ball joints break

Both of my cousin front end has broke on them going down the road in there Tacoma's. is there any warning sign of this

 

They need to do like I do. Every time I change the oil, I rotate the Tires. When it's up in the air, I grab both sides UCA's and LCA's and wiggle. If there is excessive play, then replace.

 

Yeah theres warnings, loose,wandering steering for one, you can jack up front end until it's just about to come off ground, get a pry bar & pry a little between the lower ball joint on LCA & spindle, there should be very little if any vertical movement, that sucks for your cousin, hope he came out of it ok other than shitting his pants, one of mine let go just turning out of my driveway & scared the shit out of me...

 

yea he was lucky becasue we just got bad from a 575 mile trip to new york bear huntin. we got back saturday.

 

Was the first thing I replaced when I purchased my truck. With OEM parts, and in 100k miles I'll replace again.

 

Good advice, when those fuckers finally let go, they just....BOOM..

hopefully no one is going too fast when it happens....but i like you're "pre emptive " approach

 

Hiya Doug.

 

Haha... I just "Hya'd" you in the garage...

 

Just replied in garage.

 

Wow ...dude.. we are sooooo connected.....

 

Upper and lower?

 

Lowers with OEM but replaced UCA with Light Racing and it came with Upper ball joint.

 

Be careful.. the LBJs are hard to measure. Mine didn't have any play at all with the wheels off the ground. You'll need to put a jack under the LCA and use a crow bar to pry between LCA and LBJ to see any play. The wiggle test will only give you a false sense of confidence.

Mine have 0.010" of play and this was not able to be measured or noticed without supporting the LCA. Ill be installing some new OE Toyota ones today.

 

you mean like the factory recall?