Ball Joint replacement on 5th gen
- Thread starter bradstone
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Back when I had a 4th gen, I purchased the LCA ball joints. I wasn't able to get the ball joints out using the tools I had. I ended up replacing the whole LCA.
RockAuto had the ball joints https://www.rockauto.com/en/catalog/toyota,2015,4runner,4.0l+v6,3310139,suspension,ball+joint,10070
RAD4Runner
Senior Member
WOW! BJ replacement already? Why so soon? (My first-gen's was reaplaced only at almost 250K miles)
No recall? No warranty?
No recall? No warranty?
Jeremy556
New member
Are you sure it is actually bad?
If the boot is torn, you can order a boot and reboot it very easily.
If you do replace it, do yourself a favor and get the whole arm. You'll end up having to cut the bushings to get the arm out, then you'll find that aftermarket ball joints don't fit, aftermarket bushings don't fit either, then you'll buy an OEM arm and be down a vehicle in the interim.
If the boot is torn, you can order a boot and reboot it very easily.
If you do replace it, do yourself a favor and get the whole arm. You'll end up having to cut the bushings to get the arm out, then you'll find that aftermarket ball joints don't fit, aftermarket bushings don't fit either, then you'll buy an OEM arm and be down a vehicle in the interim.
It's my fault. Long story. Started with a Bilstein 5100 install, alignment could not be done because the front cam bolts were seized to the bushings. I purchased a new LCA because delivery is only 1 day compared to the front bushing is a week. While was removing the knuckle from the old LCA I damaged the BJ. I thought I would have a spare LCA if I replace the BJ and front bushing.
So no worries regarding premature wear.
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If you lifted it just order aftermarket upper control arms. Problem solved. I'm using the JBA ones and they use the same ball joint a GM truck does. Easy to swap when the time comes.
Jeremy556
New member
Apparently you have already encountered the seized cams to the bushings. Since this is a spare, might as well go for the replacement bushing and try an aftermarket ball joint. IIRC, someone on this board used a Moog and was able to get it to fit with a little bit of grinding the clip thinner.
How did you damage the old LBJ?
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Jeremy556
New member
He's talking about the lower control arms and ball joints
dot_tom
New member
I've replaced my boots on my 2017. I feel ya, dumb mistakes. Anyway, I've linked the new boot you need for the 5th gen LCA BJ. You can buy new Lower ball joints but the clip that locks it in needs to be ground down a bit. It's barely thick enough that it won't clip in. There is a thread on this somewhere on here.
oh and make sure you use plenty of grease. The packet it comes with is just not enough. I used a marine grade grease to fill it up.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/4334569025...43345-69025-/182382068209?hash=item2a76d181f1
oh and make sure you use plenty of grease. The packet it comes with is just not enough. I used a marine grade grease to fill it up.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/4334569025...43345-69025-/182382068209?hash=item2a76d181f1
I was removing the knuckle. I had a couple pullers, a pitman arm puller and a two jaw puller. Both did not work, so I use a hammer. I put the nut on the stud and whaled away. I messed up the threads.
Jeremy556
New member
You might be able to fix the threads with the edge of a file if they aren't too terrible. Maybe cut the first bit of thread off? I had a TRE that I had to really wail on and mangled up the threads, even with the nut on over them. I cut about 1/8th inch off the end, cleaned up the threads, and am still running that TRE.
Jetboy
New member
I do have a lower ball joint that is loose. At 50,200 miles. Driver's side. We'll see if the warranty will cover it. I have an appointment on Monday. I have ToyotaCare Platinum extended warranty. I'm not sure if they'll reject it due to a lift or not. The dealer I'm going to sells quite a few of them with 3" lifts on the lot new. We'll see how it goes. If not I may DIY, maybe not. I have a shop press that should have enough oomph to bust it out of the control arm. I'm not sure if I have enough time to do it right now. I'm guessing it's a $6-800 replacement at the dealer if I'm paying for it. So... hard to justify not doing it myself then.
Seems early given that my last 4Runner (1996) never had them replaced and I sold it over 200k miles. There's significant play in the joint. The boot is not torn and there is no visible damage. I do a good bit of offroad miles. But I'm not an abusive driver by any means. Nor do I have huge offset wheels or heavy mud tires. I can't really say much more about it than that about it.
Seems early given that my last 4Runner (1996) never had them replaced and I sold it over 200k miles. There's significant play in the joint. The boot is not torn and there is no visible damage. I do a good bit of offroad miles. But I'm not an abusive driver by any means. Nor do I have huge offset wheels or heavy mud tires. I can't really say much more about it than that about it.
