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ball joint question.

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Siktaco, May 5, 2013.

  1. May 5, 2013 at 9:50 PM
    #1
    Siktaco

    Siktaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    hello i recently bought a 96 4x4 tacoma. I had all ball joints replaced on it. The mechanic replaced the ball joints with ultra-8 ball joints.

    well about 15 days after having em installed i was with a friend drivng down a dirt back backroad and one of the ball joints snapped in half completely. Now the road i was on wasnt really an "offroading" spot it was just a dirt road along some train tracks. The night before however i was offroading the track on a trail going about 45 mph. i took the truck through extremely small whoops or whatever they are called. The truck never bottomed out or was bouncing around uncontrollably. The truck seemed to be handling everything fine. I even asked my friend who has had experience in offroading, as i have not, and he said i was not beating on the truck by any means and the truck was taking it just fine. Now i did kind of launch it once on accident but the truck still didnt really bottom out. If i got any air at all, it would have been a very minimal amount. Would this be enough to brake a ball joint? has anyone else had this issue with ultra-8 ball joints? im just curious because i was driving down a dirt road today on my way fishing and my other brand new ultra-8 ball joint snapped on a road next to a canal.

    could some one give me insight on to what could have happened if its just me and my driving or mechanic error or just crappy ball joints? both brand new ball joints snapped within about 15 days of installation. my friend thinks there was no way in hell i was beating on my truck enough to snap a both ball joints

    9qiekj_9e605c3a80858900a7b8bba775faca058aa9591f.jpg
     
    Last edited: May 5, 2013
  2. May 5, 2013 at 9:55 PM
    #2
    banditstpk

    banditstpk Pabst knows best

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    they should not have snapped if they were made from some decent material.
     
  3. May 5, 2013 at 10:00 PM
    #3
    Dcpsychobilly

    Dcpsychobilly Well-Known Member

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    Bad quality parts?
     
  4. May 5, 2013 at 10:03 PM
    #4
    Siktaco

    Siktaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    i think ultra-8 might also be called altrom? which are like napa brand if im not mistaken.
     
  5. May 5, 2013 at 10:03 PM
    #5
    License2Ill

    License2Ill Woke like a Coma Toyota Tacoma

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    It's a dry heat thou, AZ
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    Eh. I'd say 50/50 = mechanic/crappy ball joint. Your mechanic decided to throw crappy no-name balljoints up in there.
     
  6. May 5, 2013 at 10:13 PM
    #6
    Dcpsychobilly

    Dcpsychobilly Well-Known Member

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    X2, get better known parts have him replace them fo free too
     
  7. May 5, 2013 at 10:16 PM
    #7
    banditstpk

    banditstpk Pabst knows best

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    hopefully he had at least a workmanship guarantee. i would be raising hell if that happened to me after a mechanic worked on my vehicle
     
  8. May 5, 2013 at 10:19 PM
    #8
    Dcpsychobilly

    Dcpsychobilly Well-Known Member

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    I doubt op knew about the parts quality tho. I just did a itr and got a moog part for peace of mind.
     
  9. May 5, 2013 at 10:19 PM
    #9
    Siktaco

    Siktaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    ya im pissed. 2 ball joints in a week! and he used the same ones on the lower ball joints so im like so paranoid so even have my truck see any dirt whatsoever. He said the best he could do is go half on me with the price so I agree, but the thing is im pretty sure he replaced the ball joint with the same after it broke on the passenger side. So now that the driver one broke im afraid the passenger side will brake. I want to talk to him and work out a deal where he can replace all the ball joints with MOOG ball joints. Or what ball joints do you guys recommend?
     
  10. May 5, 2013 at 10:20 PM
    #10
    Siktaco

    Siktaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    I didnt. this is my first truck so im knew to good part brands for trucks and what not. plus i trusted my mechanic enough to buy good quality parts.
     
  11. May 5, 2013 at 10:29 PM
    #11
    Dcpsychobilly

    Dcpsychobilly Well-Known Member

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    Sometimes they cheap out to pocket more money. I'd recommend moog, but some moog parts with rubber like balljoints tend to tear (research if you can) but they got a lifetime warranty. Research anything and everything
     
  12. May 6, 2013 at 6:09 AM
    #12
    Lumpskie

    Lumpskie Independent Thinker

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    OP: I'd replace your failed joint with an OEM one, if you can. I've heard of almost every other type of ball joint having catastrophic failures when used off road.
     
  13. May 6, 2013 at 8:41 AM
    #13
    CUtacomaTIGER

    CUtacomaTIGER Unprofessional Driver

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    Prob. a combination of poor quality and mechanic might not have used right torque amounts. I'd go oem based off my research, I just bought oem from camelback for ~$180 w/free shipping. They seem to be the cheapest. But you should be able to get the ones that broke refunded. I definitely try to get your money back on them.
     
  14. May 6, 2013 at 12:20 PM
    #14
    Siktaco

    Siktaco [OP] Well-Known Member

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    180 for one ball joint?
     
  15. May 6, 2013 at 11:18 PM
    #15
    CUtacomaTIGER

    CUtacomaTIGER Unprofessional Driver

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