Front End Checklist

So I'm going to bite the bullet and replace my upper and lower control arm, upper and lower ball joints, inner and outer tire rod. I have 267k miles on my baby and heard people replacing these about 100k before mine. I also read this could be the problem of my stiff steering. So why not. I plan on keeping her for quite a while. While I'm down there. Anything else I should replace, bushings? Thanks in advance.

 

Hey Brendan....for sure replace the steering rack bushings and sway bar bushings with the polyurethane ones.
Good luck on your build and post some pics!

https://www.energysuspensionparts.com/products/toyota_tacoma_2wd_prerunner_2001

 

Thanks. Ive read about the polyurethane bushings. Have you ever bought from this dealer? I usually fork out the extra cash and buy toyota parts.

 

99% of the parts I purchase are OEM (ToyotaPartsDeal.com) or CamelBack Toyota Parts. But, not the bushings. The polyurethane bushings really stiffen up the feel of the front end.

 

I would never use poly bushings on motor, transmission or body mounts. Seems like it would add a harshness to the ride.

But for sway bar, UCAs, LCAs, steering rack, etc... anything regarding tightening up the feel of the steering and control, I go poly bushings.

Ordered and used plenty from Energy Suspension. Highly reputable.

 

Have you used only bushings from this company or have you used any of their actual parts. Control arms, ball joints, etc. Because they have a kit for exactly what im looking for.

 

Only bushings. Never any parts.

However they are a very reputable company in the industry. Obviously search for reviews of the parts you are considering buying.

 

I was looking at the comments for the front end rebuild kit and everyone gave it 5 stars. People off-road with it and say they are perfect. I think I might go ahead and get them. Im just sketched out a little. Ive always bought factory parts.

 

I hear ya. I’m an OEM guy all the way. And the OEM UCA and LCA have been great for me forever. Can’t go wrong there either.

Although for my 04 I think I might look at JBA UCAs when I do my suspension.

 

man, I'm just cant afford those jba. They would be nice just not at the moment.

 

The ball joints and tie rods are greasable and all of the parts are made in the USA. I can get behind that.

 

Most guys here will recommend buying OEM lower ball joints just because the aftermarket ones can be prone to breaking and if they do fail then it can be pretty dangerous.

 

Yah. I normally buy OEM and most likely will for this when its all said and done and I pull the trigger. But, I'm always up for suggestions and opinions of other brands. And be that this company is from USA with material mined from the USA. It makes me way more optimistic about their parts.

 

While doing all this. Should I go ahead and replace upper and lower control arms? Im not a rich man but at the same time, while I have all of this apart. Is it worth it? How often are they to fail? I was going to replace the bushings anyhow. So far Im replacing front upper and lower ball joints. Front outer and inner tire rods. Any advice. Thanks

Just priced them and man they are expensive. Id guess that if they arent cracked or anything, replacing the bushings would be satisfactory. What do you all think?

 

Unless rust is an issue or you've bent one, just do the bushings. UCA's are either an i want them or need them due to lift height. Hopefully your cam bolts and sleeves are still functioning. Mine turned into a seized rust ball i had to cut out. OEM are pricey but worth it over the aftermarket setup imo.

 

The truck has been in the desert its whole life. Rust is no issue for me. Just going to replace the bushings and Im getting all Toyota parts. Just getting my list together and checking it twice. Making sure I have all the tools for it. Should be fun. lol

 

It's not bad. I had to burn mine out so it got stinky but still not terrible. If I went oem on lca bushings, I would have had to cut the old shells out because there was no chance in hell of pressing them out.

 

Will oversized sway bar bushings negatively affect the function of our sway bar?

I did not check my sway bar thickness and my new bushings appear to have a 2mm gap after they and the brackets were mounted and torqued.

The OEM bushings were a perfect fit.

On RockAuto, there are choices from 25mm to 27mm. I believe I got the 27mm size, but would do better with 25mm.

 

As im no expert. I would say yes. That 2mm WILL make a differnence as the whole purpose of bushings is to be tight and not allow wiggle room. That sucks. You have a normal tacona and got the bushing for prerunner/4wd

 

Well here's the thing: I do own a 4WD. So perhaps it's an undersized sway bar?
Assuming the sway bars are interchangeable: Previous owner may have been running sway bar-less until they sold the truck.

Be sure to measure your sway bar before ordering a bushing kit.