Lifted + LBJ life

4

4racer

New member
Alright, so everyone is aware of the LBJ and replacing them as a maintenance item. From what I can gather from all the threads is most peoples LBJ were the originals. Most of which have 200K+ on them before failing.

With that said, has anyone had to replaced them more than once? What life are you getting out of them since lifting your 4runner? Just would be interested in the longevity once lifted.
 
Register to hide this ad
The OEM LBJ's without a lift will last considerably longer. I did exactly what you described, replaced my originals after they had 200 something k miles on them.

Since you're on a forum with thousands of lifted +wheeling 3rd gens, you should get an answer pretty quick, but the answer will also depend on how hard you wheel I'm sure.

I'm boring and plain ol stock :)

[MENTION=50342]JayRolla[/MENTION]
 
amalik said:
The OEM LBJ's without a lift will last considerably longer. I did exactly what you described, replaced my originals after they had 200 something k miles on them.

Since you're on a forum with thousands of lifted +wheeling 3rd gens, you should get an answer pretty quick, but the answer will also depend on how hard you wheel I'm sure.

I'm boring and plain ol stock :)

[MENTION=50342]JayRolla[/MENTION]
Click to expand...

Agreed. I would just be interested on any data and the type of off roading done. I check mine every oil change and I have a SS 1.2 lift on mine. I put new LBJ in when I did the lift. Rig has 258k on it and I figured it was time.
 
4racer said:
Agreed. I would just be interested on any data and the type of off roading done. I check mine every oil change and I have a SS 1.2 lift on mine. I put new LBJ in when I did the lift. Rig has 258k on it and I figured it was time.
Click to expand...

I was very lucky my stock LBJs didnt bust on my first trail run after I lifted it.

I have about 5k miles on my new LBJs.
 
My buddy installed a set and one failed within 10k miles. We dont know what happened. It actually broke at the bolt/thread and not out the socket and it was TQ'ed correctly we thought. Could have been installed incorrectly.

That being said how many people on here have hit 100k miles after being lifted? Thats the people we need to ask.
 
JayRolla said:
My buddy installed a set and one failed within 10k miles. We dont know what happened. It actually broke at the bolt/thread and not out the socket and it was TQ'ed correctly we thought. Could have been installed incorrectly.

That being said how many people on here have hit 100k miles after being lifted? Thats the people we need to ask.
Click to expand...

Interesting. Were they OEM ones or aftermarket.

I agree that it would be interesting to get information from people that have been lifted for 60K plus, which is why I started this, since there is not really any info past the initial failure.
 
4racer said:
Interesting. Were they OEM ones or aftermarket.

I agree that it would be interesting to get information from people that have been lifted for 60K plus, which is why I started this, since there is not really any info past the initial failure.
Click to expand...

It was Oem.
 
Timely thread, since I was getting on here to see if the small boot tears in my LBJ's means it's time to replace them again.

Qualifying background:
-3" lift
-replaced OEM ones with these from NAPA around 30k ago. I recall opting for the more expensive ones they had, but I'll have to check the receipt when I get home. I also replaced the OTREs at the time since we were in there and those were original too.
-I off-road about 4-6 times a season and it's never any crazy rock crawling or anything like that. Just sort of intermediate off-roads in Colorado.
-This was my DD up until about 4 months ago.
-Just noticed the boots are leaking this past weekend, and my steering has been reallllly squirrelly, so the two may be related.

So, I'm going to replace these with OEM, and take these to NAPA and hope for a refund under the lifetime warranty. I won't mention the whole off-road and lift thing.

I am definitely assuming that the lift puts more strain on the LBJ's just like it does to everything else. I'm kind of over that aspect of the lift and I really wish I would have paid the $400 more to just do a more modest TRD spring lift down an inch or two. Between CV boots and ball joints, it's annoying considering how little I actually wheel. /rant
 
Thanks for the reply. I have the SS 1.2 kit. Love the lift but I am getting another car for DD. I had to replace my axles after the lift due to boots tearing and did my LBJ at the same time. So Im keeping an eye on them each oil change to see how they are holding up. Im on OEM LBJ. With your steering, might also want to check the steering rack bushings, mine were shot and have since been replaced with Energy Suspension kit.
 
