Uniball Stock replacement Lower Ball Joints!!!!

Thats a joke right?

Also, in my experience, non-teflon units last much longer if you can stand the squeak.

 

Where is this info that the bolts are one-time use? I put new bolts on when replacing mine just because, but the fsm doesn't say they are one time use. Wondering if I'm missing other one-time use components relying on the fsm.

 

How do we get in contact with this person or company? What's their name? What's their Instagram handle?

 

I don't think it's official...people just recommend that because they are cheap insurance/peace of mind. I've had my LBJ bolts out a few times when replacing CVs and I've reused them each time, no issues here. And I wheel my truck regularly. It's not like they are being subjected to a lot of torque to tighten them, just 59ft/lbs if I recall. Use med (blue) locktite on them.

now, excuse me while I go knock on wood

 

That's my brothers car that we built. I had it and was going to do an auto swap with a big turbo and 50 shot nitrous. Was going to make it a 10 sec car but funds and priorities changed.

I had one with the same build but 1993 and parted it out to help purchase 1st home. With a small turbo running at 30psi it could make full boost at 3500 rpms. That's break your neck tq when it hits. Fun cars.

 

Sounds like a fun car indeed!

 

It's your call. But my wife and kids ride in my truck. They're worth more to me than 8 bucks...don't get me wrong if I had to I'd reuse them. But at 186,000 miles I'm swapping them. Cheap piece of mind.

 

Let's just hypothesize here, if these fail (not the bolts), what happens? I'm guessing that the tire no longer pukes itself? Does it "stay together"?

 

I can't tell if you're serious or not..

You can't replace the teflon in a uniball. You have to replace the entire uniball. In this case that means unbolting the entire LBJ from the truck and tie rod then pressing out the old uniball and pressing in a new one.

hard? no not with the right tools. Takes some time and effort though and not a lot of people are going to want to do that every year.

I have uniballs on the uppers too. BUT they do NOT get the same exposure to water/dirt/mud/shit that a lower one does because well..its low and right up against the ground. It will wear out much faster. LT guys with them replace them basically every year.

the 4 bolts are a big design flaw, they are upside down for gods sake. Once they work a bit loose. you're fucked. I would know, has happened to me twice. I have also separated the LBJ itself...twice.

The best alternative is Solos spindle kit. However..that's a 2500 investment.

 

You'll know that these fail as they will start making a lot of noise. The likely hood of the inner ball separating form the cup is much lower. So it should be just fine. It'll slowly eat itself away but you'll know that's happening but can still get home

 

Seems most LBJ failures happen at low speed, at least the ones we hear about...maybe the high speed ones don't live to tell the tale

I just figured it was because there's more force being put on/against them at lower speeds vs higher freeway speeds, but I'm sure failure can happen either way

 

Im glad none of mine were high speed. The one i did at like 25-30mph was insane. 35'' tire getting sucked under you..feels like you're flying for a second.

 

Don't get me wrong, most times it drops and makes a hell of a show. Sometimes it'll dig in, causes a spin. And then things get interesting..

 

That would suck big time..

 

There's some nasty pics out there of LBJ failures at speed. Most of the time the person posts up a pic and says they're okay and that's the last we see of them. Usually don't bother going back to a 1st gen after that.

 

yeah, can't say I blame them...that would be terrifying. My worst fear is having it happen while coming down a highway on a winding mountain road, since I'm usually taking those kinds of highways home after running the trails out here. I'd much rather have it happen on the trail and have to hike out or do a trail repair than risk flying off the side of a cliff at 50+mph

 

Now I really need to find some wood to knock on

that sounded...nevermind. Carry on

 

I usually clean the threads liberally with brake cleaner before install, then use red loctite (no fucks given), torque to spec, and don't drive it for a day or so to let the loctite fully cure. You can still remove the bolts with red loctite, it's just not nearly as easy.

 

This happens. This is my 4runner.

 

Most failures I've seen happen when people are turning sharp like when taking a 90* turn and flipping a u turn. I think when going straight it has less chance of coming out. Just searching google images you will only find a few roll overs.