1. Welcome to Tacoma World!

    You are currently viewing as a guest! To get full-access, you need to register for a FREE account.

    As a registered member, you’ll be able to:
    • Participate in all Tacoma discussion topics
    • Communicate privately with other Tacoma owners from around the world
    • Post your own photos in our Members Gallery
    • Access all special features of the site

Who's had there ball joint brake ?????

Discussion in '1st Gen. Tacomas (1995-2004)' started by TROKITA, Aug 17, 2012.

  1. Aug 17, 2012 at 9:05 AM
    #1
    TROKITA

    TROKITA [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2011
    Member:
    #65052
    Messages:
    1,352
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Arty
    Utah, the valley
    Vehicle:
    98 tacoma TRD supercharged
    Supercharged, Custom sunroof, 6 inch lift, wheel spacers, over the rail tire carrier
    I just want to see how common is this problem... I recently had my right ball joint brake out of the blue while driving on the road, has anybody had this problem happen more then once ? why did it happen, how common is this???? any advice or mods would help. For now on, what im doing is getting moog's and replacing them frequently sense there lifetime warranty.
     
  2. Aug 17, 2012 at 9:38 AM
    #2
    Nixinus

    Nixinus Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 11, 2011
    Member:
    #49100
    Messages:
    1,513
    Gender:
    Male
    Oregon
    Vehicle:
    2010 4x4
    *break

    I have not had it happen but I have not done any extreme off roading.
     
    Kittenmittens4U likes this.
  3. Aug 17, 2012 at 9:48 AM
    #3
    mikesdoublecab

    mikesdoublecab LT Chase Truck

    Joined:
    Jun 15, 2008
    Member:
    #7334
    Messages:
    7,229
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Mohawk Mike
    Glendale, CA
    Vehicle:
    01 Tacoma DoubleCab V6 Prerunner
    Engage Offroad long travel front and rear with some fat tires.
    i know there was a recall on the 2001 to 2004 front balljoint...

    don't know if there was one for previous years...
     
  4. Aug 17, 2012 at 9:56 AM
    #4
    97yota4wd

    97yota4wd Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2010
    Member:
    #42280
    Messages:
    12,834
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Eric
    Mesa, AZ
    Vehicle:
    alot of metal, small engine, decent travel.
    caged, camburg long travel, 50t leafpack (soon to be installed) light rack over cab, 5pt harnesses etc
    Did the BJ break or the bolts connecting the lower to the spindle?
     
  5. Aug 17, 2012 at 10:26 AM
    #5
    TROKITA

    TROKITA [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2011
    Member:
    #65052
    Messages:
    1,352
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Arty
    Utah, the valley
    Vehicle:
    98 tacoma TRD supercharged
    Supercharged, Custom sunroof, 6 inch lift, wheel spacers, over the rail tire carrier
    no the bolts were all there... the big one broke where it goes in on the LCA it was weird because it happen doing a u-turn and i hit the curb just like anybody on a truck or suv would and bam just heard a big pop and dropped. and for the record i wasn't or didn't hit the curb like a jackass i literally tap it. like when you make a u-turn and you hurry because cars are coming....... like that
     
  6. Aug 17, 2012 at 10:27 AM
    #6
    AzogSS

    AzogSS Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 26, 2009
    Member:
    #21829
    Messages:
    3,104
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Andy
    Soda City, SC
    Vehicle:
    2008 Tacoma / 2011 FJC
    *their
     
    Kittenmittens4U and neatoneto like this.
  7. Aug 17, 2012 at 12:09 PM
    #7
    twfsa

    twfsa Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 29, 2010
    Member:
    #37997
    Messages:
    1,338
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Tom
    Omaha Ne
    Vehicle:
    04 TRD 4X4
    881 Front coils, Bilstien 5100's all the way front set to "0" Icon Dynamic's mini leafs in rear, stock tires.
    How many miles were or are on the truck when the joint broke, and do you do alot of off roading?
     