4racer said:
With your steering, might also want to check the steering rack bushings, mine were shot and have since been replaced with Energy Suspension kit.
Click to expand...

Yeah, oddly enough I was just looking at the Energy Suspension bushings on ToyTec's site!

Here's the thing with that though, I had the original rack replaced when I got the car about 70k miles ago, and the bushings were replaced too. I guess I can crawl under there and have someone steer while I look for excessive play, right?

Sigh, my list of things just got longer and doesn't seem to end (u-joints, lbjs, rack bushings). I just wanna go off-road camping already! I feel like the LBJ's and u-joints are the only must do's before I can go out, and the rack bushings will be next if the lbj's don't fix up some of the steering slop/squirrelly stuff on the road.
 
I'm @ same crossroad. Mine not really DD. Don't do heavy off road stuff (can't afford to break stuff, haha). My biggest fear is picking my kids up from school and something breaking. So, 2day ordered uppers and lowers from Camelback Toyota Parts. Total $256.30 free shipping. Thats upper and lower and 8 bolts. I looked @ AutoZone, they offer Rare Part ball joints. I researched the company seemed 2b really good product , but $40 bucks more each ($128 vs $88). They make cool specialized parts but 4runner LBJ looked same as stock. I'm pushing 310,000 miles w/ no issues. I'm thinking bad design is biggest problem w/ either OEM r aftermarket parts. My Steering good, tight (i replaced guide huge difference). Fig big tires, 3'' lift will wear them out faster. So, guess i'm doing for peace of mind.
 
I did the lift & LBJ's at the same time last May @ around 153,000. I only wheeled it hard once in Oct & have about 4000 miles on them. I also check them every oil change & they are fine.
 
so what seems to be the way to go on replacing LBJs? i just purchased my 4runner and its lifted with about 215000 miles on the clock. prolly the next install i do to it, then replace the radiator and install a transmission cooler
 
Yeah, these are how my genuine NAPA ones are doing after 38k miles. Disappointed and will be ordering OEM ones this week.
b997e5ee7d1287d4c2ed30ef30ede6b5.jpg


422bf426463dc2fe55ed639ac60daf2c.jpg


Crappy pics, I know, but the point is that the boots are torn and probably have been for a while. Not my DD thankfully but it certainly changed my plans to go off-road camping this weekend. [emoji36]
 
Rwhockey29 said:
Even though they had issues from the factory? I'm assuming the new ones have an updated design?
Click to expand...

Please note there is no "issue" with the ball joints themselves. Toyota went from Torsion bar suspension to coil over and did not swap the ball joint. There for instead of the ball joint being compressed, it is in constant tension.

Toyota OEM LBJ have been designed to last for a long time and hardened as well. It is considered a maintenance item and there for should be inspected periodically, especially if you have done any suspension work in regards to raising your vehicle.
 
Last edited:
atalarico said:
Yeah, oddly enough I was just looking at the Energy Suspension bushings on ToyTec's site!

Here's the thing with that though, I had the original rack replaced when I got the car about 70k miles ago, and the bushings were replaced too. I guess I can crawl under there and have someone steer while I look for excessive play, right?

Sigh, my list of things just got longer and doesn't seem to end (u-joints, lbjs, rack bushings). I just wanna go off-road camping already! I feel like the LBJ's and u-joints are the only must do's before I can go out, and the rack bushings will be next if the lbj's don't fix up some of the steering slop/squirrelly stuff on the road.
Click to expand...

Just do what I did and put it on jack stands in the garage for two months! Plenty of time to take everything apart, wait for parts, wait for the correct parts, order replacement bolts you broke, put everything back together, then order the parts you never knew you needed.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

Total: 206 (members: 1, guests: 205)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,309
Messages
3,554,071
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top