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Ball Joint Problems

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by scalfee90, Apr 3, 2012.

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  1. May 22, 2012 at 11:25 AM
    #21
    Ga tacoguy

    #21
    Ga tacoguy Well-Known Member

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    When you apply grease to your ball joint, you need to wait till you install it on your Taco. After installation, you apply your grease gun to the Zerk fitting and pump your handle once. Take your finger and push on the rubber casing protecting the ball joint and see if you can apply pressure and push in on the casing. If you can push the casing in a little bit apply another pump of grease from your grease gun. Push in again against the casing, now if you can't push in against the casing it is time to stop applying grease. The casing is full and does not need any more grease. If you apply too much grease and the casing blows out the excessive grease, you now have a hole for dirt to enter the ball joint. You won't kill the joint quickly, but you will have limited the life span of the ball joint.
    The old days of applying grease till it squirts out was from a different time and a different design of ball joint. As long as you keep your ball joint casing whole and do not bust it by over greasing, dirt will not destroy the ball joint. Later on as time passes there will be a need to regrease the ball joint, just be careful. Good luck.
     
    Ga tacoguy, May 22, 2012
    #21
  2. May 22, 2012 at 11:29 AM
    #22
    Cr250jumper

    #22
    Cr250jumper Señor member

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    Moog ball joints have a "nipple" with a hole that the grease will come out when its full. Once excess grease is gone the nipple isnt under pressure and it closes itself so dirt doesnt go in
     
    Cr250jumper, May 22, 2012
    #22
  3. May 22, 2012 at 11:46 AM
    #23
    Ga tacoguy

    #23
    Ga tacoguy Well-Known Member

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    :) Thank you for clarifying this for me. It used to be that all good suspension parts came with fitting and were made of good material by Americans, and you could trust the name on the box. Today, the Chinese have bought the good American names and brought in cheap junk to replace quality suspension pieces. I really do not who makes what anymore and who to trust when it comes to good suspension pieces.
     
    Ga tacoguy, May 22, 2012
    #23
  4. May 23, 2012 at 10:24 AM
    #24
    Hollywood0027

    #24
    Hollywood0027 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the help. In the past I bought my parts from PartsGeek.com but after poor customer support for an incorrect part (supposed to be a direct fit cat, nowhere near close) I have started sourcing parts elsewhere. I got a full set of the new zerk MOOG's from advanced auto for just over $200, and if they don't work I can return them in person :D

    I'm also installing the Energy Suspension poly control arm bushings, going to add zerks to my factory arms. I'll try it, if it works I'll write a how-to since I can't seem to find anyone who has done this before, only speculation that it is possible.
     
    Hollywood0027, May 23, 2012
    #24
  5. May 25, 2012 at 5:22 AM
    #25
    Gage

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    Gage Active Member

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    This is sankei 555 part. Moog is having a lot of parts for our trucks manufactured by them including outer tie rod ends. 555 makes a ton of OEM parts on our trucks and the quality of these is pretty good. I got zerrks with a 45 degree to make greasing them while on the truck possible.

    You could probably save money and just buy Sankei 555 in the first place.
     
    Gage, May 25, 2012
    #25
  6. May 25, 2012 at 7:09 AM
    #26
    186000mps

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    186000mps ..Slingin' up mud and we're scarying off bunnies..

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    ^ I got these from Rockauto.com on the cheap
    Great site, TW discount and fast delivery
     
    186000mps, May 25, 2012
    #26
  7. May 25, 2012 at 9:40 PM
    #27
    koco

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    koco Well-Known Member

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    Around $26,000 worth of unleaded in the fuel tank.
    I got some MAS industries lower ball joints for like $25 ea. They're the same as Autozone or Advance has for $40 ea. Supposedly, there are not many ball joint manufacturers out there. Autozone does give a lifetime warranty though.
     
