Ball Joints

2010, 4x4...it just turned 195,000 miles.

Discussion on a hunting site about wheel (both balls joints) falling off truck on a city street. Anyway, general opinion was that @200,000 they should be replaced to avoid having a breakdown twenty miles from a road.


I don't 4-wheel as an activity, just during hunting season (to get in/out of places) and snow on city streets, otherwise it's a street vehicle.

Looking for general thoughts on replacement, and, especially COST to replace. I don't have the equipment or mechanical "prowess" to do it at home, so most likely at a Toyota dealership. Just worried that dealership would be MORE than happy to replace them...regardless of actual need...no offense to any Toyota personnel here.

thanks

 

If you want to check them, that doesn't require much in the way of tools or prowess. The upper comes out with one nut (and a hammer whack to the knuckle) once you get the ABS harness off it. The lower is kinda even easier, once on a jackstand you can unbolt the steering stop/LBJ bridge from the knuckle & get the knuckle up off it. Once you have the load off the ball joint, it should move fairly smoothly, without tight spots or any perceptible free play up & down.

My gut says at 200k there's no way they're not shot. Then again I'm around 160k, and the lower I did wasn't particularly bad... and AFAIK it's original. But, once they start getting worn out, the wear accelerates quickly.