  8. Aug 17, 2012 at 12:25 PM
    #8
    Amo-cat3

    Amo-cat3 Wizard Sleeve Master

    Joined:
    Jan 26, 2009
    Member:
    #12980
    Messages:
    655
    Gender:
    Male
    Maui, Hawaii
    Vehicle:
    07 TRD Blown dubcab
    TRD Supercharged 4.0 w/ 2.5" Quick change Pulley, UCON EMS, URD 7th injector, AFE Stage II intake, DT Longtubes, MBRP 2.5" dual exhaust w/ Vibrant Ultra resonator, URD Y-pipe w/ vibrant v-bands (Cat free), Walboro 255 fuel pump, SS Oil catch can, Aeroforce gauges, Icon CDC 2.5 coilover set at 3", 1.5" Wleelers Progressive aal, Light racing uca, 17x8.5 Fuel Anza 4.5" backspace/-6 mm offset, Kelly Safari a/t 265/70/17, scanguage 2, AMP electric steps, bed extender, Low-pro tonneau cover, 20% tinted windows/headlights/taillights, tacoma seat covers, Image dynamic sound system w/ Pinoneer avh3200 head, assrtd stickers................
    Stop bustin my ballz - anyways, you could of just hit that curb at the perfect angle to do some damage.
     
  9. Aug 17, 2012 at 12:33 PM
    #9
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2012
    Member:
    #73470
    Messages:
    16,331
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rich
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    08 Base
    Satoshi with FJ badge, factory cruise, factory intermittent wipers, Redline Tuning hood-lift struts, Hellwig Swaybar, Rosen DVD-Nav
    Lucky it happened during a U-turn.
    Before the recall on the Tundra, a few had let go at highway speed. Thrashed the fender.
    Same thing... broke the stud, not the mounting bolts.
     
  10. Aug 17, 2012 at 12:34 PM
    #10
    Rich91710

    Rich91710 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 23, 2012
    Member:
    #73470
    Messages:
    16,331
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Rich
    Los Angeles
    Vehicle:
    08 Base
    Satoshi with FJ badge, factory cruise, factory intermittent wipers, Redline Tuning hood-lift struts, Hellwig Swaybar, Rosen DVD-Nav
    *busting

    *balls

    *could have
     
  11. Aug 17, 2012 at 1:22 PM
    #11
    TROKITA

    TROKITA [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2011
    Member:
    #65052
    Messages:
    1,352
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Arty
    Utah, the valley
    Vehicle:
    98 tacoma TRD supercharged
    Supercharged, Custom sunroof, 6 inch lift, wheel spacers, over the rail tire carrier
    tuck has 196k but i replaced the joints a year ago with new tie rods did a couple of off roading ... went to rattle snake 2wice that all i can remember
     
  12. Aug 17, 2012 at 1:27 PM
    #12
    TROKITA

    TROKITA [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2011
    Member:
    #65052
    Messages:
    1,352
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Arty
    Utah, the valley
    Vehicle:
    98 tacoma TRD supercharged
    Supercharged, Custom sunroof, 6 inch lift, wheel spacers, over the rail tire carrier
    maybe or maybe there were cheap ball joints from autozone "/ BTW i bought them from a guy too but there were new he never put them on his truck because he sold it before he could replace the ballz and rod...
    i know right it sucked but at the same time i was happy it happened like that i started thinking... high speed or miles away on a trail... that would of sucked
     
  13. Aug 17, 2012 at 4:07 PM
    #13
    wtmtntaco

    wtmtntaco Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 2, 2010
    Member:
    #38255
    Messages:
    177
    Gender:
    Male
    NH
    Vehicle:
    03 TRD xtracab V6
    Bilstein 5100's at 2.5", Grey wire, Wheeler's 1.5 aal,
    I busted my front left upper ball joint going down a bumpy road, never really wheeled my truck and it was a factory joint, truck had about 120,000 on it at the time...
     
  14. Aug 27, 2012 at 1:18 PM
    #14
    marcchrisv

    marcchrisv Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2011
    Member:
    #66309
    Messages:
    48
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Gardnerville, NV
    Vehicle:
    99 Tacoma xtra, 2.7
    Toytec 2.5" lift., just the beginning. Front Builstein coil-overs fully adjustable from 0-3". 2" AAL in the rear with 2.5 degree shim. Total Chaos uni-ball UCA's.
    I just seperated my lower passenger ball joint on my 99 tacoma 2.5" lift. I installed them just over a year ago.. Luckily i was going 2 mph and only 5 miles in on the trail. (Had a bear of a time getting a flat-bed tow-truck back there though). PS.. Never buy Mevotech Ball Joints.. If that had been at 65mph it would have been fatal.

