spongerx
Member
I know there are a couple of tutorials on here but I thought I'd add another.
Here is a photo of the new lower ball joint. (Edit Aug 19th 2015. Do yourself a favor and get real Toyota parts. It's a lot better than seeing your truck on a tow truck a few years after installation.)
Lift 4runner and place on Jack Stands. Chock rear wheels. Remove front wheels and turn hub away from you for easy access.
This particular 4runner has a lot of underbody rust. I sprayed these areas down with PB Blaster the night before.
The Ball Joint nut and the four Ball Joint mounting nuts (three are pictured here).
I also sprayed down the outer tie rod end nut.
You'll need a tie rod puller. You can use a pickle folk also but you'll more than likely ruin any joints that you use it on so keep that in mind.
Remove the cotter pin from both the Ball Joint nut (on the bottom of the assembly) and the tie rod nut. A 19mm socket will be used to remove the tie rod nut. A breaker bar helps with badly rusted components.
Now put your tie rob puller on and remove the outer tie rod bolt (Changing out your inner and outer tie rod ends can be done at the same time. This will save you from getting two alignments and also keep your 4runners front end happy. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/102959-inner-tie-rod-removal-installation.html)
Using a 24mm socket, remove the Ball Joint nut.
Use a 14mm socket to remove the four Ball Joint mounting bolts.
Now we need to separate the ball joint. I used a pickle fork and a hammer but using the tie rod puller upside down works just as well.
Remove the old ball joint and discard.
Use a little Blue Loctite on the new mounting bolts.
Install the 14mm bolts by hand first before using your socket wrench.
Grad a hold of the ball joint assembly and pull it down so the ball joint bolt slides into the lower control arm. Hand thread the nut then snug it down with a socket.
Here is a photo of the new lower ball joint. (Edit Aug 19th 2015. Do yourself a favor and get real Toyota parts. It's a lot better than seeing your truck on a tow truck a few years after installation.)
Lift 4runner and place on Jack Stands. Chock rear wheels. Remove front wheels and turn hub away from you for easy access.
This particular 4runner has a lot of underbody rust. I sprayed these areas down with PB Blaster the night before.
The Ball Joint nut and the four Ball Joint mounting nuts (three are pictured here).
I also sprayed down the outer tie rod end nut.
You'll need a tie rod puller. You can use a pickle folk also but you'll more than likely ruin any joints that you use it on so keep that in mind.
Remove the cotter pin from both the Ball Joint nut (on the bottom of the assembly) and the tie rod nut. A 19mm socket will be used to remove the tie rod nut. A breaker bar helps with badly rusted components.
Now put your tie rob puller on and remove the outer tie rod bolt (Changing out your inner and outer tie rod ends can be done at the same time. This will save you from getting two alignments and also keep your 4runners front end happy. http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/102959-inner-tie-rod-removal-installation.html)
Using a 24mm socket, remove the Ball Joint nut.
Use a 14mm socket to remove the four Ball Joint mounting bolts.
Now we need to separate the ball joint. I used a pickle fork and a hammer but using the tie rod puller upside down works just as well.
Remove the old ball joint and discard.
Use a little Blue Loctite on the new mounting bolts.
Install the 14mm bolts by hand first before using your socket wrench.
Grad a hold of the ball joint assembly and pull it down so the ball joint bolt slides into the lower control arm. Hand thread the nut then snug it down with a socket.
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I'll edit them in. I got the LBJ from NAPA. I think they are 555 brand but they come in a NAPA box. (EDIT Aug 19th 2015. Get real Toyota parts. Not the 555 crap. Mine failed today. Luckily I was on a side street going slow)
