LBJ 2000 2WD - Toyota Technician Advised 'don't replace'

[smyrna4run]

I've got a 2000 2WD 4runner with ~225,000 miles on it. Its had an easy life, never having been driven hard. Reading the LBJ threads - I felt like this was something I needed to replace just to stay ahead of it.

I spoke with our local Toyota Dealer, Marietta Toyota (GA). The service guy I spoke to said in 18 years he has never seen an issue with this in the 2000 model year. His advise - if the suspension is tight - don't spend the money. If fact - he said his mom as one with 450k and he wouldn't advise changing hers.

My question is this: For the fails - have there been any on a stock 2WD from 99 or 2000? I know there was a specific issue with the 01/02, so leave those out and the mods can put significant added stress.

Thoughts?

 

[MStudt]

:jaw: Not sure I would agree with his statement. I'd be replacing those ASAP is they have that many miles on them. It's a wearable part that should be replaced.

 

[JayRolla]

I've got a 2000 2WD 4runner with ~225,000 miles on it. Its had an easy life, never having been driven hard. Reading the LBJ threads - I felt like this was something I needed to replace just to stay ahead of it.

I spoke with our local Toyota Dealer, Marietta Toyota (GA). The service guy I spoke to said in 18 years he has never seen an issue with this in the 2000 model year. His advise - if the suspension is tight - don't spend the money. If fact - he said his mom as one with 450k and he wouldn't advise changing hers.

My question is this: For the fails - have there been any on a stock 2WD from 99 or 2000? I know there was a specific issue with the 01/02, so leave those out and the mods can put significant added stress.

Thoughts?

Most failures ive personally seen or had was after vehicle is lifted and usually are wheeled pretty hard.

But after saying that if you just type it into google you will see stockers with the failure. https://www.google.com/search?q=4ru...ved=0ahUKEwjbp_iN1aLKAhVJwmMKHf-NCTsQ_AUIBygC

 

[smyrna4run]

:jaw: Not sure I would agree with his statement. I'd be replacing those ASAP is they have that many miles on them. It's a wearable part that should be replaced.

The point on the LBJ being a wear item that needs to be replaced after a certain number of miles is the issue I'm starting to question. I believe the service manual simply says inspect, but never has a 'replace' proactively. If the issues was really that bad, wouldn't Toyota have this as a recommended maintenance item to actually replace and not just 'inspect'?

It seems like if this really was a problem for the non-mod'ed/non-recalled 4runners, that Toyota would be loud and clear on proactive replacement. I know a lot of folks on these boards have been burned with the LBJ's going.

 

[absalom]

I've seen two separate 3rd gens on flatbeds with buckled LBJ's in the last year, within a mile of my house.

They are a paltry $85 each, and take an hour to replace. Why think twice about it? I'll bet you a dozen ball joints that the damage caused to either of those trucks as a result of the owner's negligence, far exceeds $170.

 

[ajonesnv]

Most failures ive personally seen or had was after vehicle is lifted and usually are wheeled pretty hard.

But after saying that if you just type it into google you will see stockers with the failure. https://www.google.com/search?q=4ru...ved=0ahUKEwjbp_iN1aLKAhVJwmMKHf-NCTsQ_AUIBygC

To affirm [MENTION=50342]JayRolla[/MENTION] 's point you don't even need to type in 4Runner, just Lower Ball Joint Failure. The heavy majority of the images shown are Toyotas, with the majority of those 3rd Gen 4Runner.

Replace.

 

[JohnMc]

To affirm [MENTION=50342]JayRolla[/MENTION] 's point you don't even need to type in 4Runner, just Lower Ball Joint Failure. The heavy majority of the images shown are Toyotas, with the majority of those 3rd Gen 4Runner.

Replace.

Concur.

https://www.google.com/search?q=Low...2u4aLKAhXHpx4KHRkvDXIQsAQIHA&biw=1280&bih=909

For such a common part on so many modern vehicles, that first page of images has a lot of 4Runners and Tacos.

If it was a part that would fail catastrophically, sure, go ahead and roll the dice some. But the track record on these is often that they just fail with little to no advance warning. And it could cause a severe accident if it happened at speed on the highway. And even if you're rolling down your driveway at 5 mph, it's going to cause a lot of collateral damage if it lets go.

