Lower ball joints

Here's a ball-joint video that could be helpful.



I know they're on the pricier end of the spectrum, but when it comes to LBJ on these trucks, why skimp? As mentioned, the OEM's are the best quality, period. Given the (unfortunate) suspension design, these trucks put a LOT of stress on the LBJ. Rather than pushing the joint together (like 2nd gens), our trucks are constantly trying to pull them apart. A LBJ failure on these trucks can cause a lot of expensive damage, and if traveling at highway speeds or off-road, can be seriously life-threatening. There are plenty of other parts you can get away with cheaping out on and be totally fine on these trucks; LBJ are not one of them. And given how much longer they typically last compared to aftermarket, you're gonna be saving money in the long-term anyways.

 

Guys... they should be all changed at around 90k. Moog or oem will last more than that.

 

X2

Didn't we just finish one last week? Guess the search button didn't find it.
Maybe its just me. OEM $220ish piece of mind and safety.
After market $100ish = high rate of known premature failure. Families life could be endangered if failure at cruising speeds.

No brainer to me....

 

Check with @Gunny he's our site parts guy.he'll get you the best price he can on toyota parts.with discount.

 

So, OEM for the lowers, moog or 555 for the uppers, tie rod inner and outer Moog?

 

That works.

 

Grabbed a left and right at Toyota this morning. Spent more than I wanted to, but the originals went 275k (I know. I Know. Routine maintenance that should've been done twice a long time ago.). So I figured if the originals went that long, why go with something else?

 

A little secret, 317,000 and still the original stuff on mine, except for inner/outer tie rods, the sway bar links/bushings, Bilsteins and Poly steering rack bushings....... Soon...

 

There were a bad batch of them made in the early 2000s that caused many of the failures we hear about. Yes, the design is poor and has since been improved but the bad batch that came out of the factory and had a large recall on them were the worst. The recall involved a lot of trucks and if yours is on the list you can still get free LBJ replacement through Toyota if you haven't yet

 

ran my vin some time back, nothing pertaining to mine on the list...

 

I will agree to disagree. Moog makes a good ball joint. Hell, you run them and continue to put them on every 10k miles (so you say).

 

Because they continue to fail every 10k miles. As they are covered under warranty, I dont have to pay for the replacements but it is still a pain in the ass.

Moog are not what they once were. They are made by the same manufacturer as all the rest of the cheap aftermarket balljoints now. 10 years ago Moog were quality, not anymore.

 

You are the only person I know that replaces them every 10k miles.... Also, I have yet to hear a horror story about them. Just Toyota BJs are better yada yada, which for the price they damn well should be.

 

Well I'm the second. And i didnt even get 10k miles out of my moogs... Two different vehicles. Moog LBJ, upper strut mounts and outer tie rods on my Volvo 245, trash at 8,500 miles.
Moog LBJ on my Tacoma lasted 7k miles.

Moog is shit. Moog is shit, moog is shit.

I'm surprised we're still having this conversation about LBJ's.

OEM or bust. Literally. Lol

 

My shit Moog lower ball joints are going strong with 45k miles

 

Oh yeah? Pull the boot. Only way to be sure.

 

I have had good luck out of my 555 Moogs. I ran them from 160k to 235k with no issue. And now have them again. Chang them at regular basis and you won't have issues. The original failure ballJoints were OEM Toyota.

And whoever got <10,000 out
Of the moogs should have called them because they have a lifetime warranty.

 

Are we done here? If you're poor get Moog. If you're smart get OEM. Debate settled.

 

I'm not sure why anyone would cheap out on a part that holds their front suspension together. Especially when the difference is like a hun. But to each their own. I guess it wouldn't matter to me if I drove like a granny in a 10 block radius of my place.

 

Most people, myself included, "cheap out" because that is what our budget allows. You have to pinch pennies whenever you. We get what we can, and sometimes it may not be the best. Of course I would love to get the best parts, but the wallet (wife) doesn't always allow that.

As for the lower ball joints...I went with OEM as the originals have lasted over 275K miles. I am taking a 6000+ road trip in it in a few weeks. I want to make sure the LBJ failure doesn't happen while driving in the middle of Kansas or Oklahoma. Having the peace of mind is worth the extra cost, which I was able to afford this time around.