Front end help?

I've been trying to find Toyota OEM ball joints for my 05 but it seems that Toyota does not sell them. In fact they only sell the ball joint as an assembly already attached to the UCA or LCA. Factory UCA is upwards of 350 dollars as well.
Has anyone ran any aftermarket UCA, LCA or replacement ball joints with any kind of success?
Looking for at least 5 years of life or more.

 

Have you tried looking at AutoZone.com? They should have everything you need. Just plug in your truck's year, make, and model.

Hope that helps!

 

Just some super cheapo stuff there.
I'll run some Moog but I'd rather find something like Spicer or TRW.

 

after market have a return and replace policy for like 1 or 2 years. I think your best bet is to go for a oem ranked after market part with the policy above and make sure its 2 years. Had a guy come in with after market breaks and he still had the 2 year policy to replace if it was faulty. The guy got 4 rotors pads replaced for free just labor at the shop. after market is not something to be scared of if its done right and rankes oem or above.

 

I don't want to hack the front end apart every 2 years.

 

well you could end up hacking them with stock parts aswell, but in just saying that with the after market parts you can get them replaced free with o rileys or most auto parts stores instead of buying a new oem part again.

 

Moog. Have you checked RockAuto.com?

 

Point made.

I just hate doing things over and over again.

Went through 3 sets of brake shoes until I found something that actually stopped the truck. Funny thing I bought them at O'Reilly Auto for cheap too.

 

I'd like to try local vendors first as they can be returned easier.

 

you don't have to get them from the auto shops you can order the parts online for a lot less. Break pads I would reccomend sticking with power stop they are above oem and where built for trucks in mind. Alot cheaper to .

 

I could look up the ball joints for you at work tomorrow at lunch if you want just so you have a good brand with 2 year repair or replacement. The guy I work with orders good after market parts I don't know exactly what type ball joints but I could see tomorrow wouldnt take long. They are most of the time better in price to. Im suprised o rileys gave you the wrong pads but they do they a lot. You just have to have a mechanic check the part over to make sure o rileys isnt making a mistake.

 

You're going to return ball joints? Maybe if you order the wrong ones, or they send you the wrong ones. While it happens I guess, Rock is pretty good.

Once they are installed, they're yours.

 

Warranty programs only work with storefront retailers. They do not work with online vendors.

 

I'm actually the mechanic hahaha.

My issue is the design of several is a metal to metal contact type ball joint. This design will fail quickly compared to a full ball and polymer seat design because the metal to metal designs require springs to apply force to the ball.
I'm fairly positive Toyota uses the full ball and polymer seat design.

Who do you work for?

 

Anyone know if NAPA premium ball joints are any better than MOOG?

 

Well I'd just like to add. Seems newer NAPA ball joints and control arms will be Mevotech and O'Reilly Auto's Import Direct series are already Mevotech.
After horror stories of Mevotech producing absolute substandard component and many failures and near failures from poor metallurgy I've decided to get the revised Moog lower ball joints and replace the lower control arm bushings. Hopefully the shop up the road can knock this out ASAP as I already have too much on my plate to tackle this task.