    [​IMG]
     
  15. Aug 27, 2012 at 1:47 PM
    #15
    TROKITA

    TROKITA [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2011
    Member:
    #65052
    Messages:
    1,352
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Arty
    Utah, the valley
    Vehicle:
    98 tacoma TRD supercharged
    Supercharged, Custom sunroof, 6 inch lift, wheel spacers, over the rail tire carrier
    just for the heads up get Moogs brands at o'rileys or anywhere they sell moog, there lifetime warranty :) so you can replace them at no cost and more frequently
     
  16. Aug 27, 2012 at 2:13 PM
    #16
    buzzard1992

    buzzard1992 Yep

    Joined:
    Sep 16, 2010
    Member:
    #43343
    Messages:
    2,399
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Alex
    Summerville, SC
    Vehicle:
    01 4wd trd, 255/85/16 km2s
    5100's with eibachs. And 255/85/16 km2s
    X2, and I have always heard that moog ball joints are better than most brands anyway
     
  17. Aug 27, 2012 at 2:17 PM
    #17
    marcchrisv

    marcchrisv Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2011
    Member:
    #66309
    Messages:
    48
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Gardnerville, NV
    Vehicle:
    99 Tacoma xtra, 2.7
    Toytec 2.5" lift., just the beginning. Front Builstein coil-overs fully adjustable from 0-3". 2" AAL in the rear with 2.5 degree shim. Total Chaos uni-ball UCA's.
    i just got my warranty information filed with carparts.com.. They are going to refund the money since i will not buy another mevotech part, and have already ordered moog replacements. :) Good call TROKITA.. Nice Truck BTW.. what leaf's do you have in the rear?? Oh, and FYI, if anyone wants to contact mevotech about other Ball Joint failures it seems the right person is Helmut Huber HHuber at mevotech dot com. He was very helpful and stated that if i didn't want the money back i could send them directly to them to be diagnosed.. Which i will probably do.. I'm seriously worried that others may have purchased these and they will fail at much higher speeds.. Causing loss of life or major damage..

    [​IMG]
     
  18. Aug 27, 2012 at 2:24 PM
    #18
    TROKITA

    TROKITA [OP] Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 11, 2011
    Member:
    #65052
    Messages:
    1,352
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Arty
    Utah, the valley
    Vehicle:
    98 tacoma TRD supercharged
    Supercharged, Custom sunroof, 6 inch lift, wheel spacers, over the rail tire carrier
    ya moogs are american made and i heard that there really good and this goes for the tierods aswell. i wouldnt be able to tell you what leafs i have "/ i got the truck with the lift and its a trail master lift so i wouldn't know sorry
     
  19. Aug 27, 2012 at 2:26 PM
    #19
    marcchrisv

    marcchrisv Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2011
    Member:
    #66309
    Messages:
    48
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Gardnerville, NV
    Vehicle:
    99 Tacoma xtra, 2.7
    Toytec 2.5" lift., just the beginning. Front Builstein coil-overs fully adjustable from 0-3". 2" AAL in the rear with 2.5 degree shim. Total Chaos uni-ball UCA's.
    The largest hassle has been buying a new CV axle, upper ball joint, and outer tie rod.. Since the ones in the photo was damaged when the lower separated.. Oh the joys of working on my truck.. It seems to never end.. But i have to say... I may just opt for uniball uca's and cast lca's in the near future... Still need a lower ball joint, but will no longer have to worry that the upper is going to fatigue/let loose.
     
  20. Aug 27, 2012 at 2:27 PM
    #20
    marcchrisv

    marcchrisv Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 2, 2011
    Member:
    #66309
    Messages:
    48
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Chris
    Gardnerville, NV
    Vehicle:
    99 Tacoma xtra, 2.7
    Toytec 2.5" lift., just the beginning. Front Builstein coil-overs fully adjustable from 0-3". 2" AAL in the rear with 2.5 degree shim. Total Chaos uni-ball UCA's.
    Looks nice.. :) KIR (Keep it Running) and you'll be good to go..
     

Products Discussed in

To Top