Ball Joints

I mean, I wouldn't say no to that. Never turn down a factory tour...

They do quality control checks, and most places have different tiers based on the tolerances the part passes. Kinda like beef, lol.

 

Any DIY vids on it?

 

Google Timmah tacoma lower balljoint.


Or just sit down and look at the 4 bolts and 2 castle nuts you have to take off.

 

Umm. No.

They're fine until they start to wear out the symptom of which is play in the joint and when they get bad enough, clunking over bumps. Which is easily checkable with a floor jack and a big pry bar or wrecking bar. Keep ignoring the symptoms of wear and only then does your truck end up sitting on the frame. It's not some magic elixer that suddenly 'runs out'. It's cumulative mechanical wear.

OP, for checking, which I do every other oil change, jack up the front end so the wheels are off the ground and do this: literally takes 5 fucking seconds.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu2rQMxXV2M

 

Settle down

 

Fair enough. My point is though that unlike most vehicles, which just will keep going for a surprisingly long time before a failure with worn bj's, a taco will be on the ground before most people notice that the bj's are worn. They don't always get loose before needing replacement, sometimes they just get dry and squeaky.

 

And your point is The Point with 1st gen lower BJs. My problem is with the interwebs warriors skipping the 'find out IF it's bad' part of a proper repair. Doesn't matter if it's got 20 miles, 20,000 miles, or 200,000 miles on it. If it's good it's good, and if it's bad it's bad.

 

Yeah, I dunno. I'm okay with replacing something early if it's has had a long life. Mine seemed okay, but according to maintenance records they probably had 200k miles on them, and didnt show any outward signs of being terrible, they felt tight. But once I got them off the truck, it was clear they were on borrowed time - they were all bound up and grease wasn't getting where they needed it. Maybe a better mechanic could have figured that out without taking it all apart, but I am not a better mechanic.

 

Tim does 4Runner videos. I used Advanced Auto’s #3 loaner kit for the puller.

https://youtu.be/bfLvtEnX9qk

 

Or get a long crowbar in there and check for play.

 

Ah, good ol' Frank. Leaving bits of himself on every trail he visits

 

Any idea on part number for upper and lower for Rock auto?

 

I don't have that memorized, but it should be pretty straightforward to find them. All 1st gen ball joints are interchangeable. Just punch in your year make model and it should show up.

 

It only shows for 1 upper 4x4?

 

Don't know if this link works but they have many lower ball joints listed: https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/toyota,2004,tacoma,3.4l+v6,1429084,suspension,ball+joint,10070

Godspeed if you buy the $13 LBJ.

 

uppers are the same for both sides

As @Madjik_Man man said, don't cheap out on either the uppers or the lowers.

 

thank you, what im struggling with is im a 4x4 and doesnt show that?

 

Why not just buy OEM?

 

You need things that look like this

 

What the poster above me said.

If OP insists on Rock Auto, follow the parts for Prerunner and 4x4.

Ignore S Runner.