Most lift kit instructions say "torque to factory spec" and never tell you what the factory spec is. This page collects the Toyota values for the bolts you actually touch when you lift a Tacoma, swap control arms, do brakes or service the diffs, checked against Toyota's repair manual and recall service instructions, factory values quoted by owners, and suspension makers' install sheets. Where sources disagreed, we went to the factory manual.
Read this first:
- These are factory values for factory parts. Aftermarket coilovers, upper control arms, U-bolts and diff drop spacers come with their own torque specs, which override these for that part.
- Suspension pivots (control arm bolts, coilover lower bolt, leaf spring hardware) get final torque with the truck on the ground at ride height. Torquing them with the suspension hanging pre-loads the rubber bushings and kills them early.
- Values marked (verify) come from a single source or had sources disagree. Check them against a factory repair manual before you rely on them.
Front Suspension: 2nd & 3rd Gen Tacoma 4x4 and PreRunner
| FASTENER | FT-LB | N·M | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upper control arm pivot bolt nuts | 85 | 115 | Final torque at ride height |
| Lower control arm cam bolts (front and rear) | 100 | 135 | Final torque at ride height, after alignment |
| Upper ball joint castle nut | 81 | 110 | Tighten to spec, then to the next cotter pin slot |
| Lower ball joint to knuckle bolts | 118 | 160 | |
| Lower ball joint stud nut | 103 | 140 | |
| Coilover (strut) top nuts, 3 per side | 47 | 64 | Factory strut only; aftermarket top hats vary |
| Coilover (strut) lower bolt | 61 | 83 | Final torque at ride height |
| Strut center (shaft) nut | 20 | 27 | When assembling a factory strut (verify) |
| Sway bar end link nut at control arm | 52 | 70 | |
| Sway bar end link, upper nut (2nd gen) | 14 | 19 | (verify) |
| Sway bar bracket bolts to frame | 30 (2nd gen) / 37 (3rd gen) | 40 / 50 | (verify) |
| Front axle hub nut, 2nd gen 4x4 | 173 | 235 | Then install the lock cap and a new cotter pin, if equipped |
| Front axle hub nut, 2nd gen PreRunner | 203 | 275 | (verify) |
| Front axle hub nut, 3rd gen 4x4 | 173 | 235 | Confirmed in Toyota's 2016–2023 repair manual. Some spec databases list 203, which is wrong for this truck |
| Hub (bearing) to knuckle bolts, 4x4 | 59 | 80 | |
| Front caliper bracket bolts, 4x4 and PreRunner | 91 | 123 | 2WD (non-PreRunner): 80 ft-lb |
The "lower ball joint" values are the ones most often mixed up online. On these trucks the lower ball joint bolts to the steering knuckle with two bolts (118 ft-lb), and its stud passes through the lower control arm with a castle nut (103 ft-lb).
Steering
| FASTENER | FT-LB | N·M | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tie rod end castle nut, 4x4 | 67 | 91 | Next cotter pin slot. 2WD: 36 ft-lb |
| Tie rod end jam (lock) nut | 41 | 55 | Set toe before final torque |
| Steering rack mounting bolts (2nd gen) | 68 | 92 | (verify) |
| Intermediate steering shaft pinch bolt | 26 | 35 |
Rear Suspension (Leaf Springs)
| FASTENER | FT-LB | N·M | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leaf spring front hanger bolt | 89 | 120 | At ride height |
| Shackle to spring and shackle to frame | 89 | 120 | At ride height |
| U-bolt nuts, 2nd gen (2005–2011 per Toyota recall instructions) | 37 | 50 | Toyota's published value. Cross-tighten evenly; recheck after 500 miles |
| U-bolt nuts, 3rd gen | 52 | 70 | (verify) |
| Rear shock lower bolt (at axle) | 43 | 58 | |
| Rear shock upper nut | 15 | 20 | |
| Leaf spring center pin nut | 40 | 54 | (verify) |
About those U-bolt values. Toyota's own recall instructions for the 2005–2011 leaf spring campaign list 37 ft-lb for the factory U-bolt nuts, and many owners consider that low and run higher. If you install new aftermarket U-bolts, use the value that comes with them (often 75 ft-lb or more for larger diameter U-bolts), cross-tighten in steps, and recheck after the first few hundred miles because new U-bolts stretch and springs settle.
