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ball Joints

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by Tommy boy, Oct 24, 2014.

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  1. Oct 24, 2014 at 9:14 AM
    #1
    Tommy boy

    #1
    Tommy boy [OP] Active Member

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    I need to replace all my ball joints and tie rods when I install my lift. I was looking into the ones from 1A Auto.com for $128.00. I know everyone recommends Moog but $400 for some metal is ridiculous. I mean it can't be too hard to not mess up ball joints.. Anyone have any experience with these? Or have some other recommendations?
     
    Tommy boy, Oct 24, 2014
    #1
  2. Oct 24, 2014 at 9:23 AM
    #2
    a.smo

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    a.smo Well-Known Member

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    Go OEM. It's the only thing meant for our trucks. Do some research. There's a thread out there showing the differences of Moog and OEM.
     
    a.smo, Oct 24, 2014
    #2
  3. Oct 24, 2014 at 9:25 AM
    #3
    Inmand09

    #3
    Inmand09 ArkLaTex Offroad Vice President

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    Granbury, TX
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    3" Suspension Lift, Skids, Sliders, Ditch Lights, Rock Lights, CB, etc.
    I recently bought 2 new ball joints from rockauto.com for under $100 for my 5 lug
     
    Inmand09, Oct 24, 2014
    #3
  4. Oct 24, 2014 at 9:37 AM
    #4
    Lumpskie

    #4
    Lumpskie Independent Thinker

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    '96, 4x4, v6, manual hub
    Toytec 16" coilovers with Tundra Bilstein 5100s, Light Racing UCAs, Alcan Leafs with Orbit Eyes, 12" Bilstein 7100 short Bodies, ARB rear locker, 33x12.5 Duratracs, CBI sliders, Bushwacker fender flares, self made front bumper, M8000, Vision X 6.7" Hi/Lo Beam HIDs, full skids, Inchworm dual case setup - 15º clocking
    Go OEM. As far as spending too much "for some metal", google Tacoma lower ball joint failure and you'll see failures all over the place. Look up some of Blackdawg's LBJ failures, if you want to see what the carnage looks like.
     
    Lumpskie, Oct 24, 2014
    #4
  5. Oct 24, 2014 at 10:41 AM
    #5
    keakar

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    keakar Well-Known Member

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    louisiana
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    used to have - 99 2.4L I4 5 lug & 04 prerunner v6
    the differences is how much inside it is plastic and how much is metal, and yes some of those off brands are plastic inside, that might work for a car but not for trucks
     
    keakar, Oct 24, 2014
    #5
  6. Oct 24, 2014 at 11:10 AM
    #6
    Inmand09

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    Inmand09 ArkLaTex Offroad Vice President

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    Inmand09, Oct 24, 2014
    #6
  7. Oct 24, 2014 at 11:12 AM
    #7
    4WD

    #7
    4WD cRaZy oLdmAn

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    Lakeside, Ca / Gardnerville, Nevada
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    Grey wire MOD, deck plate, diff breather MOD, 2nd gen. OME 883# on Tundra 5100's, OMD custom 3" leafsprings, rear shock relocation, Ivan Stewart TRD rims w/285/75/16's, '02 bumper MOD, Famous Fabrications sliders , LED interior/exterior lights, bed bar, Custom tube bumper, Old school KC day lighters,Red Ring 8" HID flood, Kenwood vhf 2M.. umm some other shit I'm forgetting right now

    Moog is over priced IMO, however you go 1A Auto.com is awesome , ordered some manual hubs for a friends 4x , totally good experience, fast delivery, good company...
     
    4WD, Oct 24, 2014
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  8. Oct 24, 2014 at 1:54 PM
    #8
    97TacoNM

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    97TacoNM Riding a 97 Taco

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    97TacoNM, Oct 24, 2014
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  9. Oct 24, 2014 at 1:59 PM
    #9
    Germ

    #9
    Germ Master Navigator/Zipper Operator

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    After looking at enough ball joint failure pics and considering the originals lasted 214k mi. on the Wife's 3rd gen 4runner, OEM was the only option. See if your dealership will price match too. Mine will price match any Internet source and doesn't charge for shipping.
     
