Serious lower ball joint dilemma

I have an 02 Tacoma 4x4. Snapped passenger side ball joint along with Cv axel. I am replacing both sides ball joints spring cet.
So the problem is my passenger side lower ball joint. It snapped on hwy at 70 went about 1/4 mile till i stopped. Well this ground the nut on the bottom of the ball joint flat. The top is to small for a fork and there is some of the stud stuck, Any ideas how to get it out? I will attach pictures in morning. Thanx

 

Enough exposed to weld a stud or nut on?

 

You'll have to grind it down, get a new nut and a new ball joint. You'll have to inspect the rest of your frame as well.

 

I'd personally go ahead and replace the lower control arm and knuckle if that happened to my truck.

 

agreed, but sometimes you get lucky.

 

x2....just replace the LCA assembly and don't even worry about getting the old ball joint off. Better peace of mind that way too.

Never heard of an LBJ failing on the highway at speed...9/10 it seems they like to fail at slow speeds when making a turn. That had to have been absolutely terrifying.

I've always had this fear that would happen to me but since I've never heard of it happening I sort of stopped worrying about it...now I'm worrying again lol

 

Agreed, just call it a day and replace for piece of mind

Glad you survived OP. scary stuff. I shouldn't ask but someone will sooner or later so.... was this a Toyota LBJ or aftermarket and how long had it been in service?

 

Wow thanks for the responses.
1st just enough to barely grab on to.
2nd I think that's what I'm gunna do replace the LCA
3rd pretty sure was some kind if after market.ast ones to do front end work was Tire World that was almost 2 yrs ago. But they did forget to out cotter pin in castle nut.
So it held up for a while. Front end would shake like crazy.
Thanx for the concern also. When it happen I was doing 70 truck veered to the right no brakes so all I could do was try and hold it straight letting off gas.
Thanx again

 

Since most likely you would need to remove the LCA to get the ball joint pieces out may as well just replace .

Install New Toyota Ball joints.

Sad part is Toyota is going to be running out of Ball joints for the first generations if it has not started already

 

Why? Toyota not gonna pay their ball joint supplier anymore or something?

 

I'm in the "replace the LCA as well" camp.

I would take a *serious* look at all your components up there. Spindle, upper control arm, etc... Your truck experienced some "above average" forces, so there's a chance you've done a fair bit of damage.

You're lucky to be alive, man!

I'm curious what mileage you have on the truck, and if the BJs had been serviced before.

 

Glad you're ok!

Replace LCA for sure. Get OEM LBJ and go get an alignment.

 

Oh and....

 

Well crap...yet another reason for me to fear this happening, loss of brakes. I don't know why that never occurred to me (makes sense due to the brake line snapping) but jesus...trying to steer and stop a truck with no real steering or brakes from 70mph.
Excuse me while I go check on my ball joints...thanks for the reminder. I'm currently 9 hours from home with the wife in my truck and don't want to have to worry about this on our long drive home, yikes

 

Yea I'd like to see some pics of the carnage as well

 

If they ever run out of OEM ones which I don't see happening the aftermarket route is very appealing. I think they are a lot safer! Having had ball joint failure myself it just kind of freaks me out now. lol

 

Burn the heretic!

 

I wouldn't call the Tacoma balljoint market as "aftermarket" per se. It's really just varying degrees of OEM replacements.

You've got crap store brand, a couple manufacturers like MOOG and 555, then you have genuine factory OEM. But none of those are really what I'd consider "aftermarket". To me, aftermarket means some sort of performance or aesthetic change.

There are 1 or 2 companies making uniball LCAs, but that's an extremely limited market, and those are redonk expensive.

 

I am thinking aftermarket Lower and Upper control arms. Not just the ball joints. Sorry - I didn't really specify that