Ball Joints

madbomber08 said:
It really doesn't matter what year Tacoma ball joints you ordered as long as they're in between the years 1996 thru 2000 (don't quote me but I believe those are the correct years.) All the front end parts on a tacoma were interchangable between these years so yes, 2000 Tacoma parts will work. I think I ordered the year 2000 or 1999 ball joints for my 1997 just because it felt "better" then if I would have ordered older 1997 components.

And as far as calling them about it, I would do exactly as you stated. Just go to ebay, pull a VIN number off of one of the Tacomas, and when the guy on the other line asks you for your VIN number, give him the Tacoma VIN. (He doesn't have to know it's not your vehicle.) From there, he navigated me to the part numbers I already had listed which provided me closure on getting the right parts. After that I said thanks, hung up, and hit the order button.
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I think 1996 was a split year for the Taco. But 4wd Tacos and Pre-runners remained unchanged until 2004
 
madbomber08 said:
It really doesn't matter what year Tacoma ball joints you ordered as long as they're in between the years 1996 thru 2000 (don't quote me but I believe those are the correct years.) All the front end parts on a tacoma were interchangable between these years so yes, 2000 Tacoma parts will work. I think I ordered the year 2000 or 1999 ball joints for my 1997 just because it felt "better" then if I would have ordered older 1997 components.
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Gotcha. I know I've gotten the right LBJs; not only do they look the same but they've got the right part # and the like. But the 'OTRE's' I have are obviously either radically different, OR they're not the correct part number.

And as far as calling them about it, I would do exactly as you stated. Just go to ebay, pull a VIN number off of one of the Tacomas, and when the guy on the other line asks you for your VIN number, give him the Tacoma VIN. (He doesn't have to know it's not your vehicle.) From there, he navigated me to the part numbers I already had listed which provided me closure on getting the right parts. After that I said thanks, hung up, and hit the order button.
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That makes sense. Thanks for the help. :)
 
Just for giggles, I used a VIN off a 2000 Tacoma SR5 V6 (Xtra Cab) on that site you mentioned (www.toyodiy.com).

I then plugged the part #'s for the OTRE at www.toyotapartsales.com, and got the following:

45047-39175 (left OTRE)
45046-39295 (right OTRE)

Just for giggles, can someone look @ this and double-check 'em? I'm 99.9% sure that these are the correct ones; have run both part #'s on Google and looked at the picture it tied to on both sides (LH and RH); and it's identical to what's posted on page 4.

Not sure when they open, but I couldn't get through on the # at this time.
 
Kung, just a heads up, the bend in the OTRE's is slightly different. When you look at them side by side they look a little off but they work. And actually, I don't remember if they both were different or just the right side one.
 
PitbullRescuer said:
Kung, just a heads up, the bend in the OTRE's is slightly different. When you look at them side by side they look a little off but they work. And actually, I don't remember if they both were different or just the right side one.
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The bend is different...between what? The 4Runner and the Tacoma OTRE's? Or between the left and right hand OTRE's?
 
Both actually. The OTRE's are left & right specific but if I remember right, the 4Runner Right Side OTRE had a slightly different bend to it than the Taco OTRE did. Not drastic but it is a slightly different shape. It made me double take before proceeding but it worked fine.
 
Many Many Thanks

I've just gotta say; YOU GUYS ROCK! :trophy:

I'm in need of some new hardware and I stumbled across this post while searching for better alternatives than putting back stock CV Axles, LBJ and Tie Rods. It looks like I'm next in line to switch over to the Taco parts and I'll be addressing my bushings and steering rack while I'm at it.
 
FINALLY got the correct (so far as I know) OTREs - exactly the same as the pic(s) in page 4 of this thread. Install scheduled for this Wednesday; I'll have 'em keep the old stuff so that I can see how bad the wear was and that sort of thing.
 
PitbullRescuer said:
Finally? Did you have a problem with those part numbers?
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Bluntly put, I don't know that my 'problem' can be blamed on anything other than myself. (Well, okay, I WILL say that Toyotapartsales.com does not exactly have the best user interface.)

Anyways, the part I purchased did in fact say 'tie rod end, outer, 95 - 04 Tacoma' and so on and so forth. However, it was most definitely NOT the correct part.

I'm not quite sure what the heck I have. LOL Trying to figure out if I want to just ship them back to TPS.com and take the 25% hit for restocking, or sell 'em on here if someone needs them. I'll probably just send 'em back and take the hit.

In any event, what I have looks exactly like what the picture on page 4 of this thread has.
 
Conversion Parts List

Before I get to work on swapping mine over I wanted your two cents on whether or not the following parts will work together to accomplish the swap on my '99 Limited. See any conflicts? What am I missing?

