Lower Ball Joint replacement or dust boot replacement help?

[dot_tom]

After a few days of searching, searching, and searching I have decided to make a post about this. If someone has the link to a thread I missed, I do apologize and will appreciate being linked to said thread.

Now, I have 2017 4R TRDOR. I've had the front suspension off a couple of times and I am an idiot. I've managed to tear both lower ball joint dust covers. Recently I have noticed a popping sound coming from the passenger side. While looking for potential causes I came across the ball joint dust cover issues.

I know what I did wrong to cause this and have learned a valuable lesson. Now I need to know part #'s and options to fixing. Whether it is replacing the dust cover or the entire ball joint. I noticed some people have mentioned the entire lower control arm? This is crazy. I have a giant press and have always done my own wheels bearings, studs, and ball joints.

Seems like 4th gen 4R's are a simple replacement. What do we do for the 5th gen? Is the MOOG LBJ a good replacement?

Hopefully, we can get some solid info here or at least sticky the thread that MIGHT be in existence already for 5th gens.

***NOT MY ACTUAL PIC***

 

[Jeremy556]

Toyota part number 4334569025. IIRC, most places says it doesn't fit the 5th gen, but it does, both of my LBJ boots are those. As far as I know, Toyota doesn't sell just the joint, only the entire LCA. Even with a press, not worth the time and effort for most people to bother with when an OEM LCA is under $400. You also get new bushings. I wouldn't use Moog ball joints, personally.

 

[dot_tom]

Toyota part number 4334569025. IIRC, most places says it doesn't fit the 5th gen, but it does, both of my LBJ boots are those. As far as I know, Toyota doesn't sell just the joint, only the entire LCA. Even with a press, not worth the time and effort for most people to bother with when an OEM LCA is under $400. You also get new bushings. I wouldn't use Moog ball joints, personally.

Perfect, I'll order two of those boots and see how it does! Thanks for the help. Didn't know OEM LC's were under $400.

 

[enapa]

Perfect, I'll order two of those boots and see how it does! Thanks for the help. Didn't know OEM LC's were under $400.

Im no expert, but i dont see how replacing a boot would help here. Wouldnt the popping noise be from the lbj starting to fail from dirt getting in from the boot being torn?

 

[dot_tom]

Im no expert, but i dont see how replacing a boot would help here. Wouldnt the popping noise be from the lbj starting to fail from dirt getting in from the boot being torn?

Normally I would agree. My research turned up a lot of 4th gen info. Seems like those guys have gotten lucky at times just swapping boots. Ill slap two new boots on and fresh grease. If that does not fix the problem, yes, replacing the whole LCA will be the route I would have to go.

 

[toycan]

I also have a torn dust cover on the passenger side lower control arm ball joint of my 2010 T4R SR5 4.0 4wd.

Any suggestions or links to replacement instructions for just the ball joint, or for the entire lower control arm?

Anyone have the torque specs for this job?

There's lots of info on the older generations, but I'm not seeing the instructions for the gen 5.

 

[catrains]

well it appears with what your posting you are guessing on the ball joints being the problem ..

extremely easy to check for ball joint wear. could be with what you did you damaged a bushing or ???

 

[dot_tom]

Toyota part number 4334569025. IIRC, most places says it doesn't fit the 5th gen, but it does, both of my LBJ boots are those. As far as I know, Toyota doesn't sell just the joint, only the entire LCA. Even with a press, not worth the time and effort for most people to bother with when an OEM LCA is under $400. You also get new bushings. I wouldn't use Moog ball joints, personally.

Replaced my torn dust covers with this part#. Worked perfect. Greased them up and the popping is gone! Might have dodged a bullet on this one. Thanks for the help!

 

[WizrdSleevz]

I have a torn dust cover on my 2017 that I plan to replace the boot on... I'm curious, what grease did you use, and how extensive is the process? It has just shy of 150k miles, so I was considering just replacing the control arms.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

I just replaced LCAs on our 2014. OEM were $270 each after 26% discount plus free shipping.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Toyota part number 4334569025. IIRC, most places says it doesn't fit the 5th gen, but it does, both of my LBJ boots are those. As far as I know, Toyota doesn't sell just the joint, only the entire LCA. Even with a press, not worth the time and effort for most people to bother with when an OEM LCA is under $400. You also get new bushings. I wouldn't use Moog ball joints, personally.

I find it interesting that Chevy truck guys swear by Moog ball joints (including myself), yet Toyota guys hate Moog. Tell me that you also only use WS transmission fluid.

 

[02SE]

I find it interesting that Chevy truck guys swear by Moog ball joints (including myself), yet Toyota guys hate Moog. Tell me that you also only use WS transmission fluid.

Moog, isn't what it used to be.

 

[WizrdSleevz]

I just replaced LCAs on our 2014. OEM were $270 each after 26% discount plus free shipping.

Yeah, that's the route I opted to go too.. I cancelled my boot order, which was around $40 and bought both control arms (OEM) for $400 shipped. 4runner has 150k miles, it's probably better to just do all of my suspension work now as much as I don't want to.

 

[rdruss]

You can use anything on a Chevy, it doesn't care.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

You can use anything on a Chevy, it doesn't care.

Well there is that.