3rd gen ball joints

Hey where’s the best place to get ball joints for a 3rd gen? Toyota makes you buy the whole arm

 

I would buy the arms. Aftermarket ball joints are trash.

 

https://www.extremeterrain.com/taco...MImeiFh_jXjQMV1SdECB0N4wA4EAQYASABEgKk3PD_BwE

 

Thats been my experience. But my god thats ridiculous that you have to buy the whole arm. I dont even wanna look up what they charge.

 

It's unfortunate, but the only way I feel you can get good results. I am seeing $338 per upper and $316 per lower. Not a great price for sure.

 

I remember seeing these in another thread and people saying they were great. Have they been around long enough to be called good? Few other ttx (edit:mevotech) stuff Ive had I wasnt overly impressed with honestly.

 

Yeh thats crazy.

 

DRT sells them by themselves: 2005-2023 Tacoma OEM lower balljoints | DRT Fabrication

 

What's the logic behind Toyota wanting you to replace the entire A-arms?

Considering how long Toyota has made just replaceable ball joints, why the switch?

 

$$$

 

The genuine toyota lower ball joints thats interchangeable are available. Just not in the US.

Its what DRT sells.

 

Business decision i.e. Toyota USA didn't anticipate spares demand for the ball joints... similar reason they don't anticipate spares demand for inner tie rods in 4th gen.

 

I have installed the TTX ball joints, they work. The DRT seem to be the best option(i have ordered the OEM via eBay from Japan, same PN as the DRT supplied)
https://www.drt-fabrication.com/product/2005-2023-tacoma-oem-lower-balljoints

 

I bought a couple off eBay that are supposedly oem from a highly reputable seller and just installed a couple weeks ago, so no long term feedback unfortunately. I needed a set quickly to install and get overdue alignment, so seemed like a viable option at the time. P/n is 43330-09510.

You could get them imported from Amayama and they’re much cheaper than DRT fab but has longer lead times due to international shipping. Many forum users on T4R.org have vouched for them over the years. I even bought off of Amayama once for a 70 series Land Cruiser license plate garnish a couple years ago to throw on my 4Runner for a Nguyenworks swing out bumper. It came in an oem box and was great quality so it seems legit.



https://www.amayama.com/en/part/toyota/4333009510

 

I have had the TTX ball joints on other vehicles and they have been great. They are made by Mevotech if i remember correctly and I got mine from rock auto. The Ram 1500 that I had them in is the same way. You must replace the entire lower control arm to replace the ball joint.

 

How long have they been on the vehicle?
Couldnt remember mevotech name for the life of me, but some of the other stuff Ive had from them wasnt great. Another thread I read here was saying the ttx was superior quality over the other mevotech stuff, so Im really curious as to how long/many miles you've put on them?

 

The TTX is their "premium" grade parts. I had those on that truck for about three years when I traded it in and they were trouble free the whole time. That truck was lifted four inches and running 35's and was a crew cab so they had a lot of weight on them too.

 

Because by then the bushings are probably shot too.

 

So this was the first thought that crossed my mind, but is that actually the case? Most (actually all) other vehicles Ive needed to replace LBJ's a good bit before replacing the LCA bushings. Hell, I got a 99 grand marquis thats on its 3rd set and have the LCA bushings standing by.

Guess I should I add that its on its third set because I didnt buy oem the second time, but still

 

Wait until Toyota has a sale.