Ball joint blowout...

First post here, but I've read other posts for a few weeks...

Today while driving I had the front right ball joints blow out....resulting in this:



It was towed to a mechanic...won't find out the details until tomorrow morning. :-\

 

ouch, reminds me I still need to get that TSB done

 

Indeed, I'm actually headed to Beaver Toyota Santa Fe tomorrow for it. Sorry OP, hope it all works out. Sends shivers up my spine thinking what could happen if you were doing 75mph.

 

I checked my vin on toyotaowners and it says my truck isn't included in the TSB

maybe thats a good thing.

 

x2.

What TSB? (According to ToyotaOwners, "There are no open Special Service Campaigns or Safety Recalls on [my] vehicle" either.)

 

poor taco

 

It's a recall.

 

my 2004 had the recall performed on it a couple of years ago way after the warranty period was over. they changed out the lower ball joints and did an alignment.
Saw a dark green taco on the side of the road in Atlanta that had the same exact wheel break on him as well. Which is why I had mine done.

Sorry dude they ought to repair this for you if it's covered under the recall?

 

Welcome

I just had mine replaced about a month ago its a recall but its not for all 1st Gens I know the Fremont plant is in the recall that's where mine was built.

 

Just heard from the mechanic, they're quoting me $360 for the ball joints and apparently my brakes are almost gone and they're quoting $570 for brake replacement?

 

You can't do your brakes yourself?

 

X2. Even if your rotors are fucked, $570 they are going out to a nice steak dinner courtesy of your pocket book. Do it yourself or only have them do the balljoints and take it somewhere cheaper for the brakes.

 

Mine was built in Fremont as well. Maybe I should just give the dealer a call because I think my ball joints are ready for replacement anyways with 170k miles on them.

 

Yeah the dealer tried to give me shit saying my truck was lifted so the lower ball joints were not factory. i laughed and said i know for a fact they are factory because i installed the lift and i never disconnected the upper or lower ball joint. So they did it

 

Figures the stealership would try to pull that.

 

Steve o, I would think jacking it up and just testing them for looseness should do it before throwing money at it. Also, what year/month was your truck actually built?

The recall (not TSB) was only for certain batche(s) that got scratched during manufacturing, and this leads to wear and failure.

So far, I have seen mostly 2001 and 2002 affected.

My 2001 was built in August 2001, putting it at late in the model year production.

My guess is the bad batch affected trucks built in late 2001 and early 2002.

Anyone else have any evidence to support (or contradict) this?

 

Mine was built October 2000. I would think the toyotaowners website would say weather or not my truck is included (it says there are no recalls on my truck).

 

I think you're fine unless you find some mechanical evidence of them being worn from normal wear and tear. Toyota will only say something if it IS affected. From a PR perspective, I don't think they would volunteer "don't worry, your balljoints aren't fucked and going to kill you."