Ball Joint Failure - My Turn

[smallfry]

For the past couple of days my 4runner has had a weird feel while driving and felt like there was tension on the steering wheel (wanted to pull right). I had looked underneath at everything and nothing seemed to be out of line.

Well, this morning I ran to store to pick something up before work and rememberd that I had forgot my check book at home and decided to run home and get it. At one spot in the road near an intersection there is a storm drainage ditch/dip in the road. I slowed down to about 10-15 mph, and fast than that and you'll scrap/bottom out. Right after I pass this the drivers side front end dives and I hear this scrapping/grindding sound. I drive a little more to get my self out of the intersection and get out to see what happens.

When I get out and look I just bust out laughing (I just couldn't help myself in this stituation and the person walking out to their car probable thought I had lost my mind) as the driver's side front wheel is not partially under my 4runner. Luckily, the slider prevented it from going any further under. So I made a few calls and after an hour and half the tow truck finally comes and gets me.

While waiting for the truck a few stop and ask if I'm okay and a few I just shot the breeze with for a little bit. Heck, someone even took a photo themselves.

So now my 4runner is at the Toyota dealership (they replaced the lower control arms a few months back) and I'm in a rental Chevy Avero. I'm also talking with my insurance too see if they will cover anything. I doubt it but I'm hopefully.

Thankfully, this took place on a side road and not on the highway or out on the trail somewhere.

So anyways here are the photo's:

What's that white line on the road and why is the vehicle slanting to one side

Well, that can't be good

Well, there's your problem

Anyone care to guess what the estimated repair bill is??

 

[JonCor2577]

How many miles on your runner? Glad you are ok!

 

[Elton H]

dam that sucks mmm makes me wanna replace mine also ive seen these fail and im thankful they broke at low speed

 

[fightman80]

WOW! That looks like it hurts! Sorry to hear about your damage man! Aside from the pulling, were there any other symptoms or signs??

 

[kiffsrunner]

Was it your upper or lower ball point?

I had the same thing happen to me. Fortunatly i had just pulled into my parking spot as it dropped out, not while i was going down the road. It was a rather inexpensive and quick fix though which is always good. But Im glad your alright and i hope it doesnt break the bank too bad.

 

[driffter33]

$2800 good thing you went slow.

 

[durrell]

I'm curious how many miles you had. It also seems to be that a lot of the people with BJ failures are running heavier front bumpers.

I replaced mine at 170k (although I didn't use OEM) and they were fine.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Why wouldn't insurance cover this?

 

[durrell]

Why wouldn't insurance cover this?

Insurance doesn't cover lack of maintenance like that. It either falls under a warranty, a recall, or it's the owner's responsibility.

 

[ChildrenOfBodom]

Jesus brother!

If the Toyota dealer messed with your lower control arms, blame them

 

[marcel]

is this more common for 4WD 4runners? and how much are the parts to replace this before you crash?
glad your ok!

 

[BrianSD_42]

$2800 good thing you went slow.

What cost $2800? I replaced both my lower ball joints for $400.

I think the lower ball joint issue should SOUND ALARM BELLS for anyone over 100k on their 4Runner. At the minimum have it checked out.

I found out mine were going bad when my front tire tread was only used up on one side of the tread.

-Brian

:

 

[smallfry]

How many miles on your runner? Glad you are ok!

Right around 145k

Aside from the pulling, were there any other symptoms or signs??

Not really. Didn't really notice any weird sounds or anything.

Was it your upper or lower ball point?

I had the same thing happen to me. Fortunatly i had just pulled into my parking spot as it dropped out, not while i was going down the road. It was a rather inexpensive and quick fix though which is always good. But Im glad your alright and i hope it doesnt break the bank too bad.

It just burned a bigger hole in my credit card.

Insurance doesn't cover lack of maintenance like that. It either falls under a warranty, a recall, or it's the owner's responsibility.

Ya, that's pretty much it but they are still going to look at it.



Someone on another forum guess the repair cost which is around $2000 about 780 of that is labor,

p/a upper ball joint LH
p/a lower ball joint LH
p/a axle
p/a abs sensor front LH
p/a front LH wheel well flare
p/a flare clips
alignment
and $65 tow bill


The offered to fix it the cheap way which would only replace a fraction of the parts.

I asked them to also check the passenger side as well. I don't want this to happen again.

Two more photos from my cell phone

 

[muddertrucker99]

I dont believe the ball joints fail due to abuse from the bigger tires or the heavier bumper. I believe it's the angle of the boots from the lifts. I had tacoma that had less then 80k on it when they failed. The guy at the alignment shop told the boots was torn and need to be replaced the truck was under 10k when i put the lift on it. My 96 T4R has 300k on the originals and i noticed the other day the boot on the bj is dry rottening the steering is feeling a lil twitchy! All i can say is buy spares for trail fix and check them often. Offroading is a big strain on all suspension parts. But the combo of everything else doesn't help out either! Just my $.02 ! On the other note the stealership should have replaced them when replacing the a arms. They could have been more at fault then the bj wearing out. Just because of the pounding they took on being freed from the lower a arms:happens:

 

[Clemsonfan15]

So what are the common signs or things to check?

I'd rather not have to go through this ordeal.

 

[88xtraSR5]

Sounds like I need jack mine up and check the ball joints on mine since it has almost 150,000 miles on the originals.... Just added the lift last fall.:snacker:

 

[rajuncajun]

That sucks... How did your rim and tire fare? Looks like your wheel would have taken a beating.

 

[Deceptiwave]

Seems like we have a new milkshake!
Well, now I guess I will be swapping mine out, just in case...
But seriously, what or how do you check to see if the ball joints are fine/failing? There has to be a test or some damn thing other than wait til your rig falls apart on the road.

 

[4-Ripcord]

Seems like we have a new milkshake!
Well, now I guess I will be swapping mine out, just in case...
But seriously, what or how do you check to see if the ball joints are fine/failing? There has to be a test or some damn thing other than wait til your rig falls apart on the road.

From what I've heard on similar threads, you know your LBJ's are bad when you have rough steering and the truck is pulling to one side and when you know it isn't an alignment problem.

 

[rjaudi]

Sorry to hear about this. My ball joints arrived and are going in today. I believe if you have over 150k miles like me, I would just replace them. I know I'm not gonna sell my 4runner for years so why play the guessing game. I hope you can get everything fixed reasonably.