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Upper Ball Joint removal on 2012 tacoma..... looking for info and pics..

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by Taco_Rama12, Mar 29, 2019.

  1. Mar 29, 2019 at 8:59 PM
    #1
    Taco_Rama12

    Taco_Rama12 [OP] Active Member

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    Martin
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    5100's all around, with upgraded leaf pack.
    Looking for any information on how to remove an upper ball joint with a press. I cant find anything regarding this!

    My truck is a 2012 TRD. Im replacing the upper and lower ball joints, looking for tutorials on how this is done.


    Thanks

    uuper arm.jpg
     
  2. Mar 29, 2019 at 9:00 PM
    #2
    nickj604

    nickj604 Well-Known Member

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    YOUTUBE THAT SHIT !
     
    Outdoorsy_Yota likes this.
  3. Mar 29, 2019 at 9:04 PM
    #3
    Taco_Rama12

    Taco_Rama12 [OP] Active Member

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    5100's all around, with upgraded leaf pack.
    Ive been Youtubin the shit out of it. But cant find my style of upper ball joint, and how to press this dam thing out and install a new one.
     
  4. Mar 29, 2019 at 9:04 PM
    #4
    anthony250f

    anthony250f Well-Known Member

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    Lbj is extremely difficult to DIY without a shop press
     
  5. Mar 29, 2019 at 9:06 PM
    #5
    303tacoma

    303tacoma Bad Karma is a Bitch

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    Wow!!!
     
  6. Mar 29, 2019 at 9:07 PM
    #6
    Taco_Rama12

    Taco_Rama12 [OP] Active Member

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    5100's all around, with upgraded leaf pack.
    I rented a press for the LBJ, i will be doing that in a day or so. But the upper i tried to press out and cant get that dam thing moving...... . Lost at this point. I ordered a control arm with a pressed ball joint. But wondering if anyone has done this.
     
  7. Mar 29, 2019 at 9:09 PM
    #7
    anthony250f

    anthony250f Well-Known Member

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    Good luck

    Hope you have a torch or a extreme air impact. For some reason these lbj’s are Very difficult to remove. Difficult to install as well
     
  8. Mar 29, 2019 at 9:10 PM
    #8
    anthony250f

    anthony250f Well-Known Member

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  9. Mar 29, 2019 at 9:13 PM
    #9
    Taco_Rama12

    Taco_Rama12 [OP] Active Member

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    5100's all around, with upgraded leaf pack.
    Nice, Ill save that one for later. But find me one that shows the upper!! cant find anything for showing that upper ball joint removal anywhere! pain in my Ball Joint!!!!
     
    kfs90 likes this.
  10. Mar 29, 2019 at 9:23 PM
    #10
    anthony250f

    anthony250f Well-Known Member

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    I have never seen anyone remove the upper. Most people just buy a new arm lol
     
  11. Mar 29, 2019 at 10:30 PM
    #11
    jboudreaux1965

    jboudreaux1965 Ragin Cajun Fan

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    What would be the point in doing so anyway, you wouldn't gain anything?
     
  12. Mar 29, 2019 at 10:32 PM
    #12
    Sharpish

    Sharpish Well-Known Member

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    Is that picture of the truck on the ground or on a lift?
     
  13. Mar 29, 2019 at 10:34 PM
    #13
    Thesandaddict

    Thesandaddict The dude

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  14. Mar 29, 2019 at 10:34 PM
    #14
    jboudreaux1965

    jboudreaux1965 Ragin Cajun Fan

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    Lol, if that's a pic on the ground he got bigger probs
     
  15. Mar 29, 2019 at 10:42 PM
    #15
    Yota_Ivan

    Yota_Ivan Geaux Tigers!

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    A little bit of this, a little bit of that...
    I pressed mine out and it took me a lot of effort. Next time, I'd buy the whole UCA assembly.
     
  16. Mar 29, 2019 at 10:47 PM
    #16
    anthony250f

    anthony250f Well-Known Member

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    You get a Brand new ball joint, so what do you mean?

    Also if you upgrade you gain a uniball and more caster
     
  17. Mar 29, 2019 at 10:57 PM
    #17
    jboudreaux1965

    jboudreaux1965 Ragin Cajun Fan

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    On an OEM UCA? I didn't know you could replace with uniball to OEM UCA!
     
  18. Mar 29, 2019 at 11:02 PM
    #18
    anthony250f

    anthony250f Well-Known Member

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    You can’t. I’m saying if you replace the entire uca to a uniball style
     
  19. Mar 29, 2019 at 11:12 PM
    #19
    jboudreaux1965

    jboudreaux1965 Ragin Cajun Fan

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    OK, on the same page :)

    This is what I honestly see here... The more I look at it...

    Someone wanted to lift this truck cheaply. Bought, guessing... Toytec coil overs.

    Removed the top hat bolts, removed the lower strut bolt, pry bared the OEM the assembly.

    Went to put the new 'coil overs' in. Doh!!! These are longer, once the UCA drifts that low the spindle hits the coil!

    Instead of doing it right, they took a grinder to the spindle to shave it down and crow bar the assembly in place without removing the LCA to seat the new assembly.

    Then OP bought it.
     
  20. Mar 29, 2019 at 11:15 PM
    #20
    anthony250f

    anthony250f Well-Known Member

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    You have definitely lost me

    Those are 100% oem upper control arms. They aren’t grinded down, they aren’t broken or ruined visibly. I highly doubt anyone took a grinder to the spindle either? Also those look like bilstein shocks up front. Nothing wrong with that lift, aftermarket control arms would be better, but op’s suspension looks done right to me.
     

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