The lift arm "clips" are each near the near the attachment of bottom end of the lift arm to its torsion bar. The torsion bar length (sticking out from the lower TM body "box" assembly) was set the factory when they attached the opposite end of each torsion bar to its primary mounting point, on the opposite side of the TM fro the lift barb which is being affected. I have the impression that this joint is very unlikely to become loose over time at any of the 8 torsion bars. But a couple of other issues DO affect the closed angle of these clips. In your case, your issue occurs on the front-most pair of clips for the forward shell.
(1) Although the lower TM "fixed box" walls tend to keep the shells in line while raising and lowering, the shell (either shell) of a TM which is not level from street side to curb side will tend to be dragged outwards on the lower side when it is raised. You will see this as a street-side to curb-side issue for the inserting the "pin up" shell locking bars at the ends, and also perhaps an issue with door fit in the middle. When you lower shellls which had that issue going up, they will go back out-of-line when you pull down the "pin up" locking bars, and the higher distance form one side of the lower "box" wil tend to be maintained going down. The bag seal s at the bottom doesn't apply enough pressure to keep the floating shells in line as you lower them.
(2) Differences in torsion bar force will cause a tendency for the descending shell to tilt (street side versus curb side). If the two sides descend without the far front or far rear edge staying horizontal, the motion will tend to push the lower of the two sides inwards (towards the corresponding lower "fixed box" wall). As with case of being non-level, the different distance from the wall at the end of the descent process will tend to remain present when you hook the stirrups down.
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I don't experience differences as large as you show in your photos, but upper shell "bar end clips" at slightly different angles may not matter a lot. There could be more road dust and dirt entering above the bag seal on the "looser" side, but as long as the closed clips are all reasonably tight (and not too tight, which could cause the shell side "hook" to rip out from the shell after hitting a bad pothole) they should work OK.
Does your torsion bar strength seem roughly the same for the those front corners?
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TV = 2007 4runner sport, with a 36 volt "power boost".
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