Time to replace lower ball joints?

Lower ball joint, 4 bolts, castle nut and pin all sealed
Here is my part numbers for anyone else when getting these with ALL the parts

Apparently part number

$201 43340-39585 Toyota Genuine Parts - Joint Assy, Lwr Ball (43340-39585)

43340-39585 comes with all the parts

 

There's two different part numbers for the LBJs...one with bolts and one without. My OEM ones came without bolts this summer so I ordered them separately.

I found a solid deal on the bolt-less ones which is why I got em

 

$201 43340-39585 Toyota Genuine Parts - Joint Assy, Lwr Ball (43340-39585)

43340-39585

yup, I see that, there are two different parts numbers

 

Based on my expected mileage use for the Tacoma, it will be the in year 2035 or after before I need to worry about ball joints again. Who knows what parts will be available then. Ha!

 

Based on past experience it will probably be another short 1 - 2 years before I do mine again haha

 

Serious offroading does come with some overhead.

 

That part number doesn't come up as compatible on Camelback Toyota's parts site when I enter my VIN, so I didn't order those. Mine were $96 and $120 each, plus shipping, no tax. The 2WD versions would only be $61 and $76 each, but obviously those wouldn't work for my application.

I have an '02 TRD 4x4 3.4L ExtCab SR5 Automatic

It's odd because it does say your part 39585 is indeed for 4WD, but what it actually says is "4WD w/Prerunner" which makes no sense to me because I was always told Prerunner means 2WD.

Long story short, it seems likely that this parts site is screwy and that part could actually work for me. Who knows. I was/am just trying to stick with what the Toyota dealer's site says I should use when I enter my actual VIN.

 

It does get confusing. There are 2WD Tacoma - 5 Lug that use less expensive ball joints. Then there are 2WD Tacoma PreRunners - 6 Lug that use 4WD components.

The PreRunners share many of the 4WD components -- except they don't have 4WD.

When I'm at a parts store where they don't distinguish PreRunner I often say 4WD to keep from getting parts for a 2WD 5 lug that will not work.

 

I knew that Preunner/4WD both use the 6-lug, etc. I just didn't know there were Prerunners that have 4WD. Which there actually probably aren't--it's just that their website has weird wording "4 wheel drive. With Prerunner."

 

Some data entry clerk took a wording shortcut for the description. Though there are a few PreRunners around that have been converted to 4WD.

I recently saw some part on Rock Auto where the wording between 2WD (5-lug), PreRunner, and 4WD is very confusing.

 

Judging by your first pic. what happened was the rubber seal rotted from age same as mine did.
When I changed mine I cut open the ball and it was pristine at 150K miles and 15 yrs. but needed new rubber, couldn't really tell that from outside observation though.
I've sometimes wondered if ALL the failures resulted from torn outer seals contaminating the ball with dirt. For factory parts anyway. From looking at the parts store ones they're diff. steel.

 

At some point, won't we all?

 

https://www.toyota.com/recall

Before you buy anything, put your info in the toyota recall website. I just got mine replaced for free in July this year. Had 190,000 miles on my 02' Prerunner. I was going to change them myself, then I read somewhere about some of tacomas had a recall, I believe its only on the 01-04's. Mine was up for one and free of charge.

 

I have all the service records for my truck. 2nd owner. LBJ were already changed long ago per the campaign.

I did mine today. Piece of cake.



Old ones were fine. No noticeable slop/play. Bolts were looking pretty nasty though, glad I bought new ones from the dealership.

In other news, my rear axle is leaking gear oil into both of my rear brakes. I bought the inner seals and o-rings today but I’m a bit scared to pull the old seals out. Also scared of pressing the new ones in wrong/poorly. But thats off topic, and for another thread.