Ball Joints

That's exactly the type of info i'm looking for, thanks MowTaco - I'm going Raysbestos Pro then as most of the reviews of MOOG LBJ's are complaints about boots tearing/early failure on lifted trucks. I'm not finding much talk about complaints for Raysbestos top-grade.

 

To be clear, I recommend OEM and only OEM.
After my original post, based on "history" up to that point, I saw some reports from a couple of allegedly reputable Toyota service/outfitter/fab type shops endorsing Raybestos. They also sold them, just as FROR sells/endorses the "555" brand. In cases like that a "sellers endorsement" must be taken with a grain of salt. The Moog/555 brand is now obviously having problems so I changed my position. Once again this is not a part to cheap out on.
I have no first hand experience with the Raybestos brand in a Tacoma application. You could go to a parts house and look at one your self. Be aware that Raybestos has 2 "grades". Everything I have seen relates to the higher grade line.
Why anyone would try to save a few bucks on a part that will safely last 100K miles and could easily kill you if it failed is beyond me.

EDIT 8-13-13, It now seems both Raybestos and Moog are just re-branded "555" joints for 1st gen applications. STAY WITH OEM.

Here is one more thread on the subject with a tad of Raybestos discontent.
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st-gen-tacomas/274297-lower-ball-joints.html



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Well, just ordered Raysbestos Pro Grade LCA's and LBJ's.

We'll see how they work out. All four items for $215 shipped through RockAuto.com - Meanwhile, Toyota wants $272 for a single LCA. Worth the gamble IMO.

 

I've had MOOG upper ball joints since February/8,000 miles and haven't had any rips or tears. I'm also lifted slightly over 3".

 

Well, I took a look at Rockauto and while the picks they use are sometimes just "representative" the Raybestos Pro Grade pics are clearly the "555" brand. In the other thread, post #10, http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/1st...ll-joints.html "KenLyns" mentions reports of "moog/555 joints coming in Rabestos boxes". Let us know what you get.


More If I price up 2 LCA's and 2 LBJ's in Raybestos Pro Grade at Rockauto, I come up with $53.79, $58.79 (LBJ's) and 2X $110.79 (LCA's) for a total of $334.16 before shipping.
As a quick comparison Camelback Toyota (online) gets $84.80 for a LBJ and $187.49 for a LCA.

One more thing. Given your location, check that the LCA adjustment cams are not rusted solid to the inside of the LCA bushings to avoid a bad surprise on install day.

 

Dirty - i had the same questions about, "How are you selling R-Pro LCA+LBJ's for $109?!" So i called. The RA customer rep said, "The pricing of our items relates only that specific item. We may have gotten a great deal on the lot, so we priced accordingly. The part is listed as R-Pro, and both items will carry the Pro Grade 2-yr. Warranty so to the best of my knowledge, that LBJ included in the $109 is a Pro grade LBJ."

Yep, i'm sure hoping I got a smokin' deal but i won't be too let down if they're service grade either. For $1 less than just the LCA, it's worth a shot

Thanks for the heads up on the seized cams too. To be honest, that's why i'm in this mess. my Passenger side cams were stripped and seized. Long story short, i have new OEM cams and bolts plus a reciprocating saw ready to go for both sides when the RA order arrives.

I appreciate your help and interest in this repair, i'll definitely post up when they arrive!

 

So what exactly do I have to put Loctite on? I am going to replace mine here soon once I get enough info to know I am doing it right.

 

The 4 bolts that connect the LBJ to the bottom of the spindle.

 

Ahhhhhahha... Yup. It was too good to be true.

In fact, i'm pretty sure it was a joke. On me. Anyway, RockAuto is taking care of the return. Pics and story in a few hours once i get my son to bed.

 

Hmm, I'm thinking they were the ones that looked like these that you received?

 

Replaced mie today... here are the ones i replaced

 

Aren't those for 2nd gen. ??



Don't wait for this.... when bad LBJ's get worse....

 

Luckily it happened in my driveway & not doing 70mph down the freeway..

 

Boy that sucks, makes me wanna go change mine right now, my lowers were changed under recall but i have 172,000 on the uppers and tie rod ends. They have been checked by me and dealership and no play, little grease seapage on the lowers but thats it.

 

So, i receive two different boxes. One, white with a Raysbestos "Professional Grade" label and the part number RA listed on their site on the outside of the box. The other, a plain brown box with a generic sticker on it. With the other RA part number listed for the LH LCA. (RA=RockAuto)

Inside the white box, a bagged part. Googling this number tells me it's a "Tahiko" brand HILUX LCA! You know, for a Hilux...





Lets open the brown box and have a look. Ok, the parts not in a bag, but here's the kicker, that's right... i received TWO Right side LCA's!



And here's that ball joint. The Taiwanese part (Brown box) Had "SL-40" Laser etched in to the silver base. The white box part did not.




So i called RA, and the rep initially told me i'd be out the $ for the original shipping but they'd cover the return shipping plus the parts refund (Std. policy). That was 'ok' but not ideal... i mean, these were clearly not even for the correct vehicle and i called and verified the parts were for my truck prior to ordering. When i reminded the rep that on top of them not being for my vehicle, they were two Right side LCA's... She budged and covered the entire order+1/2 of the original shipping. That made me feel alot better, even though it wasn't much cash. She also mentioned that there were multiple notes on this part of customers complaining about incorrect fit/wrong part. So, hopefully this part will be pulled from their catalog and no one else will order hoping for a deal and end up having to send them back.



TL;DR - Don't order parts 507-1561/507-1562 thinking you'll get what you need. Just do it right. Either buy OEM (If you have unlimited funds) or do what i'll probably do, replace the horribly seized bushings in your stock LCA's, and buy the nicest LBJ's you can afford.

 

One from taiwan and one from china, lol. Kinda close to Japan i guess.

 

I still think I have the worst ball joint failure on here... Haha going 25mph when it happened too. Bent frame, over $1,000 in damage



It does well at clearancing fenders though! Lol

 

That's pretty bad!! We're they worn out or something?

 

As far as I knew they weren't. Never had any play that I can remember. Wish I would have kept the truck and SAS'ed it...

 

Nope... NelsonTmatt happened to him twice the first time I think he was going 65mph on Santa Ana freeway or some shit, the 2nd time not as fast on some surface street in L.A. IIRC