different approach to aluminum or iron/steel. The way to go is carbide bits with lots of lube and extremely slow rpm. Very, very slow to take material off. Any kind of speed will harden the SS and turn it blue. You want to almost chip away at the material. Die grinders are a no-no - way too much rpm. If you're using a bit in a drill press, change the belt/pulley arrangement to give you the lowest RPM possible and lots of lube. Even with all of that, you'll probably ruin a few bits. SS is like granite.

 

This was also pretty well documented in my posts through #67 or so. Not sure why at this point anyone is questioning the bolt issue.

 

You guys are getting me all wrong...I'm not questioning why everyone is complaining about short bolts. The point I was making is why Cali Raised keeps sending bolts that are too short; why haven't they fixed the problem?? It's amazing to me that this, along with missing spacers, keeps happening. Sorry if it sounded like I was doubting your word - not my intention.

There's no reason on earth to have to run to the hardware store to install a new part, especially when they have documented feedback from customers that the bolts are too short.

 

I see. This thread is great, really drilling down

 

My security bolts seemed short. Maybe got 3 threads if that. I took them out and ran a tap through holes then put in some 50mm Phillips heads until I get some longer security heads. Pretty sure my drivers side rattles at idle in Drive. Goes away in park or neutral. Going to take it off next week to see if the rattle goes away. Anybody else's rattle?

 

That driver's side is way too close for my taste. Mine is just far enough away that it doesn't, but it's real damn close. If it were aluminum I'd say take it off and shape it a little with a dead blow hammer and reinstall. But SS is hard as hell and I don't think that would work.

I really appreciate Cali bringing these to market. But between the driver's side issue, fastener issue, and the fact that they didn't bother to figure out what submodels they fit on, it seems to me that they got about 90% there and quit.

 

I wouldn’t necessarily say that they quit after getting to 90%. They are using the first few batches of buyers as the R&D Guinea pigs. The next revision will hopefully have a few of the kinks worked out. It’s just like buying the first MY of a new car.

 

I don't appreciate being a guinea pig for what fasteners fit or don't fit, or whether I complain about not getting all the parts. Send the correct stuff the first time.

 

I ordered a set of these last Friday. Will report back on whether I receive all the correct hardware when the kit arrives.

 

yep. had to adjust mine this weekend. on friday i found out it was rattling at very low RPM under load, like going up a hill with the converter locked in 4th. got under there and sure enough the converter's metal shroud was touching the CaliRaised shield, slightly wearing an area that is about penny-sized right near the logo. I pulled off that driver's side one and trimmed about a 1/2" off each lower corner using a dremel heavy duty cutoff wheel and a fine toothed flat file. that gave me the room to drop the shield down to where the 2 big crossmember bolts were at the top of their slots, without hitting interference with the brace or a raised part of the frame. then i reinstalled the 2 smaller allen bolts to cinch it up. that gave me about 1/4" of clearance back between the shield and cat.

i did about 100 miles since then, no issues. i'll try to grab a pic later.

disappointing, but thankfully the shield can still do its job.

 

Same experience on mine. Low RPM, taking off from stop signs under load. It's not very loud, but I do notice the rattle.

 

Did you happen to take pictures of what you did? I am having the same issues as you and I did try prying it away from the converter but there is still some rattling.

 

Sub'd because mine was shipped without the spacers but CR sent it after I sent them a email. Also no issues with my kdss when it was installed.

 

here you go. i had to lower the shield by tightening the bolts at the very top of their slot. however, if you do this, you'll see the flange will hit interference with the crossmember brace on the inboard side and some crossmember protrusions on the outboard side. so i basically cut a dog-ear off of each lower corner of the flange with a dremel cutoff and smoothed with a metal file (you can see in the image how much less square the flange corners are now). doing this allowed me to lower the shield with some margin to spare.

after another couple hundred miles of testing, this has solved the rattle on the driver's side. there's about 1/8" of clearance between the cat and the shield now, where before they were essentially touching.


it sucks we seem to all share the same basic issues which points to a lack of testing/rushing to market on the manufacturer's end, but at the end of the day its not a complicated or critical part, just annoying.

 

Finally bit the bullet on my order today. Whats the consensus buy the longer bolts locally or try to do the install with the hardware provided (assuming it all shows up)?

 

If I were installing these, I would get one longer bolt with the same threads as the oem bolt, and use that to snug up that brace. Then try the supplied bolt in the second hole to see if it's long enough. If yes, when that supplied bolt is snug, I would remove the longer bolt and replace it with a supplied bolt. Rinse and repeat for the other brace bolts.

Unless you simply want to be a supplier for Cali Raised and get all longer bolts up front.

 

Installed them on my 4R and it was more of PITA than I thought it would be. Supplied security bolts can easily strip out if not careful.

I had to use the Toyota-supplied jack to push the shield into place since it would not sit flush like shown in the installation video.

I had to push up the shields so i could get the bolt to hit the threads. Bolts should be longer. I had to run to Toyota to get extra cross member bolts since the old ones were a little corroded at 25k miles. surprising.

One thing I have noticed, it the shields rattle when I go over bumps. A bit annoying when i don't have the tunes cranked.

The shields are a very good idea which could have been designed a little better IMHO.

I may try the Dremel solution listed above if I get ambitious

 

I did the same as glwood suggests but re-installed the factory hardware and called it good. The day comes that cat thieves show up with a full socket set, not much will stop them..

 

Yes, get the bolts I posted earlier in the thread, 40mm will do the trick. I bought 4 to just make it easier all around.

 

If Cali were to ask me, I'd give them two pieces of advice: go back to the drawing board on the driver's side shield and make it 3/8 or 1/2 deeper; and redo your hardware package to include 40mm bolts and don't forget the spacers. It's otherwise a really nice package. But as mentioned by @MidniteTRD the whole thing feels rushed.

Given that the hardware package seems to be an ongoing problem, it seems Cali is not paying attention to complaints coming their way. I installed mine over 3 months ago, telling them at that time of the hardware problem. It's really surprising they are still shipping kits with no spacers and too-short bolts.

 

@beedee I think @glwood54 is just trying to help. He's a good guy - maybe give him some slack? Just a suggestion.

I've appreciated both of your contributions to this thread.

 

I've been following this thread since the original post. I am impressed with the design, and seriously considered getting a set of these to replace my Miller Cat version, and stated that early on. I like how they provide access to the transmission and driveshaft for service. Because I've questioned why Cali continues to ship sets with apparently missing or inadequate hardware, but don't actually have them in hand, I'm being asked why I post.

If I have further observations or requests, I won't hesitate to post them.

@08TXRunner - I appreciate your input. I am genuinely interested in these, and will see if Cali Raised listens to those who've notified them of the hardware issues.

 

Only reason I have not ordered them. With how many people told Cali what's up and continues to do so, is mind boggling. I think someone needs to send them a link to this thread showing them they're losing business.

 

FWIW, my hardware packet was complete. Must have caught the parts guy on a good day.

It's sad they can't seem to straighten that issue out. The shields themselves are a solid product and I wouldn't hesitate to buy again.

 

I received my kit probably a couple of weeks ago now; planning to install this weekend. Looks like I got the long bolts and spacers were included. I spoke to CaliRaised about the hardware after I placed my order, and they said they were aware of the issue and are now including all the hardware with each shipment (just reporting what they told me; not questioning anyone else's account if they are missing hardware).

 

For sure, sorry for the lame posts on my end. I deleted them.

 

So were the bolts you got closer to 40mm like people have been suggesting?