Lower ball joint with attachment/bracket??

[playinthewoods]

Hi guys, I know there are a number of threads on the installation of lower ball joints. I am really liking spongerx's tutorial http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/103217-lower-ball-joint-removal-installation.html

As you can see in his first picture, which is of the new part - it came with lower ball joint pressed in the bracket/attachment. Is this only a 3rd gen or prior thing? Because when I called quite a few toyota dealers around here, they all said the ball joint is part of the LCA and is not sold separately and the bracket/attachment is a separate part??!!

I've also seen a few videos of lower ball joint installations - granted they are not on Gen 4's, and all the new ones they are putting in are ball joint pressed in the attachment/bracket already as one piece?? What's the deal?

I've ordered a couple of Moog LBJ's from Rock Auto. There are very different opinions on using Moog LBJ's. Some say they're crap and dangerous and some say they are just fine. I'll receive them in a couple of days, but from the pictures on their website, it looks like they are just the ball joint without any attachment. Does that mean after I remove the old ball joint with attachment, I would have to press out the old ball joint from the attachment and press the new ball joint into the attachment and then reinstall the attachment/ball joint assembly??

 

[sonerick]

On the 4th gen, it's a little bit different than the 3rd gen. Essentially you'll have to remove the cotter pin and nut, separate the bracket from the old LBJ, press the old LBJ out of the LCA, press the new LBJ into the LCA, then install the bracket, torque the castle nut and put in the cotter pin.

Edit: Forgot to mention, Toyota does not sell the LBJ's seperately, they only sell the LCA/LBJ as a unit. Aftermarket companies like Moog have started selling them independently though and I personally have not had a problem with the Moog LBJs I installed. When you order, you'll get the LBJ only (no bracket, as the setup is different on the 4th gens).

 

[playinthewoods]

Thanks for the quick reply. That makes sense! No wonder all stealers say the ball joints only come with the LCA as a unit! Wonder why Toyota changed the design - it seems the older ones are a lot easier to service.

I guess the next question would be is there a thread on here on changing out LBJ on a 4th gen, which would require pressing out the old and pressing in the new? Would something like a ball joint press from Autozone rental work?

 

[sonerick]

I haven't seen any tutorials but yeah an AutoZone press kit should do the trick. Make sure you go with the big one.

An alternative would be to buy the LCA and LBJ as a unit, I believe RockAuto.com has some good prices on aftermarket brands.

 

[d_clark]

The diagram in the first post matches a 4th Gen, where the pic is a 3rd gen.

Napa /autozone / rock auto both carry the lower ball joint, and the whole assembly. Think just the ball joint was $42 at Napa, where the whole assembly was $300ish.

I tried using the ball joint press from Autozone, but couldn't get it to work. One cup was way to small, the next was too large. The large one, when you started to tighten down on it, it had so much extra room it would just shift, and would roll over the top of the lower arm.

After tearing it apart, fighting it, I ended up buying the whole lower arm from Rockauto, Think it was $128 or so. On my to do list for this weekend.

The part from Rockauto had the same part # as Napa. Came with a new ball joint, and all new bushings already installed.

 

[playinthewoods]

Thanks guys. Pressed the old ones out and new ones in with O'Reilly/Autozone rental press and a correct sized spacer from Harbor Freight. Good to go