Parts List:

Steering Rack Guide - 4Runner OEM
45504-35031 - End sub-assembly, steering rack no. 2/ Guide sub/assembly) - Qty 1
90501-26074 - Spring(for steering rack guide)/Spring, compression - Qty 1
45524-37010 - Cap, Steering rack guide spring/ Cap, rack guide spring - Qty 1
90179-48003 - Nut (for steering rack guide spring cap/ nut - Qty 1
43430-35030 - CV Axles - Qty 2​
OEM Taco Parts
43330-39815 - RLBJ - Qty 1
43340-39585 - LLBJ - Qty 1
45046-39295 - ROTRE - Qty 1
45047-39175 - LOTRE - Qty 1
45503-39075 - ITRE - Qty 2​
 
Kung said:
Bluntly put, I don't know that my 'problem' can be blamed on anything other than myself. (Well, okay, I WILL say that Toyotapartsales.com does not exactly have the best user interface.)

Anyways, the part I purchased did in fact say 'tie rod end, outer, 95 - 04 Tacoma' and so on and so forth. However, it was most definitely NOT the correct part.

I'm not quite sure what the heck I have. LOL Trying to figure out if I want to just ship them back to TPS.com and take the 25% hit for restocking, or sell 'em on here if someone needs them. I'll probably just send 'em back and take the hit.

In any event, what I have looks exactly like what the picture on page 4 of this thread has.
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Yeah, I love Toyota of Dallas, I buy everything from them, but I always get the PN from other sources and order from them based on PN only. They have the same interface that most dealers use, and I hate it. The descriptions aren't very good and they don't show the PN's.
 
Mellow77 - I can check the P/N's for the LBJs and OTREs (Tacoma) soon as I get home, if someone else doesn't beat me to it.
 
Mellow77 said:
Before I get to work on swapping mine over I wanted your two cents on whether or not the following parts will work together to accomplish the swap on my '99 Limited. See any conflicts? What am I missing?

Parts List:

Steering Rack Guide - 4Runner OEM
45504-35031 - End sub-assembly, steering rack no. 2/ Guide sub/assembly) - Qty 1
90501-26074 - Spring(for steering rack guide)/Spring, compression - Qty 1
45524-37010 - Cap, Steering rack guide spring/ Cap, rack guide spring - Qty 1
90179-48003 - Nut (for steering rack guide spring cap/ nut - Qty 1
43430-35030 - CV Axles - Qty 2​
OEM Taco Parts
43330-39815 - RLBJ - Qty 1
43340-39585 - LLBJ - Qty 1
45046-39295 - ROTRE - Qty 1
45047-39175 - LOTRE - Qty 1
45503-39075 - ITRE - Qty 2​
Click to expand...

Awesome to have part numbers. I'm guessing it'll be hard to walk into a dealership and tell them you want some parts for a vehicle you don't own.
 
Kung said:
Mellow77 - I can check the P/N's for the LBJs and OTREs (Tacoma) soon as I get home, if someone else doesn't beat me to it.
Click to expand...

Thank you sir! I actually got these based on your research, some of my own and then a chat with my local Toyota parts guy. He's validated the #'s for me but of course can't be of assistance validating if it will all work together. Any help would be appreciated!

Gerdo said:
Awesome to have part numbers. I'm guessing it'll be hard to walk into a dealership and tell them you want some parts for a vehicle you don't own.
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That was the easy part believe it or not!
 
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Tacoma LBJs and OTREs are now installed on my 4Runner.

WHAT a difference. I thought it was fairly tight before - but now that the Tacoma parts are installed, it's so tight I can tell where the other loose areas are. LOL

Seriously, though, the guy asked me "What made you decide to replace them?" I told him that I'd heard from more than a few people that they tend to go bad around 130K or higher; and that considering the consequences, the cost wasn't bad.

He told me "Well, your instincts are real good." He showed me the original OTREs and LBJs (which I still have); and they appeared to be in fairly good condition. However.....the LBJ itself is VERY easy to maneuver, and there was some vertical play/movement where they connected. That explains the very slight 'looseness' I thought I was imagining when I hit a bump.

He told me that based on his knowledge of LBJs and OTREs and 4Runners in general, these may have had 10K or so in them. I then told him we were going on a trip to Virginia next week pulling a trailer, and he looked @ me and said "They WOULD have gone out on you then."

SO, I owe everyone who helped me out an ENORMOUS thanks. I'll report on these as time goes by. :)
 
lol dude 135k? i just ordered mine yesterday and i'm shy of 290k miles on the 4runner with original LBJ...

not hating on you zac lol
 
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