Opinions - Front End Suspension

Greeting everyone, new user, tips are welcome.

2000 Tacoma, 270k, 4x4 SR5 Daily Driver, no offroading.

Pretty sure my drivers lower ball joint is shot, been getting some squeaking at low speeds for the last year plus, no popping yet, inner tire wear (just noticed). My plan at this point, without pulling and rebuilding the entire front end (time is a consideration as I have just weekends to work on her), is to replace the lower ball joints on each side, and maybe the outer tie rods as well...I don't want to get into the upper control arm or the other bushings at this time, I just wanna make sure I don't have a major failure that leads to the wheel coming off.

The other thing I'd like to replace are the sway bar bushings and links...

Here are my questions:

1. Plan on ordering OEM LBJ, are there better options for my usage?
2. Is there other hardware that I should replace with the outer tie rod?
3. Need advice on sway bar bushings and links...the main bushings seem to be discontinued from Toyota...I'm assuming there must be a go-to on kits for that which include the links.
4. Any other easy bushings to replace while I'm in there like on the steering rack or something?

Any general advice is appreciated, thanks everyone.

 

You Definitely want to go OEM Toyota LBJs with the OEM Toyota bolts without question. If you have Facebook l
For sway bar and rack and pinion bushings I replaced them
With energy suspension polyurethane bushings. Sway bar end links go with OEM or the best you can afford.

 

1. No go eith OEM, replace bolts too using OEM black bolts. Torque bolts to 37 ft lbs.

2. No, outer tie rod will come with new castle nut (if you go OEM, which you should).

3. Not aware of any kits, but any old poly bushing brand would work.

4. Steering rack bushings aren't difficult but are a bit out of the way for this job.

I'd suggest slowly acquiring the parts for the front end rebuild/refresh if you feel your truck needs it, then find a 3-day weekend where you can get the work done. Truth be told it can be done in one long day if you plan ahead and ensure you've got all the parts/tools needed ahead of time. Parts store runs will kill you if you intend to blast through it in a day

 

Highly recommend changing the ITR along with the OTR and bellow. They both wear out. Another recommendation is to change the UBJ with said mileage and I would change the LCA bushing while you’re there already. At this point, it’s not a bad idea to change the UCA bushing too.

Go OEM or Three 5 brand, at least 555 is made in Japan.

 

Stop driving it and at least change the lower ball joint.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lower-balljoint-mayhem-shoulda-listened.854121/

 

Thanks everyone for the advice...I think from the sounds of it, and the advice, I'm going to start with getting the LBJ (OEM) done asap, then start ordering other parts and get back in there when I have an extended weekend to work on her. Just a couple more questions:

1. Thoughts on generalized bushings for upper and lower control arms etc...poly stuff or factory rubber stuff? Like I said, daily driver, no crazy offroading stuff. I'd hate to end up with super stiff and squeaky front end.
2. Steering rack...it's not leaking, no issues as I can tell, but is it worth replacing as well when I get back in there? Definitely not cheap from the research I've done.

Thanks again everyone, very helpful.

 

1. I'd go OEM for LCA bushings (they last forever and will be the most comfortable). Aftermarket poly ones will likely squeak and are really not ideal for a daily driver truck. For upper arms you can save some coin and get Moog arms complete with new bushings already installed in them for relatively cheap (I ran these for a couple years without any issues).

2. If your rack isn't leaking and you don't have excessive wandering/loose steering, I'd leave the rack alone, other than maybe replacing the rack bushings.

 

Wow, those inner OEM tie rods are expensive AF! I keep looking at this site I'm using and trying to figure out if it's $180 for one or if it's both...

 

I'd just get a remanned OEM for around $550 (which includes ITREs) rack before spending $360 on ITREs

 

Amazing how expensive they are...Energy Suspension has some brand called DST for $35...I'm gonna have to put some serious thought into it...I guess I'll know more when I start taking stuff off on how it feels etc...I can only assume they should be replaced with the outer, but I just may have to start with outer and go back to it later when I do other bushings etc...

 

I'd do the outers along with the rest of the front end bushings and the end links then reassess. If you still feel it feels sloppy, then whole new rack. Doesn't make since to spend $360 on ITREs and slap them on a tired old rack rather than spend $550 for a new rack with new ITREs

 

That's kinda what I'm thinking logically, thanks for your input...I know one thing, I'm getting those lower ball joints done asap...I'm thinking once I get in there I can at least educate myself more on what I want to do...but I don't know I don't want that thing breaking on me while driving, thankfully I'm close to work and I've been driving as little as possible.

 

The 555 ITREs aren't nearly as expensive as OEM
https://lowrangeoffroad.com/1995-2004-toyota-tacoma-inner-tie-rod-end-left-or-right-45503-39075.html

 

Yep. I use Sankei 555 when I can. Just changed my GX470 ITR/OTR using Sankei 555 because I refused to pay Lexus price. I went with Beck Arnley bellow.