96-04 Lower ball joint failure ?SOLUTION?

Im at 202k, no idea if they've ever been replaced as i bought the truck at 185k 2 years ago. Probably not.

my Taco is still getting aligned without issues, so there's no endplay. Im not showing any signs of problems, nor am i getting loose/weird steering while driving.

 

I went with moog for my 3rd gen 4Runner (same design as 1st gen taco) and they were absolute crap. Had them on for 1.5 years and they made the steering very difficult, especially at freeway speeds. I finally broke down and bought OEM and the difference is very noticeable. When I removed the moog they had very limited movement in the ball joint and were extremely stiff. I had kept them greased every 7-10k but still they seemed to have "locked up" over that time. I'm also in California where I don't ever deal with road salt or rust.

My oem have been so much better and instantly I felt a better ride on the streets and freeway. No more sticky steering and my steering wheel returns back to center again. I know it's easy to say moog or others will be fine, but honestly the OEM's typically last 150-250k. Do you really think you will be reaching those type of miles in your ownership where new OEM's will have the risk of failing again?

 

296k on mine, original.

They visually need to be replaced, but ive been driving a lot between LA and Phoenix lately at 95mph. Still feels solid.

 

That would suck to lose one at those speeds! You're a daring individual my man, haha.

 

Don't act like you've never said "I'll be buried in my truck".

 

Having had a bj break at 70mph i sure the fuck wouldnt do it again.......

Bent frame, ruined every piece of suspension, killed front tires. It wasnt worth 40.00 in parts you could replace in 20 minutes thats for sure.

 

Most of us that wrench as a hobby can recognize a failing ball joint. Anyone that knows the ball joint is going out will get a new one to replace post haste. Once you've replaced your ball joints, you know what the symptoms are. The risk of an after market ball joint letting go in any driving situation is greatly reduced.

The people that have had one separate didn't know the sounds and feeling they make.

Everyone in this thread understands the danger and damage that can occur when a BJ separates.

I would like to think if you are on this site, there is pretty good chance you are gonna take your vehicle maintenance seriously and get the thing changed.

Again, once you have changed the ball joint once, you realize the job isn't that hard for a skilled do it your selfer. I see no reason not to buy the cheaper ball joints with the lifetime warranty. I like spending time working on my truck. Its relaxing and a ball joint change out is not going to ruin shop time at all.

 

Is the Low Range Off-road YouTube video a good reference for LBJ replacement? Are there specific BJ puller tools that would make it easier than just smacking the LCA with a hammer?

 

I used a 2 ton 3 arm puller. Worked like a charm and it popped right out. If you deal with rust I'd bump up to a larger puller but they work great.

 

Hammer is the easiest way...

 

Don't even own a separator. The hammer method works great because there is much less chance at damaging the boots.

 

I borrowed one from a parts store, but a hammer isn't a bad option either.

 

the solution is easy, its a ware item, so change it when it gets loose and you wont have issues. leave it loose and you will have a failure.

 

The part was new in may 2015,i rotated and balanced the tires,greased all zerk fittings and repacked the front bearings in early november. I checked for play in the wheels and it all felt good. It must have been a defective part. From now on i will check ball joints more often. And i plan to buy lifetime warranty ones and replace one a year or so.

 

When I had IFS, I took my truck to the dealer for a coolant flush. They asked me if I'd been informed of the LBJ recall. I had not.
They flushed the system and then changed the LBJ's at no cost.

Can't hurt to ask the dealer.

 

Being out in that desert environment, I would definitely push grease into those ball joints at least every 3000 miles or a bit less. Some rough gritty country down that way. I put some miles down out in the Mojave around Yucca Valley and out by landers, Joshua Tree, ect. I can see where you could wizz thru a ball joint pretty quick if it was left on it's own. Not implying that you ignored it, just saying.

 

I'm not sure that I understand. If you buy "lifetime warranty ones" then why would you replace them each year?????

 

The video has the wrong torque spec listed I believe. I think they were using the torque spec for the 4Runner which is slightly less than the Tacoma.

 

59 ft/lbs is correct i believe

 

There all free after the first one .