    Germ, Oct 24, 2014
    #9
  10. Oct 24, 2014 at 5:07 PM
    #10
    keakar

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    keakar Well-Known Member

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    louisiana
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    used to have - 99 2.4L I4 5 lug & 04 prerunner v6
    why are all the parts places so damn cherry picked? for ford chevy or dodge you find a parts place and you can find every part number for everything on the truck but with Toyotas they never show more the 40% of the "popular" parts but if you need a part you need a parts and sometimes I need non regular maint parts and you cant even find a damn listing for them much less a part number.

    now im not expecting every place to have everything but why cant they at least show the full parts list with parts numbers and then just show it as N/A so I at least know the part number to search for without having to go to the local Toyota dealer just to get a part number and then go home to search for the part at a good price. I don't trust those idiots on the phone so I make sure I point out the part on the screen for them so I know its right
     
    Last edited: Oct 24, 2014
    keakar, Oct 24, 2014
    #10
  11. Oct 24, 2014 at 7:09 PM
    #11
    Tommy boy

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    Tommy boy [OP] Active Member

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    Thank y'all for all the info guys! Just the kinda advice I was hoping for! I will look into the OEM ball joints, I know I definitely need new uppers and probably lowers. Everything is so expensive these days! Loll!
     
    Tommy boy, Oct 24, 2014
    #11
  12. Oct 25, 2014 at 12:54 AM
    #12
    Blackdawg

    #12
    Blackdawg Dr. Frankenstein

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    ALL OF THEM!...Then some more.
    :wave:

    You rang?


    here ya go OP...get OEM.


    I went through this...twice..this summer. Both sides failed a month apart.

    First time:

    [​IMG]Frank-3.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
    [​IMG]Frank.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

    second time:

    [​IMG]SOSMeet-17.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr
    [​IMG]SOSMeet-22.jpg by Monte Nickles Photos, on Flickr

    I did all the repairs myself. Was less then 500 both times in parts, i just went to junk yards and got parts.

    the most expensive part is the the LBJs themselves. Get OEM ONLY. so that'll be 200 bucks there.

    Junk yards are your friend for anything else damaged.

    Took me a while to do it all myself, the second time, in part due to experience :anonymous: and i had my dad helping we did it all in 11 hours. THat included welding the steering rack mount back on on the passenger side.
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2014
    Blackdawg, Oct 25, 2014
    #12
  13. Oct 25, 2014 at 12:31 PM
    #13
    Bino9905

    #13
    Bino9905 Well-Known Member

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    my moms 4runner had the same failure.....luckily it happened at 5 mph.....it has 290K miles.....first problem its given them.....only maintenance is oil changes..... bought it with 21K miles.....

    hope my 2013 4runner (16K miles) and 99 tacoma (currently at 98K miles) last that long....
     
    Bino9905, Oct 25, 2014
    #13
  14. Oct 25, 2014 at 12:37 PM
    #14
    Adventurer_Alex

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    Adventurer_Alex Generic mall crawler

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    Adventurer_Alex, Oct 25, 2014
    #14
  15. Oct 25, 2014 at 2:00 PM
    #15
    97TacoNM

    #15
    97TacoNM Riding a 97 Taco

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    You're like the poster child for "LBJs!!!" lol. I found that camelback has great prices. Just about $50 for the OEM.
     
    97TacoNM, Oct 25, 2014
    #15
  16. Oct 25, 2014 at 2:25 PM
    #16
    Blackdawg

    #16
    Blackdawg Dr. Frankenstein

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    You sure about that? 50? My buddy just got OEM from that and thought it was 70..but whatever haha

    Camelback does have the best prices.
     
    Blackdawg, Oct 25, 2014
    #16
  17. Oct 25, 2014 at 2:32 PM
    #17
    97TacoNM

    #17
    97TacoNM Riding a 97 Taco

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    97TacoNM, Oct 25, 2014
    #17
  18. Oct 25, 2014 at 2:40 PM
    #18
    Blackdawg

    #18
    Blackdawg Dr. Frankenstein

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    ooo on sale. Nice!
     
    Blackdawg, Oct 25, 2014
    #18
  19. Oct 25, 2014 at 2:46 PM
    #19
    MrRiverMan

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    MrRiverMan Compulsive tinkerer

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    MrRiverMan, Oct 25, 2014
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  20. Oct 25, 2014 at 3:13 PM
    #20
    ToyoTaco02

    #20
    ToyoTaco02 Well-Known Member

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    OME 881 1/4" top plate spacer OME Dakars OME Nitrochargers Light Racing UCA
    I just checked the price for a prerunner or 4wd the lower ball joint is $85.
     
    ToyoTaco02, Oct 25, 2014
    #20
Page 1 of 2

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