Ball Joints

This is all perception not the actual statistics. OEM lower ball joint if not damaged by abuse (torn boot, water damage, mechanical damage, improper installation etc) can last 318k miles and 22 years (and counting). If you ask how do I know that for the fact, come over and look under my truck. EOM are zero maintenance (no lubrication or adjustment required) what make owners lazy and not checking them for damage. Torn boot or water damage will eat any ball joint in no time. Off-road abuse can speed up the wear process of already damaged ball joint. The biggest problem with OEM lbj are owners like me, who think OEM lbj can last forever without even looking at them. Yes, like me. Till last year I did not even know that Tacoma can have a lbj failure. Now, thanks to TW I'm smarter and now I checking my 22 years old lbj from time to time.

Aftermarket lbj are designed so they require to be lubricated so often. This makes owners to spend time of checking them very often so damage or wear will be noticed sooner. Then aftermarket lbj will have to be replaced. But it does not make them better than OEM.

Lifetime warranty? This is another marketing BS. They don't guarantee the product will last "lifetime" but they can give you free replacement (same or maybe even worse quality) if you come back. The rip-off lbj cost probably less than a tenth of the price you pay at the retail, so retail seller can afford the "lifetime warranty" as no sane person would replace lbj ten times or more in the lifetime. Even if you replace them yourself, it is not free (unless your time, tools, and health means nothing to you). After 2dn or 3rd run to the store (they will not deliver the "free replacement" to you garage for free) sane person would just say "F*** it, I'll get OEM and forget about it once for all".