01-02 Lower Ball Joint Recall

[mochilln00]

So I JUST saw this recall about the 01-02 models (Put out 16MAY2005) that has to do with the lower ball joints....I bought the truck in NOV of 05, just when Toyota was sending out the Notices. So either the old owner DID or DID NOT have this fixed, or never got the notice. Either way Ive been having the exact symptoms (static instablility, increase steering force) the recall indicates.

After further investigation, My VIN DOES qualify.

Does anyone know if this recall has an expiration? If so, is there a way to justify it?

Hope this helps people that also may have these symptoms too.

 

[JWaldz]

The recall will forever be in effect for those that have not collected on it. Go to the dealership and have them pull your vin for the recall. If it doesn't show up then you will get some free lbj's :thumb3:

 

[4runsport]

Service History Online - Toyota Owners

Did you ever use this site? By putting in your VIN it should give you the service history even further back then when you bought it. Might be able to tell you if it was done already. :trophy:

 

[GX4SEVEND]

The lbj failure was an obvious issue before 2001. Not sure why the recall is only for 01-02, kind of annoying since mine is a 2000. Has anyone had Toyota good a good faith replacement since its a known issue? Acura did that for me when I had my TL since the tranny was known to slip.

 

[thor999]

I was denied and had to replace them myself based on my VIN. Bas****s. I still check my VIN on that website three or four times a year...

 

[jasonochs25]

Service History Online - Toyota Owners

Did you ever use this site? By putting in your VIN it should give you the service history even further back then when you bought it. Might be able to tell you if it was done already. :trophy:

I signed up and it only goes back to when I bought it...around 1/2008

Is there a trick I need to know to get full service records?

 

[Road Bull]

Yeah, I just logged into the Toyota site and checked my vehicle.

5/24/06 Dealer Toyota of Olympia @ 78,093 miles.
Repair Order Number: 0191003

REPLACE RIGHT AND LEFT FRONT LOWER BALL JOINTS AND ADJUST FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT.

I am sitting at about 192K miles at the moment.

I have new LBJs, inner, and outer tie rods sitting a few feet away that a friend and I should be tackling next weekend.

 

[T4R2014]

I signed up and it only goes back to when I bought it...around 1/2008

Is there a trick I need to know to get full service records?

I'm pretty sure the website mentions open recalls. You could try calling your dealer to make sure. If the recall has been done then it's no free BJ's for you.

 

[Road Bull]

I'm pretty sure the website mentions open recalls. You could try calling your dealer to make sure. If the recall has been done then it's no free BJ's for you.

You need to go to the Toyota owners site, log in, make sure your vehicle is entered in the "My Vehicle" tab, then click the "Resources" tab, then go to the " Safety Recalls or Special Service Campaigns for your vehicle" drop down.

There it should tell you if you have any open recalls. But, you can also check under the "Parts and Service" tab and check, and click the drop down, "Service History" to see if anything has been recorded by Toyota.

 

[jasonochs25]

I'm pretty sure the website mentions open recalls. You could try calling your dealer to make sure. If the recall has been done then it's no free BJ's for you.

I'm not looking for "free bjs". I just want to know the service records of the previous owner. My 4runner isnt even withing the years for the recall. My question was directed at the website in general

 

[T4R2014]

I'm not looking for "free bjs". I just want to know the service records of the previous owner. My 4runner isnt even withing the years for the recall. My question was directed at the website in general

I think Toyota deletes records after a certain period of time. That site isn't reliable, and it wasn't back when it first came out. If it was, then it would have had my maintenance records going back to 1996. It does tell me that I still have an open recall for my suspension that I have held off for 15 years.

 

[jasonochs25]

I think Toyota deletes records after a certain period of time. That site isn't reliable, and it wasn't back when it first came out. If it was, then it would have had my maintenance records going back to 1996. It does tell me that I still have an open recall for my suspension that I have held off for 15 years.

Thank you sir, for your input! I guess I'll never know about the service on mine, but I can tell it was well taken care of, so I shouldnt worry much.

 

[MtnT4R]

Another update for this thread:
I just called the dealership, they checked my VIN and said there are no recalls for my '02 SR5. But everything I've read on here says there IS a recall for LBJs. Does that mean mine rolled out of the factory with fixed components? Or should I check with other dealerships?

