shocks bad?

New left lower ball joint was installed by shop 6 months ago, went bad and had to be replaced again just now.

A different shop than normal that was doing an alignment told me the ball joint going out has to be caused by a suspension component. They didn't identify the cause exactly but I suggested shocks and they quoted ~$550 for new shocks installed.

I replaced sway bar bushings and end links last year. Tires balanced regularly. Original coil springs. Regular shop installed KYB Gas-A-Just shocks 40,000 mi / 6 years ago, and when replacing ball joint again (under warranty) said it drives good, didn't suggest any other work.

I get more steering vibration than in other vehicles, especially over uneven surfaces, even on paved roads. It's not alarming, but noticeable and feels worse than in years past I think. Small potholes feel pretty bad, while other vehicles cruise over them better. I don't think I feel the shock bottoming out on them, but it's a hard reaction. When I push down either front corner of the truck for a couple bounces, it settles after another small bounce, not instantly. No oil leaks on shocks. No nosediving or bouncing while driving.

What do you think?

 

Honestly, and forgive if this comes across point blank, it's time to completely (it is a 27 year old taco) work up the front suspension.

Sway bar bushings and end links are fine but you also need to take a hard look at replacing:

• Outer and Inner Tie Rods
• Steering Rack Bushings
• Coil Springs

You did shocks, ok. Make sure they replaced the bushings as well. I'm not familiar with KYB so have no idea if they come with their own replacements.

Upper Ball Joints, Upper Control Arms - did you take a look and make sure they're still good?

Lower Ball Joint(s) as in both. When replacing one LBJ, best to replace the other as well. New bolts also, do not reuse them. If the shop re-used them when they replaced the one LBJ, that is cause for concern.

I used to feel every imperfection/pothole. Once I updated the front end, new truck again.

 

LBJs and UBJs all replaced. No idea if they replaced the bolts.

It appears the shocks include bushings? This model.

$36 KYB KG4752 Gas-a-Just Gas Shock

https://www.amazon.com/KYB-KG4752-Gas-a-Just-Gas-Shock/dp/B000C3ZDQQ/

I'll have to think about inner and outer tie rods, steering rack bushings, coil springs, and upper control arm bushings. In that order? They are all original. Is it possible for me to diagnose any of them easily or have the shop diagnose what the worst part is? The shop hasn't suggested any of these and has examined it due to vibration complaints already, a couple of which were fixed but were related to mounts and the drive shaft.

The inner tie rod boots aren't leaking. I'm not getting play in the steering wheel, and it turns smoothly without noise except when fully left or right, which makes a noise I can't remember because I back off a little when turning it hard to the extreme end because of it. Would that be something?

Instead of inner tie rods, don't they usually replace the whole steering rack which includes rack bushings too?

So I'm open to the idea but I don't know where to start. Maybe go to some place that specializes in suspension work? I haven't looked into that.

 

I would have a hard time believing that a $40 shock would have the same life span of a premium shock.

 

Also, outer tie rods aren't giving play wiggling the tire at 3 and 9, and steering feels pretty tight. So I'm not seeing evidence yet that the inner or outer tie rods are the likely culprit.

I might take it to a new shop and have them replace the upper control arm bushings, steering rack bushings, and coil springs which are all original. Make sense? Any other bushings or cheap things in the suspension?

What about lower control arm bushings? Or does the 2wd not have a lower control arm? I'm not familiar with everything.

 

Just what brand Lower ball joints were installed.

You do understand anything but Toyota Lower Ball joints are of lower quality .

I agree a front end up grade before the Alleged Mattress adventure is in order

 

No idea what LBJs were used.

I don't know what a front end upgrade means in the context of the specific things I'm wondering about replacing.

What mattress adventure?

 

Most shops will elect to replace control arms instead of fighting and charging to remove the bushings .

Don`t forget the Cam bolt Hardware which might fight ever so hard to be removed.

My hot setup is to buy used Toyota Control Arms and refurbish them and just swap.

All the front bushings and worn hardware .

 

I'm confused. Do I ask them to replace the cam bolt hardware too? Where is the cam? It seems like I'd be insulting them if I tell them how to do their jobs when it comes to details like that.

When you say all the front bushings, what does that mean?

