B.O.T.C.K. Install Guide: Torque Specs and Tools

A B.O.T.C.K. bracket bolted to the factory axle mount. Powder coated quarter-inch mild steel, no welding required.

Most track bar correction kits get installed once and never checked again. That is the single most common mistake we see, and it has nothing to do with how tight the bolts were on day one.

This guide covers the Bolt-On TrackBar Correction Kit for the Gen 4/5 4Runner, Lexus GX460 and GX470, FJ Cruiser, and Prado 150. Every number here comes off the install sheet that ships with the kit, not off a forum thread.

What you are actually bolting on

The B.O.T.C.K. brackets are cut from quarter-inch mild steel and powder coated, with a few color options. That matters for two reasons. Steel at that thickness takes the lateral load a corrected track bar puts through the mount without flexing, and the powder coat is thick enough that it can tighten up the bolt holes slightly. More on that below, because it catches people out.

The kit bolts to the factory mounting points. No welding, no cutting, no drilling.

Tools you need before you start

• Socket wrench set, specifically 14mm, 18mm and 19mm
• Torque wrench
• Pry bar
• Jack and jack stands
• Round file, for the powder coat issue
• Gloves and eye protection

That is the whole list. If you own a basic socket set and a torque wrench you can do this in an afternoon.

Installation, step by step

1. Get the truck up

Park on level ground and set the parking brake. Support the rear axle on jack stands so you have clearance to work. Pull the passenger-side rear wheel.

2. Take the factory track bar off

Loosen the driver-side frame bolt first. This relieves the pressure in the bar, and skipping it is why people fight the axle-side bolt for twenty minutes. Then remove the axle-side bolt with a 19mm socket.

Strap the factory bar out of the way with a bungee so it is not swinging while you work.

3. Fit the correction brackets

Seat the back bracket into the factory track bar mount on the axle. Position the front bracket over the OEM mounting location. Install the wing nut inside the factory bracket so the load spreads across the mount instead of concentrating on one face.

Drop in the supplied M14 x 80mm flange head bolt and run it in loose with an 18mm socket. Leave it loose until everything lines up, then fit the rest of the hardware.

4. Torque

All bolts go to 90 to 100 ft-lbs. Use the torque wrench, not feel. A track bar mount is not a fastener to guess at.

If a hole feels tight, that is the powder coat, not a machining problem. Take a round file to the edge or press the bolt through with firm steady pressure. Do not drive it with a hammer.

5. Check the geometry

With the truck back on the ground, look at the track bar. It should sit parallel to the ground or very close to it. That is the entire point of the kit. If it is still visibly angled, something is not seated.

The step almost everyone skips

Re-torque every bolt after 100 miles.

New hardware seats in. Powder coat compresses slightly under clamping load. Suspension components take a set once they have been through real articulation. Any one of those can leave a bolt that was perfectly torqued in the driveway sitting looser than spec a week later.

Put a reminder in your phone before you take the truck out. This is the difference between a kit that holds for years and one that develops a clunk you spend a weekend chasing.

What about factory suspension fasteners?

If you are pulling control arms or struts in the same session, those are Toyota factory fasteners and they carry their own values. Pull them from the factory service manual for your specific year and platform. We publish specs for the hardware we supply, and we point you at Toyota for theirs. Anyone giving you a single blanket torque number for a whole suspension is guessing.

FAQ

What torque do the B.O.T.C.K. bolts take?

90 to 100 ft-lbs on all bolts, then re-torque the full set after 100 miles of driving.

Do I need to weld anything?

No. The kit uses the factory mounting points and installs with hand tools.

The bolt will not go through the bracket hole. Is the part wrong?

Almost certainly not. Powder coat builds up on the hole edge. Ease it with a round file or press the bolt through with steady pressure.

Does one kit cover the 4Runner and the GX?

This kit fits the Gen 4/5 4Runner, GX460, GX470, FJ Cruiser and Prado 150. Same procedure and same tools across those platforms.

How do I know it worked?

The track bar sits parallel or near-parallel to the ground, and the lateral wander you had after lifting is gone on the test drive.

Before you order

Check your factory KDSS links while the truck is up. Worn OEM links are a common cause of lean that gets blamed on track bar geometry, and you will save yourself a second teardown by catching it now.

Browse the B.O.T.C.K. correction kits or see the full range of KDSS components.