 

[gamefreakgc]

Another update for this thread:
I just called the dealership, they checked my VIN and said there are no recalls for my '02 SR5. But everything I've read on here says there IS a recall for LBJs. Does that mean mine rolled out of the factory with fixed components? Or should I check with other dealerships?

If they checked their systems and no recalls show up, there is no recall for your vehicle. Either it was done before by a previous owner or your vehicle doesn't qualify.

This came up a lot for 89-95 Toyotas with the 3VZ-E engine and headgasket failures. The longest recall claim I saw documented was 14 years and that was an exceptional case. Seeing now we are at 14 years for an '02, I'd say pretty confidently it's not going to happen. If a failure did happen at this point, Toyota would be pretty protected due to the fact that it's been 14 years and could be just explained as normal wear and tear. I mean, any vehicle could break a ball joint after 14 years.

 

[animator]

The lbj failure was an obvious issue before 2001. Not sure why the recall is only for 01-02, kind of annoying since mine is a 2000. Has anyone had Toyota good a good faith replacement since its a known issue? Acura did that for me when I had my TL since the tranny was known to slip.

According to the website, Toyota replaced mine under recall shortly before I bought it, at right around 30k miles.


I'm at over 200k now, and am due a new set, which I have sitting in a box in the garage...

 

[itschrisb]

I checked my vin on my 98 Limited and it said there were no recalls. I checked the vin on Toyota Owners and there isnt anything on there about them getting replaced so who knows. $170 isnt a lot to spend for piece of mind.

Sent from my SM-G920T using Tapatalk

 

[OnTheEllipse]

I checked my vin on my 98 Limited and it said there were no recalls. I checked the vin on Toyota Owners and there isnt anything on there about them getting replaced so who knows. $170 isnt a lot to spend for piece of mind.

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is it $170 for the parts? Wondering if I can do this by myself in the driveway without any crazy tools. I realize there are plenty of write-ups on this and only i can answer that.....but for 170 bucks, I'd just have someone else do it.

 

[itschrisb]

yea $170 is just for parts. The only special tool you need is a pickle fork or a puller to get the tie rod end out of the lower ball joint. Im doing the tie rod ends also so damaging them during removal isnt a concern for me. Completely unexperienced I cant imagine it taking more than a few hours for each side. its roughly 5-6 bolts.

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[mtbtim]

is it $170 for the parts? Wondering if I can do this by myself in the driveway without any crazy tools. I realize there are plenty of write-ups on this and only i can answer that.....but for 170 bucks, I'd just have someone else do it.

You should be able to rent the needed pullers at a local auto parts store. You could use the technique of hammering on the lower control arm and knuckle of the ball joint, but using the pullers is a much better technique in my opinion.

You can do this yourself no problem. I'm guessing there's a chance you might not own a torque wrench but maybe you could borrow one from a friend or family member.

Here's a video [MENTION=102606]infamousRNR[/MENTION] and I made of replacing the LBJ's on my rig.

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bfLvtEnX9qk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[stir_fry_boy]

Yes, you don't need any crazy tools, not even a puller. You need a big hammer, sockets (14 mm, 19 mm, 24 mm, and 36 mm) jack stands, small flat blade screwdriver, breaker bar, dikes, and needle nose pliers. I like the hammer method myself. I think it's quicker. How I did mine last week:
1) put front of vehicle on jackstands
2) take off wheel
3) undo 4x 14 mm bolts connecting lower control arm to lower ball joint (should replace these)
4) pull cotter pin out of ball joint to outer tie rod end, use 19 mm socket to loosen the castle nut. Leave castle nut loose to protect threads.
5) pull cotter pin out of main ball joint stud, underneath the ball joint pointing down. Undo castle nut with 24 mm socket. Can leave castle nut loose, but still on the stud.
6) remove cover off hub to gain access to CV spindle using small screwdriver. Undo the 36 mm nut holding the axle into the hub. You can place a screwdriver in the brake rotor fins to prevent the rotor from turning
7) big hammer time - hit where the outer tie rod end joint goes through the lower ball joint. Not the stud itself. A few hits and it will come loose. PB blaster helps.
8) lift up the knuckle, at the same time pull the outer CV spindle out of the hub.
9) move the knuckle forward, exposing the lower ball joint
10) hit where the ball joint stud goes through the lower control arm. This will take a few hard hits.
11) remove lower ball joint.
12) installation is reverse of removal. Torque all bolts to spec. Use new cotter pins.