LBJ boots tearing

spongerx

spongerx

Member
Just installed new Toyota Lower Ball Joints. When I tightened the bottom nut to 105 the boots were really bulging. As soon as I started driving a lot of the grease started coming out and about a week later the boots were torn. Any ideas?
 
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As far as suspension goes I was taught the suspension has to be under load when you torque it down otherwise you risk tearing boots, bushings etc.

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Both sides? I have installed some (non OEM) where there was too much grease pre loaded in them before but such occurs more on tie rods for some reason.
 
Yeah, both sides. IT's a concern. I've had my LBJs fail in the past and we all know what happens then :bash:
 
FWIW my OEM lower ball joints and outer tie rod ends started shooting grease within a month or so. I also had the same issue with my new upper ball joints that where oem before going to SPC arms.

I also had an oem upper ball joint get play in less than a year and would not align. My buddy had an oem lower ball joint fail in a few months after install.
 
That is really strange. I had my wheels off and the truck supported on jack stands on the frame and had no problems with the grease squeezing out or torn boots. Something isn't adding up here. I did notice the boot was a little extended on the shaft and compresses down when you install it. Maybe it's a simple case where the boots were overloaded with grease and enough grease wasn't able to escape to lessen the pressure and the boots split because of it. I'd remove them, and ask about getting them warrantied.
 
mtbtim said:
That is really strange. I had my wheels off and the truck supported on jack stands on the frame and had no problems with the grease squeezing out or torn boots. Something isn't adding up here. I did notice the boot was a little extended on the shaft and compresses down when you install it. Maybe it's a simple case where the boots were overloaded with grease and enough grease wasn't able to escape to lessen the pressure and the boots split because of it. I'd remove them, and ask about getting them warrantied.
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Only issue with getting warranty on OEM parts is last time I tried dealer wanted the shop that installed them, mileage installed, mileage when failed and invoice of who did the work. Needless to say I just paid $30 for another OEM ball joint.
 
GrassFed said:
As far as suspension goes I was taught the suspension has to be under load when you torque it down otherwise you risk tearing boots, bushings etc.

Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

This makes good sense, but I think my suspension was hanging when I did mine last. I had problems with the 4 LBJ bolts (one old bolt snapped), but not with the boot leaking when torquing the ball joint bolt.

mtbtim said:
That is really strange. I had my wheels off and the truck supported on jack stands on the frame and had no problems with the grease squeezing out or torn boots. Something isn't adding up here. I did notice the boot was a little extended on the shaft and compresses down when you install it. Maybe it's a simple case where the boots were overloaded with grease and enough grease wasn't able to escape to lessen the pressure and the boots split because of it. I'd remove them, and ask about getting them warrantied.
Click to expand...

I think getting them warrantied is going to be tough. Both LBJs failed, when installed by a non-Toyota tech.
 
I did both of my LBJ's last April & they're still good. Tightened them in the air & torqued them with tires on the ground.
 
Anybody know where to get LBJ boots? I've been looking on the ol' interwebs and can't find any. I've got some time off work next week and want to tear into the LDJs and replace my cv boots that are also tearing...

If I can find some boots I'll try the tighten in the air and torque on the ground method.
 
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One thought. Could the spindle opening be too big (from a previous LBJ failure) and allowing the LBJ to recess in the bore too far? Just throwing that out there.
 
spongerx said:
Anybody know where to get LBJ boots? I've been looking on the ol' interwebs and can't find any. I've got some time off work next week and want to tear into the LDJs and replace my cv boots that are also tearing...

If I can find some boots I'll try the tighten in the air and torque on the ground method.
Click to expand...

If you're referring to the rubber cover/dust boot around the ball joint the pn is 43346-60011.
 
The problem is I wasn't able to fit a torque wrench on the castle nut once the car was back on the tires. I had to torque in the air. With the little I know, I thought that was a pretty agreeable practice.
 
Someone just posted a picture of his aftermarket control arm breaking in half. In would think about rebuilding the stock control arms and swapping them back on.
 
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