If they're just going to replace the control arms instead, why would I tell them to replace all the bushings?

I'm just trying to figure out what to ask the shop to do to fix the suspension. I don't need to learn how to do it, just enough to know what to ask them so the problem is going to be fixed.

The guy at the shop doing the alignment was telling me on both my trips there that the suspension was causing the worn LBJ, without telling me what that means. I told him I tested the shocks by pushing at each corner to test for bounce, and he just shook his head and told the suspension is bad. What does that mean? None of these guys want to explain anything or tell me specifically what needs replacing, or they deny there's any problem. Like it's up to me to either have to know enough to tell them exactly what to replace, at my own risk, or they won't do it. Every little problem like this snowballs into a frustrating mess where I spend days trying to research it online because the mechanics can't solve anything. What happened to diagnosing? In my memory I've never had a shop correctly diagnose and fix a problem without being dead wrong or doing the job badly. I've never been able to just take it to a shop and have the issue solved.

 

Here's a tip for you OP. I'd suggest taking your smart phone and going to RockAuto.com.

Enter all the specifics of your truck, and then look at all the suspension parts they offer while right next to your truck. Look first at their picture, then find it on your truck.

Quickly you'll know what nearly all of the parts others in this thread are referring to. Then come back and reread this thread. Then ask follow-up questions for clarification.

At the end of this you'll be competent enough to not get taken advantage of (or at least not too bad), by whatever shop you take the truck to.

 

I looked up suspension parts to make sure I'm covering everything, and as far as front end bushings, the only ones I have left to do are the steering rack bushings and control arm bushings, so I'm going to tell them to do all that. Plus the coil springs because they are likely sagging.

With this truck, should I require them to be willing to replace the control arm bushings and not the entire upper and/or lower control arms? I've heard old bushings are a pain and people sometimes replace the whole thing, but they are $$$$. No real rust on the control arms.

 

The shop ended up only lubing all the control arm bushings. The suspension is absorbing rough spots in the road a lot better. The coil springs were not in stock locally so maybe I got lucky and they're not too bad.

There's only a little steering wheel vibration now if I'm being picky. I might end up trying to do the steering rack bushings.

The AC pulley and PS pulley I know have slight play from worn bearings, not enough to cause noticeable noise, at least not at idle. Would those be enough to cause a vibration of the engine?

 

Go OEM on LCA (or bushings, if you're up for the work) ball joints and rack, if you change it. These trucks have a habit of breaking ball joints and when it happens, it's not pretty and often dangerous. Just reworked mine which you can see here. It's possible the lower front shock bushings are worn, but generally shocks should be changed out every 30K miles. Did that as well here.

As for shocks/springs, I highly recommend SuspensionLifts.com, people don't like them for whatever reason but they did me well and assemble the front coilovers themselves, you can't beat the deal. Moog springs and Bilstein shocks. Link to the package here and my experience with SL. This is for 95 - 2004 so this package should fit your '95 (unless you want lift.)

 

I installed new shocks equivalent to OEM ride quality, and the suspension is much better, gliding over everything. I suspect the upgraded Gas-A-Just shocks were too stiff and causing the ball joint damage. I know people here have suggested those shocks, but maybe they don't work as well on the 2wd with its weaker components?

I put all the details in a new thread to sum up.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/fyi-suspension-problems-fixed.817800/

 

Never mind I changed realities so it must not of occurred here.

One must be ready for those changes my best friends youngest brother is now his sister.

 

Welp. There is is. Enough Internet for me today.
Yeah this world is no longer the one we grew up in.

 

Don`t laugh I really think I really did.

Maybe I have a portal in the garage I never saw so many 10mm wrenches and sockets

 

Looks like you replaced the front torsion bar bushings on that other thread....

and thats a big deal on 5 luggers, if those are worn, the whole front wheel tri-angle will move back and forth.

That will wreck all kinds of havoc on the upper/lower, control arms and bushings.

The lower control arms on 5lug is just a straight piece with a single bushing and needs that torsion arm to control forward and back movement..

A lot of 5luggers aren't even aware of that torsion bushing...

On a 27yr old truck....all those rubber bushings are well past their prime....all of them...


Here's what my torsion bar one looked like after 25yrs....