Official Lower Ball Joint Write Up Thread

[OldRigNewParts]

New OEM LBJs going out after 20k miles?

I'm a little stumped on this. The first bit of maintenance I had done when I got my rig 26,000 miles ago was to replace my LBJs with new OEM ones. I've been hearing a strange clunking sound when I turn the wheel to the left for the past 6 months and have had a few shops look at it and none pinpointed the problem. Yesterday, I took it in to have routine maintenance done and the mechanic says that my left front LBJ is starting to go.

I'm not a hard core wheeler, usually traveling fire roads and maybe a few class 6 roads in VT and NH a few times a year. Did I buy a faulty part?

 

[RAD4Runner]

.
. 26,000 miles ago... Yesterday, I took it in to have routine maintenance done and the mechanic says that my left front LBJ is starting to go... Did I buy a faulty part?

26000 miles is awefully low.
You may trust the mechanic but you should verify. It's a simple procedure to check BJs, and do not require special equipment.
No suspension mods?

 

[OldRigNewParts]

26000 miles is awefully low.
You may trust the mechanic but you should verify. It's a simple procedure to check BJs, and do not require special equipment.
No suspension mods?

I replaced my LBJs when I upgraded my suspension to a 3" lift. I know adding a lift will put extra strain on JBJs, but I wasn't expecting them to wear so soon. I'll try to inspect it myself this weekend.

I haven't replaced my UBJs yet and they have about 226,000 on them, I'm beginning to suspect that they might be going bad and gave the mechanic the extra play that lead him to believe it was the LBJs.

I impulse bought new OEM JBJs and UBJs after I heard the news.

 

[kolelt]

I'm a little stumped on this. The first bit of maintenance I had done when I got my rig 26,000 miles ago was to replace my LBJs with new OEM ones. I've been hearing a strange clunking sound when I turn the wheel to the left for the past 6 months and have had a few shops look at it and none pinpointed the problem. Yesterday, I took it in to have routine maintenance done and the mechanic says that my left front LBJ is starting to go.

I'm not a hard core wheeler, usually traveling fire roads and maybe a few class 6 roads in VT and NH a few times a year. Did I buy a faulty part?

Jack up the wheel. Grab it at 12 and 6 o’clock. And see if there is play. Could be bad wheel bearing.

 

[RAD4Runner]

Yeah, a lift would change geometry and could strain the BJ more.
On 3rd-gen, UBJ less likely to fail because it does not carry vehicle weight.

On our first-gen the UBJ carries truck weight. I inspected that and found play so I replaced. The LBJ does not carry vehicle weight so I merely inspect it for play or leaking grease/dust boot. If no issue I leave it alone.

Jack up the wheel. Grab it at 12 and 6 o’clock. And see if there is play...

Also jack up the truck so tire hangs and is off the ground for about an inch. Use prybar to force wheel up and down, observe BJ's for play.

When we did this (https://youtu.be/njCvbHl1Fu8) on friend's truck we found play because of missing cotter pin and nut loosening up. After that was fixed, LBJ did not have play, but a few months later, it gave way. Fortunately it was on flat, straight forest road with no traffic.

 

[Rwm514]

I replaced mine a couple weeks ago. Not a bad job with all the info here. Thx!

 

[thatoneguy2-]

used the info from here to do this job in about an hour! thx for this!

 

[JKD]

Stupid question time:

I bought Genuine Toyota LBJ to replace mine (worn and leaking at around 182k) do they come pre-greased? (I am almost 99.99% sure they do)

The reason I ask is because a lot of grease seem to come out of the old ones as I removed them....

 

[mtbtim]

Stupid question time:

I bought Genuine Toyota LBJ to replace mine (worn and leaking at around 182k) do they come pre-greased? (I am almost 99.99% sure they do)

The reason I ask is because a lot of grease seem to come out of the old ones as I removed them....

Yes, they come pre-greased.

 

[Borsalino]

Bags were sealed, fortunately. $95 is right in there with the competitive online dealers, pretty easy to find them from dealers for around $97 plus a little for shipping.

They still have some left, $95 each with free Prime shipping.
RH: http://amzn.to/2wTKYod
LH: http://amzn.to/2xsC4OT

Hello guys, this is my first post on this forum and it's about the most awkward thing called Lower ball joints :nod:

It's time to replace mine on 2001 4RR.
I've read too many useful tips on this site, so according to them I am looking for an oem replacement.

