Need advice: do I need to replace LBJs on a 2000 t4r?

[Brian757]

Please attempt to do the LBJ's yourself. They truly are not that hard.
Go get a ball joint press and a three-arm gear puller. (You can rent both of these tools at O'Reillys or AutoZone or AdvanceAuto)

If you want to attempt it, I can provide a thread tutorial/pictorial. It isn't hard. Remember that you will want to get an alignment when your done.

All you really have to do it take off your front tires, unbolt the lower ball joints, pull it out of socket, put a new one in, bolt it back in, it will press itself once tightened to torque specs. One thing I wouldn't do is say to yourself, "Hey, while I'm down here, I miswell do my UBJ's." (you'll regret it )

 

[kenyansagi]

Haha yes I've heard the UBJ nightmares. Aight I'll give it a go and keep the mechanic as a backup in case I mess something up.

 

[Brian757]

Haha yes I've heard the UBJ nightmares. Aight I'll give it a go and keep the mechanic as a backup in case I mess something up.

True. Seeing as he is mobile, you wouldnt have to tow it anywhere. Also, you wont have to pay as much because youll have already taken everything apart.

 

[kenyansagi]

quick question - is Sankei considered oem for thes LBJs? seems I can only get the Sankei up here in Canada since most of those sites don't ship to Canada or involve PITA customs at times. I entered the part numbers you provided and i got this and it comes with 12k warranty upgradeable to 24k or 36k : https://www.autopartsway.ca/PartDetails.cfm?W0133-1621246/SNK

 

[kenyansagi]

actually i'm not sure whether the sankei part comes with the bolts etc. Maybe I'll just drive down to Blaine and pick them up in the US

 

[nissanh]

So I called the central toyota number provided on the recall online and they told me my vin# is not affected by any recalls, incl. the ball joint recall.

Does that mean mine is safe to not have to do asap?

I heard the same thing from the dealer. That mean the ball joint you have in your truck and mine is not the failing type ball joints. But if you plan it to replace, go ahead as it is almost 13 years old now. ASAP, probably not. How many miles in the truck?

 

[nissanh]

actually i'm not sure whether the sankei part comes with the bolts etc. Maybe I'll just drive down to Blaine and pick them up in the US

Senkei is not TOYOTA as far as I am concerned.

 

[kenyansagi]

I heard the same thing from the dealer. That mean the ball joint you have in your truck and mine is not the failing type ball joints. But if you plan it to replace, go ahead as it is almost 13 years old now. ASAP, probably not. How many miles in the truck?

I have 120k on it and it has close to zero rust. Also, judging from the normal tires it came with, seems the previous owner did not really take it offroad.

 

[kenyansagi]

Senkei is not TOYOTA as far as I am concerned.

i see, plus it will cost me roughly the same even if I go across the border to pick it up in Blaine which makes it worth it to get the OEM parts. Hopefully I don't have to spend hours at the border :driving:

 

[TheKorstjens]

Yeah i hear ya, the mobile mechanic i know has quoted $150 labour and I provide the parts so all in all about $350-400 incl. parts and shipping. Are you doing it yourself or stealership?

Yea doing myself. As Brian stated it is just too easy of a job not to do it especially considering what mechanics charge. I generally do all my own mechanic work tho. With a job this easy it is a good place to save a couple hundred bucks. Good luck. Dont forget torque specs

 

[PitbullRescuer]

quick question - is Sankei considered oem for thes LBJs? seems I can only get the Sankei up here in Canada since most of those sites don't ship to Canada or involve PITA customs at times. I entered the part numbers you provided and i got this and it comes with 12k warranty upgradeable to 24k or 36k : https://www.autopartsway.ca/PartDetails.cfm?W0133-1621246/SNK

Sankei is OEM, they make the OEM part for Toyota. Toyota doesn't manufacture the parts themselves, they buy them from Sankei.

 

[kenyansagi]

is it worth replacing the outer tie rods while i'm at it?

 

[I_bRAD]

is it worth replacing the outer tie rods while i'm at it?

I would (and did) then it's done and you don't have to worry about it. You're already doing half the work and paying for an alignment anyhow so you might as well spend the couple extra bucks and minutes and do it now. That also means you can use a picklefork on the old ones and not worry about damaging them.

 

[Brian757]

Trust me [MENTION=92354]kenyansagi[/MENTION], I got into it with a fellow member on here whether Sankei is OEM or not. We came to the conclusion that if they aren't, then they are of same quality.

 

[kenyansagi]

Ah thanks for that [MENTION=68576]Brian757[/MENTION] , I called the parts store and they also mentioned that they've never heard anything bad about Sankei

 

[cj80cruiser]

Ah thanks for that [MENTION=68576]Brian757[/MENTION] , I called the parts store and they also mentioned that they've never heard anything bad about Sankei

Id get OEM for peace of mind personally.

Look at these new sankei LBJs. This doesn't look well machined to me or maybe that's to be expected on any ball joint......I don't know but for ball joints I'm not willing to find out in order to save a few dollars.http://www.toyota-4runner.org/3rd-gen-t4rs/137415-ball-joints-sankei-555-moog-raybestos-poor-quality-design-flaw-my-findings.html

Also I would get 8 new bolts and use blue locktite on the 8 bolts. Torque these down to spec as well. There have been 2 members here that had their LBJs fail by the 4 bolts shearing off. Duos and Duhocky or maybe Pikeman but I think it was Duhocky.