Ball Joints

[Rockdawg84]

Did you physically mount them both ways or are you just speculating? If you look at the picture, there is hardly any angle before it hits the BJ.

there is only one way to mount the lower balljoint. notice that there are two bolt holes that have a insert you cant mount these backwards. as far as the tierod ends go they are marked L and R and the passengers side is the R side and so your picture is the correct configuration. the LBJ is much beefier than the stock Runner LBJ. Mine is almost together and am looking forward to driving this with the new parts.

 

[Drcoffee]

there is only one way to mount the lower balljoint. notice that there are two bolt holes that have a insert you cant mount these backwards. as far as the tierod ends go they are marked L and R and the passengers side is the R side and so your picture is the correct configuration. the LBJ is much beefier than the stock Runner LBJ. Mine is almost together and am looking forward to driving this with the new parts.

The LBJ is not in question. We are talking about the OTREs. They have a bend to them and the question is will the bend rub the tires if mounted on the opposite side? Or will the OTRE bind with the LBJ if mounted on the correct side?

 

[Drcoffee]

Does anyone know what type of grease Toyota uses in these LBJs and OTREs. It's green which leads me to think there is no Moly in it. I'm fairly certain they never put enough in there at the factory and I'd like to pack in just a little more before installing mine.

Would Mobil1 grease be compatible? I've read that some makes use polymers in the joints that may not be compatible with all types of grease which is why there is no grease zirk on these sealed for life units.

Any thoughts?

 

[00_4runner]

All these recent developments are preventing me from making the swap... Something sounds wrong. Am I just over thinking this? :shrug:

 

[Rockdawg84]

Got mine all mounted today and I mounted the right on the right and the left on the left and I don't have any binding that I can see. Alignment tomorrow and maybe that will change but I don't think it will. Great having more beef where it counts.:biggrin2:

 

[cordrayj1]

i decided to go with stock 4runner joints. sas'ing probably within a year, so im looking to save on the front end from now until then. saved a whopping 15$ i think...

 

[Gerdo]

So I helped a friend that just did the Taco BJs, OTREs. At full lock, the Taco OTRE hits the swaybar mounts (both sides) before it hits the wheel stops.
Anyone else have this issue?

 

[Drcoffee]

Its a shame you didn't try using the R OTRE on the left side. I'm still waiting for a picture of that.

It looks like that's only a problem when the suspension is fully unloaded. Like on the lift.

 

[Qyota]

I just swapped LBJs (4Runner parts) last night, and they seem plenty beefy to me. Not sure why folks are so quick to assume a beefier part will necessarily perform better or last longer. The joint design is the same, correct?

 

[Dark Lord]

I just swapped LBJs (4Runner parts) last night, and they seem plenty beefy to me. Not sure why folks are so quick to assume a beefier part will necessarily perform better or last longer. The joint design is the same, correct?

To prevent this do we just need to swap the 4runner LBJs only, and not the OTREs? I was thinking of doing the Taco swap, but I'm thinking of just replacing with OEM 4runner parts.

 

[Kung]

That's just it - you CAN'T swap just the T4R LBJs with Tacoma LBJs. The sizing/threading is such that you have to replace both the OTREs and LBJs.

@Gerdo - that may be the 'scratching/scraping' noise I hit when I turn onto something at full lock, and hear a creaking noise. It's not a big deal to me; I just don't make turns onto uneven ground at full lock.

 

[Gerdo]

That's just it - you CAN'T swap just the T4R LBJs with Tacoma LBJs. The sizing/threading is such that you have to replace both the OTREs and LBJs.

@Gerdo - that may be the 'scratching/scraping' noise I hit when I turn onto something at full lock, and hear a creaking noise. It's not a big deal to me; I just don't make turns onto uneven ground at full lock.

I thought about doing the Taco OTREs but found out that they will not work with the 4runner BJs. My BJs are fairly new so I'm just going with 4runner OTREs.

The Taco OTREs have a bigger bend in them than the 4runner ones. This may be the reason they contact the swaybar mounts.

With the Taco OTREs, at full lock (or till the tie rod end hits) the factory wheelstop is about 3/16"- 1/4" away.

The fix? A small amount of grinding on the tip of the swaybar mount.

 

[Drcoffee]

that may be the 'scratching/scraping' noise I hit when I turn onto something at full lock, and hear a creaking noise. It's not a big deal to me; I just don't make turns onto uneven ground at full lock.

You know where to look now. There should be some telltale signs of scraping if that's the point of impact. I guess if it hits hard enough it could be stressing the tie rod.

 

[opie74]

Its a shame you didn't try using the R OTRE on the left side. I'm still waiting for a picture of that.

It looks like that's only a problem when the suspension is fully unloaded. Like on the lift.

I just got in the parts I ordered to change mine over.

Looking at the picture above, it looks like if the sides were switched the TRE would be rubbing on the rim. Perhaps that is just camera angle. Im going to try to get my parts done this weekend and will see what kind of clearance there is putting the left on the right and right on the left.

 

[1985taylor1925]

Why is it that I just now saw this thread for the first time? And why did it have to be after I just replaced my lbjs AND tres only 5k ago? I tell ya, my life is rough

 

[1985taylor1925]

I just swapped LBJs (4Runner parts) last night, and they seem plenty beefy to me. Not sure why folks are so quick to assume a beefier part will necessarily perform better or last longer. The joint design is the same, correct?

I thought the failures were occuring in one particular spot on the structure of the lbj, not in the joint. I could be wrong on this . . . would have to go back and look at that thread. But that would explain the logic for a thicker lbj, at least for the guys who are lifted and running bigger tires.

By the way, what do you do in Madison? I work in the horticulture building at the university and Im also in the Air National Guard there. Though I reside in watertown

 

[Qyota]

Ha! I work on campus just over the hill from you in King hall. Too funny!

 

[Gerdo]

I just got in the parts I ordered to change mine over.

Looking at the picture above, it looks like if the sides were switched the TRE would be rubbing on the rim. Perhaps that is just camera angle. Im going to try to get my parts done this weekend and will see what kind of clearance there is putting the left on the right and right on the left.

It is far from the rim.

The L on R and R on L will not work. Don't even try it.

 

[opie74]

It is far from the rim.

I can see in your pic, with them installed in the correct sides there is ample clearance between the TRE and the rim. I was speaking if the sides were switched... Perhaps you were too?

The L on R and R on L will not work. Don't even try it.

Short of the threads not being compatible, why wouldn't it work? Looking at the geometry of your pic, it would simply place the bend of the TRE in the opposite direction, towards the rim rather than the sway bar mount.

EDIT: Im not talking about the ball joints, just the TRE.

 

[Gerdo]

I can see in your pic, with them installed in the correct sides there is ample clearance between the TRE and the rim. I was speaking if the sides were switched... Perhaps you were too?



Short of the threads not being compatible, why wouldn't it work? Looking at the geometry of your pic, it would simply place the bend of the TRE in the opposite direction, towards the rim rather than the sway bar mount.

EDIT: Im not talking about the ball joints, just the TRE.

Once you get your BJs on, hold up the L on the R side and see. I'm pretty sure that it will cause rubbing issues on the sidewall of the tires and put some weird angles on the inner tie rod ends/rack. They may work whith the wheels straight but now when turned.

INSTALL TIP: Measure the distance from the inner tie rod end (where the outer threads into) to the center of the OTRE mounting stud. When you thread in the new one, try to match this length so you can drive to an alignment without the tires squealing too bad.