Hi. Inspection under my 2007 4runner 2wd shows a slightly torn driver side boot/cover on the lower ball joint. I believe there is a replacement boot for this joint (toyota #4334569025). However, I cannot find a writeup on how to replace.

Ball joint itself seems to be fine and just want to replace the boot at this time. Any idea how this is done?

thanks!

Jack up ride and safety stand it. Remove your tire, remove LCA bolts to the steering knuckle, and ball joint removal tool to separate the BJ from the bolt on piece. You have access to the boot, there is a wire ring around the boot, be careful on removing, I reused my original one as it seemed to me to be a better one than comes with the boot kit.

If all you are replacing is the boot, it's really easy. Just pull off the wheel and probably the caliper and rotor too just to make it easier. If you remove the caliper, support it with something to keep the brake lines from supporting the weight of the caliper. Remove the cotter pin and castle nut from the lower ball joint and use a pitman puller or something similar to separate the ball joint from the spindle. From there it'll be pretty obvious how to remove the boot. Clean the joint real good and fill with grease before replacing the boot and then put everything back together using the right torque specs. It'll be really easy.

Update: I was typing my long dialogue as the previous guy was writing his. His post wasn't there when I started. His is more concise so he got in there first and I looked like a jackass that's trying to provide much more detail than necessary. Do what he said.

@fdbyrne LMAO... I could always delete my version and let you take the credit,

I have had the same happen to me a few times.

It's my fault for being long-winded. I tend to do that. I'm not sure why because it bothers the hell out of me when my wife does it.

Thank you BOTH for all the helpful comments. So it seems basically I need to get a pitman arm puller to separate ball joint.

You mentioned grease. I assume I fill boot with grease before installation ?
Also what type of grease is recommended ?
Oh and can you recommend any specific type of puller or where to purchase?

thanks again.

Auto zone or another chain store has free loner tools. I can't remember if the kit came with grease. Any lube grease should work, I use lucas red and tacky myself. Stock setups with them boots are self contained anyway.

I did not know you can change the boots :o

Thanks guys.

If you have a Harbor Freight near you, I'd consider buying a puller. They cost less than $10 and are really handy to have around for pulling things apart and since they are so cheap you can grind them down to change their dimensions to fit a pretty broad range of applications.

I use mine to separate the tie rod end almost every time I work on my front end and it works well to separate the upper or lower ball joints too. It may not have the strength to completely pull apart the upper ball joint on it's own but it puts enough pressure on it that it only takes a couple of whacks with a hammer separate things.

All that to say, it's a pretty useful thing to have around and doesn't cost that much.

Thanks I will check out Harbor Freight for the puller. Any idea what size socket is needed for the castle nut on lower ball joint? I probably need to get that too.

I don't remember off of the top of my head, but it's one of the larger ones that comes in a standard set. Most everything on the front end is a 17 or 19mm but I think that one is a 22mm. It's right in there. Grab a set while your at Harbor Freight.

Its a 24mm for the ball joint

Well, I wasn't far off.

Do you guys have the lbj oem part number by any chance? I think I've narrowed down my drivers side squeaking issue to a torn boot and worn lbj.

I don't believe there is an oem option for the joint itself. Toyota considers it non-replaceable. They replace the whole control arm instead even though it is possible to replace just the joint. Moog makes a replacement joint but I don't know the part number. Check RockAuto.