    koco, May 25, 2012
    #27
  8. May 25, 2012 at 10:03 PM
    #28
    jesus

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    jesus Well-Known Member

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    K&N ram intake & doug exs.
    sub ... think I may need sum ...just have to wait for sum $$$
     
    jesus, May 25, 2012
    #28
  9. Jun 13, 2012 at 3:56 PM
    #29
    hossmaster

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    hossmaster Well-Known Member

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    I actually found my Moog's to be 6mm for the zerks
     
    hossmaster, Jun 13, 2012
    #29
  10. Jun 14, 2012 at 10:29 AM
    #30
    Bens99taco

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    Bens99taco WV Tacoma man

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    Moog ball joints and tie rod ends work great had on my last Tacoma going to put them on the one I have now
     
    Bens99taco, Jun 14, 2012
    #30
  11. Jun 14, 2012 at 11:56 AM
    #31
    skytower

    #31
    skytower Well-Known Member

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    Hitch and wiring, aux back-up light, rear strobe lights, radio and underseat sub.
    He was referring to greasing until it comes out of the boot, not the nipple/zerk. All zerks are self sealing, if working properly.
     
    skytower, Jun 14, 2012
    #31
  12. Jun 14, 2012 at 11:58 AM
    #32
    Cr250jumper

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    Cr250jumper Señor member

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    I am talking about the boot too, I know what a zirk fitting is, thanks. The BOOT has a nipple on it as I described the 1st time. Look at the right side of the boot, do you see the nipple?

    [​IMG]
     
    Cr250jumper, Jun 14, 2012
    #32
  13. Jun 14, 2012 at 11:59 AM
    #33
    skytower

    #33
    skytower Well-Known Member

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    Hitch and wiring, aux back-up light, rear strobe lights, radio and underseat sub.
    It's also a good idea to replace all of your ball joints at one time. At least replace them in pairs. ie. both lowers. Both ball joints have seen roughly the same wear...
     
    skytower, Jun 14, 2012
    #33
  14. Jan 2, 2015 at 7:54 AM
    #34
    Nbrannon92

    #34
    Nbrannon92 Well-Known Member

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    First gen Tacomas had a recall for the lower ball joints. It's something about a fail safe design. I think you can get this fixed at a dealership for free if your vehicle qualifies.
     
    Nbrannon92, Jan 2, 2015
    #34
  15. Jan 3, 2015 at 4:24 AM
    #35
    ThunderOne

    #35
    ThunderOne Well-Known Member

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    Subbed
     
    ThunderOne, Jan 3, 2015
    #35
  16. Jan 3, 2015 at 8:37 AM
    #36
    Sloth

    #36
    Sloth Baby Ruth?

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    Stuff
    OEM


    /thread
     
    Sloth, Jan 3, 2015
    #36
  17. Jan 3, 2015 at 9:06 AM
    #37
    tan4x4

    #37
    tan4x4 Well-Known Member

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    No experience here, but from what I've read on various forums, the recall applies just to 2001-04 Tacomas. However, the new replacement joint does not fix the fail-safe design issue of the the spindle/knuckle assembly.
     
    tan4x4, Jan 3, 2015
    #37
  18. Jan 3, 2015 at 9:24 AM
    #38
    AlphaEcho2k5

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    AlphaEcho2k5 Well-Known Member

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    Once you find the OEM part number check this site out. I know for my 02 T4R they run $88 a piece.

    LINK
     
    AlphaEcho2k5, Jan 3, 2015
    #38
  19. Jan 5, 2015 at 2:18 PM
    #39
    ThunderOne

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    ThunderOne Well-Known Member

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    Just to clarify, do the Moog LBJs come with or without zerks? Has anyone ordered some recently to confirm?
     
    ThunderOne, Jan 5, 2015
    #39
  20. Jan 5, 2015 at 7:36 PM
    #40
    Combatman

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    Combatman Well-Known Member

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    I got some a couple months back, they didn't come with zerks
     
    Combatman, Jan 5, 2015
    #40
Page 2 of 3

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