Lower ball joint install questions

Hey guys. This will be my first attempt at replacing lower ball joints.

1. Do I need to put oil or grease on the lower control arm where the ball joint presses into so that it seats in easy? I do plan on putting them in the freezer.

2. The OEM ball joints look like the boots are not removable. Can I press them in without removing them? Anything I need to be aware of so I don't damage the boots?

TIA

 

Easier to just buy complete lower control arms with new ball joints and install them. I think they are just a little over $80 each.

 

From everything I read - they are not easy to chance. As @MAG GRY TACO15 said, get a new set LCAs with them pressed. Or get a set of used lower arms, change the ball joins on your schedule and swap the LCAs.

 

This too. After I changed out both LCA, I took my stock ones and have new ball joints to press into them when I have time so I'll have a spare set for when they need replacing again.

 

Looked at a few Toyota parts websites, and OEM 2005-2023 LCAs are closer to $300 from what I'm seeing.

 

Thanks, but they're $300 each.

 

People do it but it’s a bitch. Even peeps using a 20 ton press have made the comment. I have an extra set of moog lowers that were in problem free for years. Swapped to dirt king cause they were a deal but otherwise would replace them with the same.

 

Aftermarket LCAs are ~$100. OEM is ~$300.

 

Maybe I'll wait until I move into a house with a garage then. Thanks.

 

Why are you replacing them to begin with? Do they need replacing?

If so I personally would get a cheap set of aftermarket to get you through, and keep your eyes open for a set of new takeoffs on here or marketplace

 

Many have done this with a ball joint removal tool and no press.. lots of write ups, maybe a bit of work but you could do it….

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-ball-joint-replacement.513331/#post-16164871

 

Thanks. I've watched some youtube videos using the same press kit and I was going to borrow one from the auto parts store. I've replaced the shocks on my truck, so I'm confident I can do it. I'm just paranoid about something going horribly wrong and having my truck on jack stands in the parking lot. I currently rent out a town home and I don't want my truck sitting on jack stands for too long. It's not in the best part of town.

 

They need replacing. I'm at 160k on the originals and they've been clunking for the last 30k probably. The good news is the boots aren't torn, so I haven't lost any grease. I've replaced the upper control arm, shocks, and sway bar endlinks already. I need to replace the wheel bearings and the lower ball joint.

 

Moog ones are like $85 each

 

Moog ones are like $85 each

 

If they are clunking and the boots are not torn, it might be the lca bushings that have gone bad and not the ball joint. Again, just replace the whole arm for less than $100 (per side) and be done with it.

 

If you get aftermarket LCAs, the BJs will not last long, especially if you offroad. I got Dormans on Rockauto and the BJs barely lasted 5K; should last longer otherwise. I’ve replaced mine twice. Once with the heavy duty C clamp tool from HB, but it got to a point where I thought I was going to break the tool and used an air hammer that finally broke the bond. I froze the BJs for installation and that went smoothly. I don't think grease will help to press it in but it does help with corrosion, so I put some on for that purpose.
Yes, you can press in the BJ with the boot installed if you have a cup that is wide enough to go around the boot but not too wide that it misses contact with the BJ to press it in. OEM on mine was 60mm ID. For the Moog BJs I installed, I needed a cup with 2.5” ID (63.5mm).

 

Thank you for answering my questions!!

 

In my experiance clunking is often LCA bushings, you can test ball joints pretty easy. Apply parking brake, jack up the front end so the tires are just maybe 1-2 inches off the ground, put a prybar under the front tire and have someone watch the ball joint when you lift the tire upwards with the prybar, if the ball joint is bad you will see it move in the socket before everything else moves.

Unfortunately on tacomas when removing LCAs the alighment bolts/sleeves are often seized and have to be cut to be removed, doing this there is a risk of damaging the bushings.

I understand money is tight, oem LCA are expensive, and your planning on spending a bit already with the other parts but I would recommend OEM control arms, the aftermarket ball joints don't seem to hold up to one road usage for a reasonable time and definatly dont last long for off road usage.

A few years ago I replaced my entire front end including - shocks(front and rear), sway bar links, UCA, LCA, cv axles(1 new, 1 rebotted), steering rack(included inner tie rods), and outer tie rods. I had about 220K miles at that time and other then the shocks which were replaced previously everything else way original factory parts, sure it cost around $2000 but all those parts lasted about 200K without issue so I figure the new parts will hopefully last another 200K or so.

 

Thanks for the insight! I've decided to wait until I move since I will be unemployed after I move so I'll have a lot of time to mess with the truck. Most likely, I'll be buying a set of Mevotech TTX control arms and then rebuilding my OEM ones. I'll go with the OEM ball joints I already have and some Whiteline bushings.