Issues with lower ball joint!

Hey y’all! New here but have been learning/coming here for about a year. I was recently replacing shocks, lower ball joints, inner and outer tie rods and ram into an issue with my passenger side lower ball joint. When removing the old one I noticed 2 washers on the Lbj. Now when I went to put the new OEM lbj it seems to thread all the way past the cotter pin hole and then just start spinning the whole stud. Driver side went on fine with no issues. I assume this is why they used the washers? Kinda stumped. I have seen where putting pressure on the joint helps but seems like I have a different issue here. I would post some pictures but ran out of daylight today.
2000 tacoma 3.4l sr5 4wd

 

I guess I’m just confused on why the castle but would thread so much farther on one side and just start spinning the whole stud.

 

Did you check the part #? Could be a defective part. Original lower control arm?

Pics would be helpful.

 

I will double check tomorrow. I ordered everything from mcgregor Toyota. And as far as I know it is the original LCA but I have only had the truck about 6 months and this is my first parts I’ve started replacing. I’ll get pictures tomorrow it just got dark on me

 

So I quickly went outside to compare the lower control arms and one does seem different. The last part that comes off the LCA where the stud from lower ball joint attaches seems to be shorter than the driver side. I’m sure that is my problem and is why they used washers. I will get some pictures tomorrow. I know it’s hard to help without them.

 

There are two different types of LBJ bolts. One for 95.5-00 and one for 01-04.

The 95.5-00 bolts are flange bolts.
The 01-04 bolts have washers.

 

I had this issue a few years ago with the tie rod connection on the drivers side. All new OEM parts. Guessing it's pretty rare as you don't see questions about it. I used washers and went 5lbs over torque spec. If it were the LBJ to LCA connection, I would have fixed whatever was out of spec.

 

You've got that flipped around. 01-04 had the rubber boot, and so had washers on the bolts. 95-00 are flanged head.

Sounds to me like you found the culprit - a LCA that's got a bore that's slightly too big for the LBJ stud. New (aftermarket) LCAs aren't all that expensive, so I'd probably replace that, rather than doing something "wonky" with washers on the LBJ, since those are known to be finicky already.

Here are LCAs you can use:

• OEM Toyota LCAs are expensive (L: 48069-35120 | R: 48068-35120).
• Of course, you can always get aftermarket LCAs, which people seem to have reasonably good luck with and are much less expensive
  • (Moog L: Left | R: Right)
  • (Mevotech L: Left | R: Right)

Good luck, and of course, post up those pics!