Not another LBJ debate

Seriously, I don't want another LBJ debate, nor do I want people to tell me OEM only.

My question is: does anyone has any experience with the High-end NAPA Chassis Parts ball joints?
I've heard they were good quality but want to know if any of yall have experience with them.
And for reference the part numbers: NCP 2601519 and NCP 2601520

 

Use the search function.

 

Honestly NAPA sources all of their running gear replacements from third parties. I'd ask them to get you one in so you can look at it. If it has 555 stamped in it and it shows up in their system as Alltrom Sankei or Sankei or 555 then it will at least be decent quality. Really though if you want to guarantee you at least get an okay replacement, get it from lowrangeoffroad.com. But is $115 really too much to pay for your safety? I know you don't want too many arguments for OEM but I really believe unless you are on a major time crunch then it is the only way that should be considered.Thewanese ball joints that are in NAPAs catalog are a third the cost but feel like they aren't even worth the scrap cost of their iron.

 

Toyota also outsources they're balljoints and 555 means nothing. I've bought bottom dollar part store parts that were stamped 555. I ran cheapo duralast lbjs for 5 yrs, then just because I could I pulled them off and went and "warrantied" them for new ones. The ones I pulled off were still perfectly tight. This "oem or die" nonsense is just that.

 

whats that? I never heard of such a thing. Golly darn, thanks for the insight.

 

Yeah, I'm probably getting OEM but the NAPA Chassis Parts line seems to be similar to Toyota OEM, full metal ball and polyurethane lined.

 

I'm guessing that's the case. I can get the NAPA high end line for only a little cheaper than OEM which is why I will go OEM... but the line has me intrigued.

 

Oem

 

I'm not asking whether I should get OEM or not, I'm asking if anyone has experience with the NAPA Chassis Parts line of ball joints.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=152&v=cZ__CVgVK74

Post 41 here it seems OEM is similar to this.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/ball-joints.266989/page-3

 

I have Napa ball joints right now and they are good quality. They have blue boots on them. I have a 2nd gen though.

 

What napa line, proformer or chassis parts? The difference in price is 24 bucks vs 90!

 

Worked at NAPA for over 7 years as an ASE Counterman. Their premium line of chassis parts (was made by Raybestos when I was there) is some of the best designed out there. Second best would Mevotech premium, and I only say Mevotech is second because I don't think Mevotech makes a TX line for out tacos yet. I just installed Moog control arms and ball joints on Saturday only because I worked at Advance Auto Parts/Carquest when I needed them. Moogs are also good quality so long as they have the 555 stamping on them, though this is the general consensus of this website. Personally I'd say go with either NAPA Premium, Mevotech Premium, or Moog Problem Solvers. Napa offers a more widely available warranty program than anyone else carrying Mevotech or Moog as they have more stores nationwide. Advance Auto Parts/Carquest would be next. Mevotech is more difficult to come by.

*edit*

It seems Raybestos suspension and chassis parts aren't around anymore. I don't know what NAPA uses now. I would expect they're still Raybestos, just it's now exclusive to NAPA.

 

For further info on Raybestos making NAPA chasis, watch the Raybestos video and compare it to the NAPA video.

 

I think the whole Tacoma ball joint issue could be eliminated with the ability of adding a grease joint to the uppers and lowers. Don't think anyone offers grease-able joints for them, however. They go bad because they dry up, get wet and rust.

 

I think I remember seeing someone on here tapping their on zerk fittings.

 

looks like the Moog says it is zerk capable

http://www.fme-cat.com/overlays/part-detail.aspx?brandId=MC&pNum=K90258&partType=Ball Joint

 

Moogs have a Zerk fitting, at the least the upper ones do.

 

I've had napa high end parts fail. Never bought a ball joint though. Here is my list of prematurely failed napa parts.

High end napa Eclipse tundra calipers. Failed in less than two years. Both need rebuilt for sticking.

Two inner tie rods. Failed in less than 2 months. First time flexing out one had 1/4" play. My old 280k ibj went back in and still solid to this day. Replaced other side with new OEM.

Outer tie rods. Both boots ripped first week. After couple trips to the trail one loosened up.

I've also had an oem ubj fail on 10k miles but it was at harsh angle from lift and I wheel hard. Also had an spc ball joint fail but that was before the redesign.

Oems all installed now years ago and all is still solid. Price is not much more.

OEM only please. It's the reason we but OEM. Then people replace parts with crap. These Toyotas are reliable due to Toyota parts. Why install inferior parts when it will just make it fail like a domestic.

 

I have 40K on the upper end Napa Chassis ball joints. Upper and lowers. Also Have the Napa Chassis tie rod ends. I daily drive my pickup, has a lift and I off-road mildly. Take it camping a lot to. I have had no issues what-so-ever.

 

I have been running the moog 555 Upper/lower BJ's for a while with the greasable upper and lower zerks. I grease them about every 3-4000 miles and haven't had an issue. I like the ability to throw in a little extra grease whenever I'm feeling a road trip coming up...

I don't know much about the napa joints, but I do have napa CV shafts and have not been disappointed. NAPA has some quality aftermarket parts...