Ball joints: What would you do if this was your front end

[t-man]

[MENTION=101553]t-man[/MENTION]
I'm about to pull the trigger on ordering parts to rebuild my front end, so I wanted to double check with you because you have the 1Aauto LCA's, right? You posted about them before but I don't remember where that was. How long have you had them and have they been holding up? I know you are hard on your stuff so if you recommend them then I'll probably order these now:
https://www.1aauto.com/control-arm-with-ball-joint-front-pair/i/1asfk01969?f=847972&y=2003

1aAuto seems to have pretty terrible reviews as far as component quality. I'm tempted to buy some 2006+ projector headlights from them too but I feel like I'm already taking a big risk on these LCA's.

I will also be ordering adjustable UCA's. Are these a generally recommended product? https://www.amazon.com/Specialty-Pr...962&sr=8-1&keywords=4runner+upper+control+arm
Price just went up slightly, if anyone knows a better place to order from, let me know

I bought this kit: Look at this on eBay http://www.ebay.com/itm/272114666894
It has held up well other than the outer tie rods. This could be due to my spindle being bent unknown, or they could have been crappy, not sure. Balljoints and bushings have been great though. They have a warranty, but to get new ones you have to buy a new set, send in old ones and then they'll refund you. I didn't like that particular part, but it is normal. I didn't use the sway bar links, still sitting on my garage.

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

 

[03v8raleigh]

I bought this kit: Look at this on eBay GX470,4Runner,FJ Cruiser,Control Arms Sway Bar Links,Tie Rods $5 YEARS WARRANTY$ | eBay
It has held up well other than the outer tie rods. This could be due to my spindle being bent unknown, or they could have been crappy, not sure. Balljoints and bushings have been great though. They have a warranty, but to get new ones you have to buy a new set, send in old ones and then they'll refund you. I didn't like that particular part, but it is normal. I didn't use the sway bar links, still sitting on my garage.

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

Ah, for some reason I thought you had the 1aAuto. Since they're all just cheap replicas, there probably isn't much difference and they probably all come from the same factory in China somewhere. I may go for this kit then since it comes with the tie rods that I need too. What UCA's do you have?

 

[t-man]

Ah, for some reason I thought you had the 1aAuto. Since they're all just cheap replicas, there probably isn't much difference and they probably all come from the same factory in China somewhere. I may go for this kit then since it comes with the tie rods that I need too. What UCA's do you have?

Forgot to mention the uca's. I have spc and like them. The new ones have greasable balljoints now which really helps.
Ya I'm sure they make all those parts in the same Chinese slave factory. Lol.

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

 

[03v8raleigh]

Forgot to mention the uca's. I have spc and like them. The new ones have greasable balljoints now which really helps.
Ya I'm sure they make all those parts in the same Chinese slave factory. Lol.

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

I think I'll be going with the SPC's from amazon for $485. Seems to be the best option for the money. How many miles do you have on the ebay LCA's?

 

[t-man]

I think I'll be going with the SPC's from amazon for $485. Seems to be the best option for the money. How many miles do you have on the ebay LCA's?

I like wheelers offroad personally. They were great to deal with, as well as spc, when my old balljoints went bad. They sent me the new design right away.
https://wheelersoffroad.com/product...light-racing-uca-25480-upper-control-arm-set/

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

 

[alia176]

[MENTION=101553]t-man[/MENTION]
I'm about to pull the trigger on ordering parts to rebuild my front end, so I wanted to double check with you because you have the 1Aauto LCA's, right? You posted about them before but I don't remember where that was. How long have you had them and have they been holding up? I know you are hard on your stuff so if you recommend them then I'll probably order these now:
https://www.1aauto.com/control-arm-with-ball-joint-front-pair/i/1asfk01969?f=847972&y=2003

1aAuto seems to have pretty terrible reviews as far as component quality. I'm tempted to buy some 2006+ projector headlights from them too but I feel like I'm already taking a big risk on these LCA's.

I will also be ordering adjustable UCA's. Are these a generally recommended product? https://www.amazon.com/Specialty-Pr...962&sr=8-1&keywords=4runner+upper+control+arm
Price just went up slightly, if anyone knows a better place to order from, let me know

Wait, why $480 UCA but $160 LCA when the LCA is more important in my book? Why not buy some other cheap Ebay UCA that are being discussed in other threads? I think I'm missing something here!