I've found this as the cheapest so far
https://www.ebay.com/itm/TOYOTA-OEM...Runner&hash=item33dc6d1a58:g:eusAAOSwAaJaFrr6

Are there any other options?

 

[JKD]

Hello guys, this is my first post on this forum and it's about the most awkward thing called Lower ball joints :nod:

It's time to replace mine on 2001 4RR.
I've read too many useful tips on this site, so according to them I am looking for an oem replacement.

I've found this as the cheapest so far
https://www.ebay.com/itm/TOYOTA-OEM...Runner&hash=item33dc6d1a58:g:eusAAOSwAaJaFrr6

Are there any other options?

Those look like they ship from outside US. I went with AMAZON, which is a little more expensive:

https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-4Run...a:4runner&keywords=front+lower+ball+joint+oem

They are about the same price, after adding shipping from toyotapartsdeal:

https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com/Pag...ring-knuckle&Diagram=&PartNumbers=&PNC=43340A

 

[Borsalino]

Those look like they ship from outside US. I went with AMAZON, which is a little more expensive:

https://www.amazon.com/Genuine-4Run...a:4runner&keywords=front+lower+ball+joint+oem

They are about the same price, after adding shipping from toyotapartsdeal:

https://www.toyotapartsdeal.com/Pag...ring-knuckle&Diagram=&PartNumbers=&PNC=43340A

Many thanks :humble: I will buyfrom toyotapartsdeal.
I'm outside of USA anyway will buy one by one.

 

[HighDesert4Banger]

Itching to swap LBJs out, anything else look ripe?

If y'all could lend my your eyes for a sec... I don't have maintenance records from orig owner, but at 153k I'm thinking it couldn't hurt (while I'm waiting for the exhaust I bought to tide me over while I "save" for my lift

I was thinking tie rod ends same time. Here's the assembly ATM. Additional pic of major greasing it got last oil change. Hmmm, better grease everywhere than nowhere? Thanks for any suggestions

 

[JKD]

If y'all could lend my your eyes for a sec... I don't have maintenance records from orig owner, but at 153k I'm thinking it couldn't hurt (while I'm waiting for the exhaust I bought to tide me over while I "save" for my lift

I was thinking tie rod ends same time. Here's the assembly ATM. Additional pic of major greasing it got last oil change. Hmmm, better grease everywhere than nowhere? Thanks for any suggestions

That looks like they greased it and didn't clean the old grease from outside the U joints after it was pushed out...then it span everywhere after driving

 

[HappyHooligan]

So I think I'm going to get it done also with 146K on the clock. I had them "checked" and the shop said they were okay.

How much in labor from a normal shop should this run?

 

[mrfrogdude]

2nd issue in a year after replacing with Moog. First one actually failed on the trail leaving me stuck. Find this one yesterday after my elk hunt. [emoji849]

Does anyone know if OEM LBJ will fit into Moog lower control arms?

Mark

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

 

[AZBub]

2nd issue in a year after replacing with Moog. First one actually failed on the trail leaving me stuck. Find this one yesterday after my elk hunt. [emoji849]

Does anyone know if OEM LBJ will fit into Moog lower control arms?

Mark

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

The golden rule is NEVER use aftermarket LBJ on a 3rd gen. i think the previous 20 pages of this thread pretty much says that. And yes toyota LBJ would fit oem replacement lower arms from MOOG. It wouldn’t be a replacement part if it didn’t right?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sugjavier]

I know a lot of people like to order from CamelBack or ToyotaParts deal but I found that McGeorge Toyota is cheaper for me out of every dealership / online retailer (most of the time). Sometimes Amazon is cheaper cuz of the free prime shipping.

https://parts.mcgeorgetoyota.com/au...ont-suspension-cat/suspension-components-scat

Check it out and let me know if it is for you.
I've had good experience with this site.

 

[96RedRunner]

2nd issue in a year after replacing with Moog. First one actually failed on the trail leaving me stuck. Find this one yesterday after my elk hunt.

What's up with nut of BJ? did it unscrew or strip threads? where cotter pin go?

 

[heat]

I know a lot of people like to order from CamelBack or ToyotaParts deal but I found that McGeorge Toyota is cheaper for me out of every dealership / online retailer (most of the time). Sometimes Amazon is cheaper cuz of the free prime shipping.

https://parts.mcgeorgetoyota.com/au...ont-suspension-cat/suspension-components-scat

Check it out and let me know if it is for you.
I've had good experience with this site.

My hometown dealer (one of 'em, anyway). Yes, great prices, online only. you can't walk in and get the same deal.