Ball joints at 50k???????

Been doing some suspension upgrades and took the truck in for an alignment. Owner called me and said they wouldn't do it as the lower ball joints had too much play. This truck has never seen dirt and is a garaged prima donna... are you kidding. Is this typical on a 2nd gen Tacoma???

So looking at OEM, Toyota wants $402 each for LCA's. Aftermarket comes in around $211 each. I put on 3rd gen struts and UCA's with a 3/4 inch spacer and HS AAl's in the back. What gives, are the aftermarket LCA's okay??? Advice please.

 

I'd get a second opinion on the ball joints...

I trust no one. Not even me.

 

Doesn’t sound right to me, definitely second opinion.

 

In my experience, lower ball joints on a Mercedes are not that expensive, and kind of easy to change.
I hope the same is true with Toyota, because since getting my Tacoma (especially after some off-roading), there seems to be some play feeling in the steering wheel that reminds me of how an old Benz acts with it needs ball joints.
But I haven't looked into parts cost for Tacoma's and what's involved in the repair.
Though $200-400+ would honestly not sound good to me.

Because on a Benz, besides the part, it's a matter of hammering the old one out somehow, and using a tool to push in the new one into the hole. In other words, not rocket science.
Especially considering just how many moving parts a vehicle has, that may need attention sooner or later (it adds up),
I can't see myself ever paying $200-400 for something. At all.
Because it's not just that one thing. It's one of 20 things. And if you're spending $300 per thing, times 20, that's not good.
Fluids, replacing of parts, rebuilding of parts, and so on.

re: Mercedes I'll admit it's more complicated than that,
the "pushing out" can be done with an air hammer hooked up to shop air; hard to do if you have neither
same goes for the install tool; the tool itself costs money

would be curious to know how to forsure detect/notice play,
after the steering wheel feeling while driving, I lifted my truck up to check by wobbling the wheel and pushing up/down while looking at the ball joint for play/movement, and didn't really notice anything. So maybe it's not that bad yet. Not sure.

 

This is how you check lower ball joints.

Put a floor jack under the lower control arm as close to the tire as possible without touching the tire. Raise the tire about 2" off the ground. Give your helper a 2' pry bar and a wood block. Have them pry the tire up and let it back down. While they're doing this, put your hand on the ball joint and feel for looseness. No looseness is good. A very slight amount of looseness is acceptable. If it clunks up and down about a 1/4", that's really bad. The other necessary test is have your helper grab the tire at 11:00 and 5:00 and wiggle it. Tell them not to put their fingers under the tire. Put your hand on the ball joint and feel for looseness. A very very slight amount of looseness in this direction is acceptable, but not ideal. Also, put your fingers between the brake rotor and the dust shield to feel for wheel bearing looseness. There should be no looseness felt in the wheel bearing.

 

50k seems soon. I have 118k on mine.
I don't off-road much. But I use my truck like a truck.
I'd get a second opinion.

 

Sounds like they are trying to screw you Op !

 

Get a second opinion.