Changing Upper Ball Joints

Have an Upper ball Joint that's bad on my passenger front. Shop quoted me $215 to change. Has anyone used the rent a tool kit from Advance or Autozone to change their own? Called them and they said they had the press kit but I'm not sure if I trusted the gentlemen enough for him to know that their universal kit would fit ours. I've never changed them on my own but it doesn't look too bad as long as the press kit fits accurately. More than likely I'm just going to try to replace them all while I'm at it. Any suggestion, tips on this and what Joints should I look into since Toyota doesn't sell Ball Joints separate.

 

You could try finding someones UCAs on here that swapped them out and rock those. Lotta folks basically giving them away. Prob easier to do and cheaper than replacing the ball joints.

 

Did mine on my 2005 4x4. Undo the ball nut then the long bolt on the upper arm.may need to remove grill to pull out bolt.Then use the rental tool. Clean out opening.put ball joint in freezer over night.heat gently the opening,prep twice do it once.And Be As straight as you can.Will be Tough til in.Took me about a hour aside.Take your time.catch a video on YouTube..Good luck Don't forget the boot...

 

What a bargain!!!
Is that $1,395 per side?

 

Go with Pro Forged ball joints is you can get them. I have then on my car w/ aftermarket tubular A-arms. Talking with guys that had experience with them they last for a long long time, and some of them were on drag cars that routinely pull wheelies and slam back down on their front suspension.

 

I second this as well though. Tons of people replace UCAs and have stock ones laying around with barely any miles on them. Third gen arms will fit your truck as well.

 

In the racing world of "stock" or "modified stock" cars, it is common practice to utilize HOWE ball joints. They have extended studs so that the A-arm moves up to a different point of arc - it extends the vertical height of the spindle upright. By using different lengths of stud the chassis set-up can be re-engineered on the spot to accommodate various amounts of spring deflection. The Howe joints are based on sixties Chrysler joints that screw into the A-arm sockets. As popular as the Tacoma lifts are - does no one offer such a product for these trucks?

 

Im pretty sure it is per pair. Kibbetech does a lot of builds for desert racing, but not sure how much you can dramatically change an a arm on an oem setuo

 

https://howeracing.com/index.php/store/suspension/howe-precision-ball-joints/lower-ball-joints.html

 

OP you can probably find some lightly used stock UCA's for cheap or free on the forums from members who remove them to install aftermarket units. I have a set sitting in my garage with all of like 10k miles on em... but im keeping them.

 

@MedlinAround

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/stock-upper-control-arms-eibach-3-0-springs.610170/

 

Let me look when I get home and make sure I didn't tear the boots on them, but I've got a set of 3rd gen arms with 200 miles on them.

 

You pay shipping. I probably can't get them in the mail this weekend but maybe Tuesday I can run down.