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Catastrophic ball joint failure!

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by BlueGrouse, May 23, 2016.

  1. May 23, 2016 at 5:25 PM
    #1
    BlueGrouse

    BlueGrouse [OP] Active Member

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    image.jpg Lost both ball joints and the cv all at once Saturday morning.

    No warning no nothing. Doing about 35 on a dirt road uphill corner and pop!

    Was this a recall on 1999s?

    Not much I can do about it if it was a recall issue.

    221000 miles
     
  2. May 23, 2016 at 5:29 PM
    #2
    Skrain

    Skrain Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.

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    Looks like age just caught up with you...
    Glad you're all right and didn't flip it.
     
    DrFunker and FirstGen Jer like this.
  3. May 23, 2016 at 5:35 PM
    #3
    anthony250f

    anthony250f Well-Known Member

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    You need to change them periodically lol
     
    YakoTaco and CD20H like this.
  4. May 23, 2016 at 5:36 PM
    #4
    BlueGrouse

    BlueGrouse [OP] Active Member

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    Im glad it didn't flip over too! Luckily not going too fast.

    I'm trying to decide if it's worth it to replace both sides ball joints with high quality lifetime warranty parts and keep the truck going or just replace the one side and sell it.
     
  5. May 23, 2016 at 5:41 PM
    #5
    puddle

    puddle Well-Known Member

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    Just replaced mine a few months ago with OEM, cry once, plus they lasted 190k and were only replaced as PMS.
     
  6. May 23, 2016 at 5:43 PM
    #6
    anthony250f

    anthony250f Well-Known Member

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    Buy moog and keep the truck
     
    YakoTaco likes this.
  7. May 23, 2016 at 6:24 PM
    #7
    Skrain

    Skrain Time is an illusion. Lunchtime doubly so.

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    If there aren't any other major issues, have the entire front end rebuilt to spec, and drive her for another 200,000!
    A LOT cheaper then 5-7 years of payments for a new one...
    Either way, just fixing the one side is a BAD idea! If one set went, the others might not be far behind. it's like Radiator hoses. If one blows, replace both!
     
  8. May 23, 2016 at 6:31 PM
    #8
    BlueGrouse

    BlueGrouse [OP] Active Member

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    Yep lookin at getting new moog for the whole front end.

    Here's a possibly dumb question:
    Will the moog ball joints work for a rock crawler set up?

    The reason I ask is because if I do keep this truck it is going to be a hunting truck and lift it etc
     
  9. May 23, 2016 at 7:05 PM
    #9
    drr

    drr Primary Prognosticator

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    Lower ball joints weren't a TSB until 2001 models, at any rate it was a voluntary thing. Replace both sides with OEM, they're cheap enough - skip the moogs, for such a vulnerable part go with the highest quality you can.
    I would view this as an opportunity to replace all the stuff that should have been done anyway at that mileage, TREs, upper and lower ball joints, CVs, etc. Keep the truck, it's worth it.
     
    Digiratus likes this.
  10. May 23, 2016 at 7:34 PM
    #10
    ThunderOne

    ThunderOne Well-Known Member

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    Too much play from the boots drying out and leaking grease. These should really be changed every 100k max to be on the safe side. I'd stick with OEM.
     
    Last edited: May 24, 2016
  11. May 23, 2016 at 9:27 PM
    #11
    License2Ill

    License2Ill Woke like a Coma Toyota Tacoma

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    Never, ever install Moog balljoints on your vehicle. They're piles of shit. And they'll fail.
     
    IronPeak likes this.
  12. May 24, 2016 at 9:42 AM
    #12
    Digiratus

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    Replace both sides with Toyota OEM ball joints. Don't cheap out.

    Replacing these should be treated as a regular maintenance item. Just like timing belts, water pumps and ignition tune-ups. As you've found, waiting for the the part to fail can have catastrophic results.

    This VVVV The OEM ball joints will last the 90-100K interval.

     
    YakoTaco likes this.
  13. Aug 19, 2017 at 5:08 AM
    #13
    Caquon

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  14. Aug 19, 2017 at 6:16 AM
    #14
    1997tacomav6

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    That sucks, you, you need to replace these ball joint every 100,000 just like the timing belt to be safe with OEM parts, better to be safe then sorry,
     
    Last edited: Aug 19, 2017
  15. Aug 19, 2017 at 6:49 AM
    #15
    ToxicTwin

    ToxicTwin Money Talks...It Says Goodbye

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    I haven't had one fail on me,:fingerscrossed: but am going to go OEM with mine in the next couple of weeks. I've got 247,000 on the clock and I'm not sure if the PO ever changed them.
     
    1997tacomav6 likes this.
  16. Aug 19, 2017 at 7:32 AM
    #16
    vern650

    vern650 Well-Known Member

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