Looking for replacement lower ball joints for 3rd Gen Tacoma

So it looks like I will need to replace my lower ball joints here shortly. I’ve been doing some searching and so far I’ve found that Toyota sells only the entire lower control arm assembly (which seems ridiculous) and not just a lower ball joint. Does anyone know if there is a part number for just the lower ball joint or know of quality replacement ball joints. I’ve searched the forums here and found someone said this will work

https://www.ebay.com/itm/323726422979?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&fromMakeTrack=true

but looks like it’s a hilux part. Which I’m fine with if it’s the same thing. I’d rather use a Toyota part unless there is some non chinese made aftermarket replacement.
Thanks in advance.

 

There's some good info in here, the word is go with OEM and definitely not Moog.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ball-joint-brands.710064/

 

Iv done moog in my kids 2008 taco. Now has 405k on it. The moog miles are about 100k and are starting to show some play.... pain the ass either way you do it unless your arm bolts and eccentrics aren’t seized. I’d go oem

 

Thanks maybe I’ll roll the dice and order the Toyota ones from eBay. There’s no way I’m going to replace a perfectly good lower control arm for $300+ a side

 

I agree brother! It’s just how many times do you want to do it :-/ good luck

 

I’m curious if anyone has done the lower ball joints on their 3rd gen. If so what they used for ball joints.

 

China, Thailand, what's the difference? Half your truck is probably made in China.

How are you planning to remove/install new BJ? I always figured they sold the LCA with them because they were a cryofit/press joint but never really looked closely at them

 

At this point china can shove it......besides the point though. As to the second question I’m not really sure. I can’t imagine you would have to replace a whole control arm to replace a ball joint. But I could see things going this way. More money for the stealerships and the dopy techs now days can just pull one entire part off and replace it with another. Lowest common denominator is now the way things are run.

 

You don't judge much do ya...
Toyota has always done it this way and by the time you mod the lca to accept a replacement ball joint you might as well just replace the assy. Should not be wore out in 5 years tho.

 

All judgements are based off of experiences good or bad. If techs at the dealerships didn’t over torque my wheel lugs, snap my wheel lugs, try to charge me for a TSB under warranty or cross thread my transmission drain plug maybe I’d have better things to say about them. And you can’t really say Toyota has always done it this way when there are OEM ball joints available for older gen Tacoma’s. I’ve put on 140,000 miles on all types of roads including 5 salty northern winters I think it could definitely wear them out. It’s not a function of time more so of use.

 

But maybe it is best to just replace the whole assembly. What’s a couple hundred extra bucks if it goes for another 140,000 miles.

 

With that many miles, the lca bushings are probably worn if not worn out. Hopefully you or someone who worked on the truck kept those bolts/cams well greased out anti seized, getting the lca off with corroded cam bolts can be a MF'r.

LCA =\= UCA.

Putting those UCA on a stock height truck doesn't do much but empty you wallet a little more.

 

watch out for those eBay “genuine” parts. If it isn’t a Toyota dealer selling it there’s a good chance they’re knock off parts branded as Toyota. They got everything down right even the box. But the actual part isn’t up to OE standards - you can only tell if you have it side by side. I heard one of the easiest ways to tell is to look for a “made in China” sticker on the box that says made in Japan/USA or where ever Toyota produces the part. Of course someone could always take the sticker off.

Cheap OE Toyota parts on eBay sounded too good to be true.

 

Not saying everything on ebay is legit, but I ordered a set of those OEM LBJs from the UAE and they were clearly Toyota OEM parts.

That part number is listed as the Tacoma LBJ on many parts websites, but Toyota USA doesn't allow the sale of them here.

No problem pressing them in.

 

This thread is about the lower control arm ball joint, not the upper control arm

 

OOOPPPPSSS SORRY!

 

Thanks for all the help everyone. I’m kinda leaning towards just replacing the entire assembly. It’s more money and probably overkill but for a few hundred dollars more if I can go another 140k it’s worth it. As someone noted the cams are pretty rusted and were a biotch to break lose when I installed the new shocks. I can only imagine how hard that ball joints going to be to press out. Screw it I’ll try to find the best price I can on the lower control arm assembly with the ball joint attached.

 

So I just decided to order the whole control arm assembly. Wasn’t too bad I found them for $600 total including shipping for both sides. I’ll keep the old control arms and order the ball joints from the UAE off eBay and see if they work. Then I’ll have a replacement if needed. Another question though, does anyone’s know of a good replacement for the caster/camber bolts? I think mine might be ok but if not I’d like to have some on hand. Or the part numbers for the oem bolts.