Lower ball joints worn after one year?

[duffbeer911]

Does that seem like a pretty short life for my lower ball joints? I put in brand new Toyota LBJ about 12 months ago and now there is some movement in them already.

I am driving on dirt roads every other day. And maybe rough, 4x4, once a week.

Could something else be causing more wear on the LBJ?

thanks for your help

 

[nissanh]

Are you sure you got the OEM TOYOTA? Most other countries have fake TOYOTA parts sold as OEM toyota. The only place you can buy OEM toyota parts are generally the dealer/agent in your country.

 

[the great him]

no this does not seam unreasonable, these trucks were designed to spend the majority of their life on the pavement, while yes they are capable of off road use that was not what their design was, if you want a rig that can handle that kinda of everyday rigors look at a landcruiser 80series or lower, or a toyota hilux with a solid axle... i have had factory/dealer OE LBJs get some play in them after 2 years... so im now putting them on my yearly maintenance schedule... im sure you do a lot more off road driving that most of us here so im not surprised at this actually. i do a fair amount as well(being in SAR) -family outings and wheeling trips, and photography adventures ect. and being as though i have a lot more weight on my rig than most(bumper, winch, skids, sliders) im sure that adds to the wear on them.

 

[duffbeer911]

thanks guys for the fast replies. You're right that a lot of the parts out here are cheap fakes but the ones I got are original Toyota I picked up in Australia.

So, I guess maybe they are just worn quicker than most. I would like an 80series... but for now I think I must stick with the 4runner. 95% of the time it is great for what I do ... there have just been a few really rough tracks and water crossing when I wished I had something a bit tougher.

 

[LittleCaesar]

If the roads in Sierra Leone are anything like those in Liberia, then most any suspension replaced part can have a short life, OEM or not.

Check the rest of your steering as well as suspension parts to see if there may be another part that could have accelerated the wear.