Driveline, Diffs & Fluids
| FASTENER | FT-LB | N·M | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Front differential fill plug | 29 | 39 | New gasket |
| Front differential drain plug | 48 | 65 | New gasket. Some spec databases list 29; most sources give 48 |
| Rear differential fill and drain plugs | 36 | 49 | New gaskets |
| Transfer case fill and drain plugs | 27 | 37 | |
| Driveshaft flange bolts | 65 | 88 | (verify) |
| Center support (carrier) bearing bolts | 27 | 37 | (verify) |
| Engine oil drain plug | 30 | 40 | New washer |
| Lug nuts (alloy and steel wheels) | 83 | 113 | Some early 2nd gen references list 85 |
For fluid types and capacities, see our Tacoma fluid capacities guide.
Engine Service Values
| FASTENER | 2ND GEN 4.0L (1GR-FE) | 3RD GEN 3.5L (2GR-FKS) |
|---|---|---|
| Spark plugs | 15 ft-lb | 13 ft-lb |
| Crankshaft pulley bolt | 185 ft-lb | 192 ft-lb |
| Engine oil drain plug | 30 ft-lb | 30 ft-lb (new washer) |
| Cylinder head bolts | 27 ft-lb, then +180° (bolts 9–10: 22 ft-lb) | 27 ft-lb, then +90°, then +90° (bolts 9–10: 22 ft-lb) |
Cylinder head bolts are torque-to-yield and must be replaced, oiled, and tightened in Toyota's sequence. If you are doing head work, work from a factory repair manual, not a table.
Brakes
| SPEC | 2ND & 3RD GEN 4X4 / PRERUNNER | 2WD (NON-PRERUNNER) |
|---|---|---|
| Front caliper bracket bolts | 91 ft-lb | 80 ft-lb |
| Front rotor nominal thickness | 1.102 in (28.0 mm) | 0.984 in (25.0 mm) |
| Front rotor minimum (discard) thickness | 1.024 in (26.0 mm) | 0.906 in (23.0 mm) |
| Front rotor maximum runout | 0.002 in (0.05 mm) | 0.002 in (0.05 mm) |
Measure runout with the wheel lug nuts installed and torqued to 83 ft-lb to hold the rotor flat against the hub.
Lift Install Torque Checklist
The order that keeps bushings alive and alignments right:
- Install everything snug, not torqued, with the suspension hanging.
- Torque the parts that do not depend on ride height now: ball joints, tie rod ends, caliper brackets, coilover top nuts, sway bar end link at the arm.
- Put the wheels on (83 ft-lb on the ground) and set the truck down. Roll it back and forth a few feet to settle the suspension.
- With the truck at ride height, torque the upper control arm pivots (85), lower control arm cam bolts (100), coilover lower bolts (61) and any leaf spring hardware (89).
- Get an alignment, then make sure the shop re-torques the cam bolts.
- Re-check everything after 50–100 miles, and U-bolts again after 500.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the lug nut torque on a Toyota Tacoma?
83 ft-lb (113 N·m) for factory alloy and steel wheels on 2nd and 3rd gen Tacomas. Tighten in a star pattern in two passes, and re-check after the first 50 miles on new or reinstalled wheels.
What is the Tacoma upper control arm bolt torque?
85 ft-lb (115 N·m) for the factory upper control arm pivot bolts on 2nd and 3rd gen 4x4 Tacomas, tightened with the truck at ride height. Aftermarket arms that use different pivot hardware may specify their own value.
What is the Tacoma lower control arm cam bolt torque?
100 ft-lb (135 N·m), tightened with the truck at ride height after the alignment is set.
What is the Tacoma front axle nut torque?
173 ft-lb (235 N·m) on both 2nd gen and 3rd gen 4x4 Tacomas; Toyota's 2016–2023 repair manual confirms the 3rd gen value. Some spec databases list 203 ft-lb for the 3rd gen, which is wrong. 2nd gen PreRunner hub nuts are listed at 203 ft-lb.
What is the Tacoma coilover torque?
For factory front struts: 47 ft-lb (64 N·m) on the three top nuts and 61 ft-lb (83 N·m) on the lower bolt, with the lower bolt torqued at ride height. Aftermarket coilovers have their own top hat torque, usually lower, so use the maker's value.
What is the Tacoma rear U-bolt torque?
Toyota's recall service instructions for 2005–2011 Tacomas list 37 ft-lb (50 N·m) for factory U-bolt nuts, and 3rd gen trucks are quoted at 52 ft-lb (70 N·m). Aftermarket U-bolts come with their own values, often higher. Re-check U-bolts after 500 miles.
What is the Tacoma tie rod end torque?
67 ft-lb (91 N·m) on the tie rod end castle nut for 4x4 and PreRunner trucks, then to the next cotter pin slot. The tie rod jam nut is 41 ft-lb (55 N·m).
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