I know there are a couple of tutorials on here but I thought I'd add another.
Here is a photo of the new lower ball joint. (Edit Aug 19th 2015. Do yourself a favor and get real Toyota parts. It's a lot better than seeing your truck on a tow truck a few years after installation.)


Lift 4runner and place on Jack Stands. Chock rear wheels. Remove front wheels and turn hub away from you for easy access.


This particular 4runner has a lot of underbody rust. I sprayed these areas down with PB Blaster the night before.
The Ball Joint nut and the four Ball Joint mounting nuts (three are pictured here).


I also sprayed down the outer tie rod end nut.


You'll need a tie rod puller. You can use a pickle folk also but you'll more than likely ruin any joints that you use it on so keep that in mind.


Remove the cotter pin from both the Ball Joint nut (on the bottom of the assembly) and the tie rod nut. A 19mm socket will be used to remove the tie rod nut. A breaker bar helps with badly rusted components.


Now put your tie rob puller on and remove the outer tie rod bolt (Changing out your inner and outer tie rod ends can be done at the same time. This will save you from getting two alignments and also keep your 4runners front end happy. Inner Tie Rod Removal and Installation)




Using a 24mm socket, remove the Ball Joint nut.


Use a 14mm socket to remove the four Ball Joint mounting bolts.


Now we need to separate the ball joint. I used a pickle fork and a hammer but using the tie rod puller upside down works just as well.




Remove the old ball joint and discard.


Use a little Blue Loctite on the new mounting bolts.


Install the 14mm bolts by hand first before using your socket wrench.



Grad a hold of the ball joint assembly and pull it down so the ball joint bolt slides into the lower control arm. Hand thread the nut then snug it down with a socket.

Torque the 14mm mounting bolts to 59 ft pounds and the ball joint nut to 105 pounds. Install a new cotter pin. (old grease on the picture)

Install the outer tie rob end (I used a new one) torque it to 53 ft pounds. Install a new cotter pin.


Get 4runner aligned.

Thanks for the write-up with great pictures. I am doing mine next weekend. I have all of the parts (using OEM) and the tools just none of the time to get it done this weekend. I also figured while I had it apart I would put my new springs/struts on as well.
Again, thanks for taking the time to do this.

Great writeup. Really clear pictures.

What's your source for the LBJ's? It looks like they are drilled for a zerk fitting. Which I would definitely like to have if I was replacing mine:


One minor thing in your writeup, you say bolt where you mean nut a couple of times, and vice versa. Otherwise great IMO.

Thanks for the corrections I'll edit them in. I got the LBJ from NAPA. I think they are 555 brand but they come in a NAPA box. (EDIT Aug 19th 2015. Get real Toyota parts. Not the 555 crap. Mine failed today. Luckily I was on a side street going slow)

Are yours painted? I got the sames ones you got, Premium Chassis from Napa, and they were covered in rust within a week.

Yikes... nope, no paint.

This is a great writeup.

Where did all the rust come from? Salt on the road?

You have to like the zerk fitting there.

Yeah, winter in Montana. They spray heaps of salts on the roads and everything rusts and binds together. Just the price you pay for living in one of the most beautiful places in the world.

What is a Montana?

I sprayed my LBJ's down with some black spraypaint when they started rusting away. Mainly because there is not a speck of rust on mine. Hell on yours it will blend right in!

brand new parts under the car is so easy on the eyes.

Well done! Another stellar DIY tutorial! This place gets better every day. Thank you for taking pics and documenting your work.

I am about a week from rebuilding the front end on my '97... new ITRE's, OTRE's, LBJ's & bolts, Poly Rack Bushings, Updated Rack Guide, Poly Sway Bar Bushings, and maybe LCA bushings.

I was going to do a write up the TRE's and LBJ's but no need now... you knocked it out of the park with these last two. So, you saved me all that time, and some more time now that I've got good write-ups to reference.

Thanks Amigo!

No worries. Glad I can help.

Do these LBJ's come pre-greased?