Ouch my lower ball joint while drivin, need advice

So this happened making a left turn coming back from dropping off my lil sis, my flatbeds passenger side lower ball joint snapped off, I dragged the pos to the curb, literally a block away from my crib. I already ordered a replacement oem. Is this a straight forward repair? Or am I way over my head and should I call a shade tree mechanic cus Ive never changed one. I have 4 tacos all of them have been changed, except this one lul, this is my flatbed from my pest control days, I’m a nurse now just for you nosy folks.

 

Whether or not you do it yourself, will depend on how much time and what tools you have available. Replacing the lower ball joints is not hard itself, but you probably have bent tie rods now too, in the best case. and from the look of the fluid on the ground, possibly a broken brake line.

 

Get a pitman arm puller, breaker bar, a big socket set and basic hand tools. You'll be good to go. All you have to do it disconnect the tie rod, and ball joint from the spindle. It can be helpful to disconnect the swaybar or shock as well depending on what route you want to go. Should take an hour or two if you're bolts aren't rusty. Then drive it the rest of the way home, looks like you might need to clamp off your brake line to make home. Then fix the rest of the things that might've broke

 

How many miles were on these and were they OE joints?

 

305, idk mechanic changed them at 240000miles

 

I've been telling everyone these are only 100K parts.....
so to be safe replace every 60ish........
Wow....

I'd be interested and seeing what got damaged, I just did new calipers and stainless lines on mine so very familiar with all the stuff there...

And I'm wondering if a wheel bearing going out can cause this......might ought to replace them to be safe....while your there roping cattle anyways...

And everything is DIY do-able......just tools, time, and a few youtube's.....

 

Hate to say it, if you haven't done ball joints before; don't do them on your own (or with someone who hasn't). Even with tools you need more tools, and typically a torch too when they get that bad and break. Toyota stuff last forever it seems, but that's what makes it hard af to break things loose.

It's expensive in a shop, try to post for a local mobile mechanic, but you will have a harder time pressing them in then getting them out. Doing it on your own is tough, "the poor man buys twice."

 

Maybe it depends on where you live but I've never had an issue and it's a simple replacement on your own.

 

Well good thing it wasn't at highway speed.

 

well ima try it first tonight

 

The trick is to find all the broken bits....

This tool is the best.....I got my money's worth long time ago out of it.... Screw that hammering and torch crap......with them being done 60k ago they wont be frozen that bad....Pb blaster and the BJ tool....

Only as last resort...torch

-----------------------------

Ive never done any before....and it took me less than 30 min a side......
that tool made it a piece of cake....

everyone sells that tool now($25) ..... even advance auto keeps em in stock....

https://shop.advanceautoparts.com/p...-w83022/11931903-P?searchTerm=ball+joint+tool

 

The lower ball joint is not pressed in. The ball joint stud is taper fit into the arm. As far as installation goes, you just put the stud through the arm, and then torque the castle cut to spec. Getting it out, is by far the harder operation- puller & some encouragement from BFH is usually required.

Anyone with good mechanical intuition should be able to do the ball joints provided they have the tools, whether or not they have done them before.

 

It all comes down to just what other damage has been done .

I have never used a hammer just put some tension on go take a leak come back things are apart.

The lower ball joints are pretty simple it is the upper ones that can prove interesting.

 

I'm talking about doing ball joints in general.

It completely depends on conditions of where the truck has been. You can have mechanical aptitude and still without a lift, torch and wide assortment of tools to reach areas. Just fail, break something and have to get it towed, everything is a project and nothing every works out perfect unless it's new.

He most likely has done more damage.
Yes you could easily take the other side tire off and figure it out by just looking, with no manual.

But you will still be beat if you do not have a wide variety of ways to repair what's damaged. Yet alone reinstall what new parts you go buy.

If you do fail, you'll most likely return the parts if you can since they won't use anything that isn't perfect fit.

You can damage more, and pay more taking on projects like that with harbor freight tools.

 

For me the uppers went even faster .... maybe 20 min a side....just 4 bolts..

Duralast Ball Joint 104280 (autozone.com)

and separator tool...

 

Idk man I did this without a lift or torch. Pretty much just used my breaker bar, socket set, and pitman puller. Pop the wheel off and everything is right in front of you. I had never done LBJs before, just watched a video or two first.

 

http://bajataco.com/tech/control_arms_01.html

On a 4WD, but this will help give an idea of the scope of work involved. Then you can decide if it's something to take on.

 

I just spent the last day and half doing this job, along with a CV axle rebuild. Had never done before and it all went pretty smoothly. I had Toyota align it and inspect my work afterwards.

Your local auto parts store will likely rent you the pullers and press kits needed to do the job right (Advance Auto Kits #3 and #46 worked great for me). Pressing the old uppers out and the new ones in was the hardest part of the job. Do yourself a favor and have lots of socket extensions, six-sided sockets, and a big-ass breaker bar.

Use Loctite on the four bolts holding the lower ball joint to the hub and check regularly after you change them!

 

Did I miss something.....is this 4X$ or Rwd.....

 

I’ve never done a 5 luggers balljoint (this truck appears to be that, could be wrong)
But the ball joint press you get from Harrbor Freight, the c shaped one, and a set of sockets/wrenches will do just fine for 6 lug ball joints.

Paired with forum write ups and/or YouTube and this should be easy DIY