 

[t-man]

Wait, why $480 UCA but $160 LCA when the LCA is more important in my book? Why not buy some other cheap Ebay UCA that are being discussed in other threads? I think I'm missing something here!

I don't know, and they are cheap compared to camburg and total Chaos. The ebay ones seem OK, but they don't have the adjustability that the spc ones have. Camburg do, but almost $700 I believe.

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

 

[03v8raleigh]

Wait, why $480 UCA but $160 LCA when the LCA is more important in my book? Why not buy some other cheap Ebay UCA that are being discussed in other threads? I think I'm missing something here!

I am getting the $485 SPC UCA's so that I can regain full alignment adjustability with my 3" of lift. None of the cheap ones offer this from what I can tell..? Better UCA's determine how well the alignment goes and thus how the truck handles. Mine only has 2 degrees of caster now, so it jumps around on the highway, and the slight camber is wearing the outside of my tires. Figured that since I need upper ball joints, I'd use this as an excuse to upgrade everything.
The LCA's don't offer these benefits and I just need something to make them not shot. So I'm going to take the gamble on the cheap LCA's for now. According to the ebay posting for the arms/tie rods I just ordered (thanks T-man), the arms are actually Moog part numbers. So I'm hoping for the best.

 

[alia176]

Good explanation and it will help others I'm sure. So it's the adjustability and the high quality BJ that makes these worth the price.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

 

[t-man]

Good explanation and it will help others I'm sure. So it's the adjustability and the high quality BJ that makes these worth the price.

Sent from my SM-G920V using Tapatalk

Yes, and uniball doesn't fare so well in wet areas as dirt and such can get in there. In contrast a balljoint is covered with a boot. Typically a uniball will have a greater range of motion, but spc's balljoint has 80* of movement, so I'd say it's good for my purposes.

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

 

[alia176]

Yes, and uniball doesn't fare so well in wet areas as dirt and such can get in there. In contrast a balljoint is covered with a boot. Typically a uniball will have a greater range of motion, but spc's balljoint has 80* of movement, so I'd say it's good for my purposes.

Sent from the drivers seat of my 05 4runner.

Agreed. I'm not a fan of Johnie joints and uniballs in daily drivers. I believe this forum has enough knowledgeable when it comes to which Ebay arms produce which amount of caster based on a given lift. I know that few folks are uploaded their pre/post alignment sheet pics with the ebay UCAs.

 

[Bluesky 07]

Resurrecting to ask [MENTION=92273]EdmundGTP[/MENTION] for an update on the 1A Auto LCAs since they're on my list of potential vendors when I replace mine. TIA.

 

[rdruss]

Resurrecting to ask [MENTION=92273]EdmundGTP[/MENTION] for an update on the 1A Auto LCAs since they're on my list of potential vendors when I replace mine. TIA.

I have them. I bought new just few months ago and installed Super Pro bushings in them before I installed on 4Runner. They seem quality but who knows about the long term on ball joints. I don't off road so not too worried.

 

[EdmundGTP]

Resurrecting to ask [MENTION=92273]EdmundGTP[/MENTION] for an update on the 1A Auto LCAs since they're on my list of potential vendors when I replace mine. TIA.

Still good. LBJ boots are getting a bit dry/crack-y, but they still hold grease and I expect that after almost 5 years and probably 40K+ miles out here in the dry AZ heat.

Still have my OEM's on standby for a rebuild and haven't gotten around to rebuilding them yet. Fortunately I haven't needed them.

 

[little_joe]

Still good. LBJ boots are getting a bit dry/crack-y, but they still hold grease and I expect that after almost 5 years and probably 40K+ miles out here in the dry AZ heat.

Still have my OEM's on standby for a rebuild and haven't gotten around to rebuilding them yet. Fortunately I haven't needed them.

Tip someone gave me: spray the boots every now and then with 303 protectant, helps prolong their life. I hit my cv boots and balljoints w/ 303 at every oil change, takes 30 seconds and is cheap.