The Frankenstein Build! LT/Expo/Trail rig..and BS

How do you know when the unibals go bad? They break lol? Also what gets replaced when that happens the bearing and the bolt?

 

Damn, good point. Especially being located were they are; would get all crapped up really quick.

If you have a good mechanic, he should be able to tell when doing your alignment.

A quick check:

Jack your truck up and put your hands on the top and bottom and try to wiggle it vertically. If there is play, its either your top or bottom ball joint.

Put your hands on the sides and try to wiggle it horizontally. If there is play, its probably your tie rods.

Monte, check with Toyota on the Tundra/Tacoma but they didnt have the parts on hand. One of the floor team managers told me he believes they are exactly the same ball joints but the Tundra joints had a collar on them. I think he's refering to this:

$145 Genuine Toyota Parts - Joint Assy, Lwr Ball (43330-39825)

http://www.amazon.com/Genuine-43330...ywords=Genuine+Toyota+Tundra+Lower+ball+joint

As far as prices, they seem to be the same as the Tacoma

 

the bearing gets play in it. They get loud and wiggle. If you don't replace them the bearing will break out of the joint and then the bolt could break

that is just a rubber dust boot. OEM toyota tacoma ones should come with them. My 03 has them as does all the others that are here with me atm.

Not too surprised. THe front suspension is so similar and Toyota is great at reusing parts across platforms.

 

I have to disagree. Before I replaced mine, I checked for play with a dial indicator. At full drop there was zero measured play in my ball joints (197k miles). But once I put a jack under the LCA and compressed the suspension about an inch I was able to measure 0.010" of play. So it can be very deceiving!

 

Thanks for the info all this thread is helpful.

 

No good for a first gen LBJ. Frankly, assuming that generic ball joint test applies to a first gen is the main reason people push them to the point that they separate.

I completely agree with CMJ. Here is the test procedure from the FSM. Even it is somewhat lacking in technique and totally misses a very critical diagnostic point. Lets see if anyone can figure it out before someone else risks death.
CMJ, let someone else give it shot, I think you already know (unless you just can't stand it).

 

Isn't lifting your tire in the air and checking for play a wheel bearing test anyway?

 

Im guessing you have to make sure there is load on the lower arm

Just something I've always done on my cars... Why is the Tacoma different? Is it because the LBJ is inverted?

 

I would imagine a maximum of .020" is almost impossible to notice by hand. If you notice play without measuring it, there would have to much more play than that, or at least that's what I would guess.

Is that what you're getting at?

 

Photo time! First part of my trip. Lolo Motor way in ID. was nice but very smokey. And of course this is where the LBJ gave out too

Frank.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
SOSMeet.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Frank.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
Frank-4.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
SOS by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
SOSMeet-2.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
SOSMeet-6.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
SOSMeet-8.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
SOSMeet-9.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
SOSMeet-10.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
SOSMeet-11.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
SOSMeet-13.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
SOSMeet-14.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
SOSMeet-17.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
SOSMeet-18.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
SOSMeet-19.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
SOSMeet-20.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
SOSMeet-21.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
SOSMeet-22.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
SOSMeet-23.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr


More photos will be trickling in here through out the next few weeks :http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/of...09-s-o-s-meet-picture-thread.html#post9077750

 

Beautiful pictures man. Wish I was there.

Dat LBJ tho...

 

Thanks man. Your gonna need a whole different rig for trips like that

yea the LBJ sucked..whatever. haha all worked out. Was quiet the challenge to get it running again. But we did in a day...somehow..

 

i can only imagine your reaction when that thing snapped the second time.

ive never seen anyong mangle a wheel/front suspension quite that bad. well done!

 

I knew what had happened the millisecond it did. After I wrestled it into the ditch I was pretty calm about it. More concentrated on getting out

 

Did it fubar both the tire and rim? Looks like it fucked up the UCA too. Either way, glad it happened where it did and not like where we stopped to fix mine. I would've been completely fucked haha

 

Yea a break on Shoshone like that would be the biggest pain in the ass ever... Which it almost did cuz the week before monte broke his drivers side lbj we were in shoshone

 

Nope tire is good haha it's my spare now.

I had new UCAs from you so it all worked out.

Thank god it wasn't on Shoshone. Woulda been so screwed.

I know!! Holy crap haha

 

Pics look like a good time Monte. Sux to have a trip like that interupted that way though. God bless your dad, haha!

 

Thanks man. Many more to come.

My dad is pretty much the coolest dad ever wasn't planned for sure but we made it work

 

Well..your welcome haha