Bent steering knuckle

2000 Tacoma 4x4 ive been the owner since 2016.
I had a failed lower ball joint event in 2019. I was out of town when it happened so I didn't have much freedom of choice about the shop I took it to so I could get back on the road. Ended up taking it to a meinike. (I know the location and I have the invoice)
Fast forward to now I live on a bumpy dirt road that eats cars alive. And I decided to do the ball joints on my own. Got into it and immediately realized that I had a bent steering knuckle! Upon further inspection (removing the dirty greasy ripped up boot) found that the people working on my truck at meinike took it upon. Themselves to WELD the moog ball joint into the knuckle. Not sure why. I'm unsure if the welded ball joint was the cause of the bent knuckle or if the welded ball joint was their solution to the bent knuckle.
I'm wondering if anyone has insight on that. I know I need to replace the knuckle now. I'm also wondering how compatible steering knuckles are for first gen tacomas and 4 runners? So I can narrow down the right parts car to pull it from. I know about the ABS. I am also a freekin rookie when it comes to wrenching. My dad was always working on his own 2002 tundra and I was frequently by his side to be the gopher. So I got a lil bit of knowledge from there. Otherwise I'm in the dark. I want to remove the knuckle from my truck remove a knuckle from a parts truck and bring them both to a shop to have them do the pressing. Seeking any and all advice about what problems I may encounter, what I could destroy and what other things i should replace while I am in there. I have watched YouTube videos and will be watching more. Figured I would get on here and see what you yota nerds have to say.

Thanks for reading!

 

Welcome, post pics if possible..

This may help some

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/spindle-interchangeability.718586/

 

Other than the press work it’s all just wrenching

 

your pictures look scary!
hope you were not traveling very fast when that occurred

looks like that genuine Yota CV axle (green? is genuine AFAIK) got roached! or is it salvageable with a new boot?

but AFAIK the Gen3 T4R and Gen1 Taco do not match with the CV axle when i went looking the boneyard for one because the yota dealer cannot get a new one or a remanD one anymore
and I am not sure about the knuckle but it is likely not the same either... i can try to look up the part #s to confirm whenever my go-to parts website starts working again

if your rig has the ABS i might be able to help out with a knuckle on the left side...

 

Some shops will tack weld a pressed ball joint just to be sure it doesn’t come loose, or if it didn’t have much tension when they pressed it. By the looks of the picture that was bent when the lower joint failed.

 

A steering knuckle will be just wrenching. If you have even a little mechanical ability it should be a not too bad of a job, but it will take a while so give yourself PLENTY of time. Buy a Haynes manual as well for some guidance, I've been wrenching for a long time and still use one. Also check your upper control arm for damage as in that photo it looks like the top of the knuckle may have pushed into the UCA and bent it? I'd try to locate the correct PN for your truck.

 

Daisy take a look at the tech articles in here for this kind of work.
good info.

http://www.bajataco.com/

 

Can i use a knuckle with ABS if my truck doesn't have one?

 

That is a good question
The abs knuckle has a large hole for whatever sensor goes in and would likely have to be plugged so no grime can find it way inside
As far as a direct fit after that IDK!?

 

New knuckle with the abs hole

 

Yeah they fit. I'm running one ABS knuckle and one not haha