I changed them on my 4Runner at 175K miles. Better safe than sorry.

 

[snivilous]

The point on the LBJ being a wear item that needs to be replaced after a certain number of miles is the issue I'm starting to question. I believe the service manual simply says inspect, but never has a 'replace' proactively. If the issues was really that bad, wouldn't Toyota have this as a recommended maintenance item to actually replace and not just 'inspect'?

It seems like if this really was a problem for the non-mod'ed/non-recalled 4runners, that Toyota would be loud and clear on proactive replacement. I know a lot of folks on these boards have been burned with the LBJ's going.

The service manual also ends at like 150k I believe...

 

[jeremyc74]

To affirm [MENTION=50342]JayRolla[/MENTION] 's point you don't even need to type in 4Runner, just Lower Ball Joint Failure. The heavy majority of the images shown are Toyotas, with the majority of those 3rd Gen 4Runner.

Replace.

It's worth noting that most of the images come from this website, and a few from yotatech. The search engines love these forums, and since the term comes up so much here you get a lot of results. Personally I think the failure rate is a LOT lower than you'd think by what you see on these forums.

But with that said, they're cheap and easy to replace, and given the fact that the failure mode is so dangerous I'd still have them done by the 200k mark.

 

[StreetCreeper]

I've got a 2000 2WD 4runner with ~225,000 miles on it. Its had an easy life, never having been driven hard. Reading the LBJ threads - I felt like this was something I needed to replace just to stay ahead of it.

I spoke with our local Toyota Dealer, Marietta Toyota (GA). The service guy I spoke to said in 18 years he has never seen an issue with this in the 2000 model year. His advise - if the suspension is tight - don't spend the money. If fact - he said his mom as one with 450k and he wouldn't advise changing hers.

My question is this: For the fails - have there been any on a stock 2WD from 99 or 2000? I know there was a specific issue with the 01/02, so leave those out and the mods can put significant added stress.

Thoughts?

My truck was completely stock when the previous owner drove out of a gas station with about 345,000 miles on the original LBJs. The passenger LBJ said "f*€k-it" and gave up the ghost. No warning whatsoever.

The truck was completely stock and never saw anything but pavement. Luckily it happened when they were just pulling on to the street...instead of the freeway.

Also lucky for me — since they gave me the truck thinking it was just an old piece of crap. That was like 40,000 miles ago. :biggrin2:

Why chance it? Just replace them and rest easy...and find a new mechanic.

 

[Nelsonmd]

My Pastor had a bone stock 96 that suffered an LBJ failure while drivin ghis son to school. I don't know anything about there being improvement in the middle of the gen.

His failed LBJ had a boot with a small slit in it that I noticed when I worked on it previously, but he didn't get it replaced.

I'd say replace it anyway. Even if the metal isn't at risk right now, the rubber needs to also be protecting the joint without compromise, or else I'd say it's at risk. My Pastor's was totally tight, less than a year before it failed.

 

[Rock_Rat]

Replaced my LBJ's and Radiator for the first time at 309K. Neither of which showed any problems. It's a no brainer. Never even thought twice about not doing it. The cost to replace far outweighs the cost and the risk of not replacing them.

 

[homers eye]

When in doubt, Swap it OUT!

 

[s20004runner]

I am from Marietta, GA. Funny.

I was once browsing various auction websites for 4runners and you can see plenty of salvaged 4runners w/ what it looks like the LBJ failures (bone stock).

It's actively discussed in this forum, but I don't think the general population are aware. Insurance companies will write-off LBJ failures and the car heads to the salvage yards, so your technician will never see them.

 

[JayRolla]

I am from Marietta, GA. Funny.

I was once browsing various auction websites for 4runners and you can see plenty of salvaged 4runners w/ what it looks like the LBJ failures (bone stock).

It's actively discussed in this forum, but I don't think the general population are aware. Insurance companies will write-off LBJ failures and the car heads to the salvage yards, so you technician will never see them.

This is very true. When my LBJ failed and I called for a tow I told them what happened and asked for a flatbed. He asked about the damage I said none really and he freaked out saying they usually just total them out because of so much collateral damage on the body.

I had to sign a waiver before they would even attempt to get it on the flatbed. But they took there time.