OEM v aftermarket balljoints

What makes OEM ball joints worth 3-4 times same aftermarket joints. I drive pavement only and have 2000 prerunner w/370k miles. Lower ball joints are good, one will need replacing within next year. Anyone have a good source for OEM ? Thanks to all.
Yes, I’m 85 yrs old and take good care of my vehicles.

 

Material type, level of polish, tolerances, coating, process, and usually overall better QC.
Aftermarket usually throws a zerk grease fitting in there to make up for the lack of an expensive polish.
There was an awesome write up done a while back by someone who cut them in half to explain the differences in detail..

Don't know of a good source to purchase them though, sorry

 

From my experience.. oem BJ lasts 2 or 3 times longer than most aftermarket ones I've seen used

 

370k on an OE joint enough said. I will say not a single aftermarket will ever do that.

 

Aftermarket ones can be flat out dangerous, I've seen them fail in as little as 5k miles. The difference is in design, material, and surface finish. Getting them straight from a dealer is the way to go, especially since you'll only have to swap them once.

 

do you have any body shop or mechanical shop connections?

i ask bc i was tired of my local Toyota Parts Desk basically charging OVER retail price for parts
usually O-rings/gaskets (inexpensive stuff)

when i bought a pwr steering res O-ring that was $5 LIST price and charged $9
that was it.

i called one of the shops i know
Now they order the OE parts i need.....at SHOP price.....part gets delivered to said shop
i pick up and pay shop for the invoice
i usually toss a tip to shop guy too(so i can do this again when i need ball joints)

im fine paying LIST price but over RETAIL price is not acceptable Toy Parts.

 

Supposedly the oem's use a teflon cup.....negating the need to relube.

However......the subcontractors that make oem stuff change over the years,
and sometimes use cost cutting measures......that create failures....

Todays oem parts are slipping in quality.......they are having all kinds of problems with their newer stuff.


I bought mine from napa with the zerts and just break out the grease gun once a year.....
that and the universals....

 

I know Vatozone/Ohighly’s have life time warranty
Napa?

 

Nothin lasts forever....

An a zone or Orye' is probably just a reboxed moog, or something similar.

They usually rust way faster than the oem....right on the treads and connectors...

I rarely ever get anything from them.....even with the lifetime....

it makes sense on starters or door controls, or even the column blinker/headlight arm....
those really will go out.....



too bad they dont sell lifetime doorhandles........I would get those....

and news flash....the metal ones break too.......right in the same place as the original

 

OP find an online Toyota dealer website that sells OEM parts and shop around for the lowest price:

Ourisman Toyota of Richmond is my go-to

Then go to your local Toyota dealer parts counter. Politely ask them to price match Ourisman's pricing on said parts and see what they say.

I've gotten my local dealer to discount their list price up to $200 on certain parts (in that case it was a charcoal canister). This way I get the best possible prices on OEM quality parts, and usually the dealer can have them within 24 hours and I pay no shipping.

This is the way

 

Hell, my parts counter guy said “that’s the price…..you still want it?”

reeeeel helpful

now got my own work a round
Screw them.

 

If you're writing about dealerships...

That's another reason why I haven't gone to a Toyota dealer for over 35 years.
If I were told “that’s the price…..you still want it?” I'd tell the guy to go screw himself and then walk out.

I don't see why those in the business of selling to and helping potential customers are such f*ing low-lifes. Last year when I called the dealer parts guy in my area to confirm a part number, I was told, "We don't give out part numbers". I had asked him (actually it was some broad) about the PN for my truck's windshield wipers.

 

I got about 5k out of a set of Moog LBJs on 35s lol

 

I bought a set from Olathe Toyota online, shipped them right to my door and you can check part figment by VIN in most cases

 

The only 2 options you should be looking at are OEM and the Total Chaos uniball conversion kit. Never cheap out on important parts.

 

Re: "worth 3-4 times the aftermarket price": Not having to do the r&r over again to replace the cheap aftermarket parts for at least another 100,000 miles. I have 135,000 on the Toyota original OEM ones that came on my truck. They are still tight as a Tick. You'll get the best prices on the official Toyota parts website, especially during a sale or free-shipping offer, or a dealer near you that offers free pick up at the parts counter. Some of them will match the internet dealers' price if you show it to them on your phone.

 

seriously??
We don’t give out part #’s?????
Incredible.

I wouldn’t be surprised if my T parts counter guys get paid on commission
Sterling McCall Toyota hou tx

and everyone wonders why people don’t work on their vehicles anymore
ITS A CONSPIRACY
lol

 

>>seriously??<<
Yeah, unfortunately.

 

I had a customer come in with a nasty squeak when turning the wheel. They promised it wasn't the LBJ since they had replaced them 3 months prior.

Well the MOOG ball joints were extremely sloppy when applying force with a pry bar. I couldn't believe how much up and down movement there was. Ball joints were ready to pop out at only 3 months. I installed OEM new ball joints for them.

OEM LBJ ONLY!

 

google 1st Gen Tacoma Ball Joint failure, and see what happens when one lets go. It can really destroy the front end and do a lot of damage. With Toyota OEM lower ball joints you can get around 100k miles on them with just driving on pavement. But around 80k miles I'd start checking on them. Toyota Upper Ball joints will last quite a bit longer than the lowers. I went ahead and spent the money on Genuine Toyota parts when mine needed done. Take a look at
McGeorge Toyota and Camelback Toyota for prices and shipping costs.