Official Lower Ball Joint Write Up Thread

[tpelletier]

So I am about to change the LBJ this weekend and noticed there are no nuts that came with the bolts.
The car has the original LBJ so are riveted.

are there no nuts ? does the bolt just screw into the brace or/and are you supposed to use loctite ?

thanks.

 

[Bad Luck]

So I am about to change the LBJ this weekend and noticed there are no nuts that came with the bolts.
The car has the original LBJ so are riveted.

are there no nuts ? does the bolt just screw into the brace or/and are you supposed to use loctite ?

thanks.

What is the year, make, model of what you are working on?
What part numbers did you order/receive for the lower ball joints and lower ball joint bolts?

 

[T4topher]

So I am about to change the LBJ this weekend and noticed there are no nuts that came with the bolts.
The car has the original LBJ so are riveted.

are there no nuts ? does the bolt just screw into the brace or/and are you supposed to use loctite ?

thanks.

The spindle has threaded holes, no nuts required.. some ppl use loctite, I can’t remember what the FSM says but I don’t use loctite I just torque to spec. Watch Timmy the Toolmans video if you haven’t already..

 

[tpelletier]

What is the year, make, model of what you are working on?
What part numbers did you order/receive for the lower ball joints and lower ball joint bolts?

2002 limited T4R

Bolts: 90119-10933

 

[tpelletier]

The spindle has threaded holes, no nuts required.. some ppl use loctite, I can’t remember what the FSM says but I don’t use loctite I just torque to spec. Watch Timmy the Toolmans video if you haven’t already..

Thanks, just needed that reassurance cause I didnt see any nuts in timmy's video.

 

[Bad Luck]

2002 limited T4R

Bolts: 90119-10933

There are no rivets. There are lower ball joint bolts (4 per side) that hold the lower ball joint to the lower control arm. Torque spec on those is 37 lb/ft. You can use blue loctite with them if it makes you feel better but it's not required.

 

[Panchro]

Does anyone know what grease is used in the LBJs? Can't find any reference to an OEM grease, looked through FSMs and too many forum posts. I have a small tear in a relatively new set of LBJs and I'd like to top off the boot with a little more grease before resealing.

 

[cl4Rk]

Does anyone know what grease is used in the LBJs? Can't find any reference to an OEM grease, looked through FSMs and too many forum posts. I have a small tear in a relatively new set of LBJs and I'd like to top off the boot with a little more grease before resealing.

I don't know what kind of grease. Hopefully someone else can chime in.

But I do have some questions for you, because I'm curious, and since these details might help other members:

1. Did you go with OEM? If not, what brand did you get?
2. How many miles, and what kind of miles (dirt, pavement, rocks, etc) before you noticed a tear?
3. How old? You said relatively new, but original Toyota LBJs routinely last 200k miles and 20 years...
4. How are you planning on resealing the boot?
5. Is adding grease and resealing a temporary fix until you get a new part in? Or do you plan on driving with the repaired boot?

Thanks! and best of luck!

 

[Panchro]

I don't know what kind of grease. Hopefully someone else can chime in.

But I do have some questions for you, because I'm curious, and since these details might help other members:

1. Did you go with OEM? If not, what brand did you get?
2. How many miles, and what kind of miles (dirt, pavement, rocks, etc) before you noticed a tear?
3. How old? You said relatively new, but original Toyota LBJs routinely last 200k miles and 20 years...
4. How are you planning on resealing the boot?
5. Is adding grease and resealing a temporary fix until you get a new part in? Or do you plan on driving with the repaired boot?

Thanks! and best of luck!

Yeah it's kinda crazy how hard it is to find out what Toyota is putting in there :crazy:

1. Yep, OEM LBJs
2. 178,000 miles when I put on new OEM LBJs. 226,000 miles currently, 90% street/highway 10% dirt roads/beaches.
3. Put them on when I did a suspension refresh in 2018, not a crazy lift either, new 99 coils, 5100 bilstein shocks (front at stock height)
4. I was planning on using Toyota FIPG sealant, Ive used it on resealing chunks in a tire in the past with great results, seems to work well with rubber since when it dries its quite rubbery itself.
5. I'd like to get a good bit of miles after the repair. No play in the ball joint. Though I realize that its not that hard to put a new LBJ in there either. So probably best to just replace the part.

Additional info, I believe the tear showed put when my alignment went out of wack a few months back. Caused some wear on my old tires, slight vibration at highway speeds. I've since gotten an alignment and new tires, no more vibrations and the ride and ball joint play is still as snug as new. Which is why I'm considering all I may need at the moment is a repair.

Thanks for your inquiry! Regardless of how I end up solving this issue, would be nice knowing and having the specs on the grease that goes in there.

 

[snydmax]

[MENTION=287207]Panchro[/MENTION] the upper ball joints come with a grease packet as you have to install the boot after pressing onto the knuckle... hard to imagine it’s different than what’s inside the Lower. Maybe you can find out what they furnish for the uppers


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[TacoBear02]

I recall seeing in the stickies that one could use Tacoma ball joints of the same year as the four runner. Has anyone done this?

 

[Bad Luck]

I recall seeing in the stickies that one could use Tacoma ball joints of the same year as the four runner. Has anyone done this?

Requires the use of Tacoma outer tie rod ends, and you'll increase your steering radius. I'm too lazy to find it, but someone cut apart a 4Runner and Tacoma LBJ and there wasn't much difference between the two. You'll be better off replacing the LBJ and LBJ bolts with OEM meant for your year 4Runner.

 

[TacoBear02]

Thanks for the quick response! I just purchased an 02 SR5 RWD for $5k. 1 owner female student. Just 100k on it, but needs a lot of attention: all bushings, ball joints, rear axle seals possibly front bearings and all suspension parts could use a refresh. Will be digging in to replace cover gaskets( valve cover, trans, and oil pan) also gonna do the independent trans cooler mod.

This forum has been a wealth of info!!!

 

[og80gt]

Just FYI.....

I've been trying to chase down the clunking I hear on the passenger front side when ever I hit bumps and when making left turns. First I changed out my LBJ's. Ordered the OEM recall kit: 04005-02235. Looked the same, so I threw them on. When I was trying to torque down the LBJ to the OTR, it wouldn't torque and the rubber boot on the OTR was FLAT AS F***! LOL. In fact, it was folded over! So I took a closer look at the part of the LBJ that goes on top of the OTR compared to the normal OEM one and the recall one is a lot thicker. This is my daily driver and didn't have anyone around to just go get relacements, so i just backed it off a little and put the cotter pin in. Drove it to work the next day, the clunk was still there, looked under the truck when I parked at work, and it looked like I ran through mud! hahaha. It destroyed the boot and splattered the grease all over the front suspension!

Next I changed the CV axles. Felt better, but the clunking was still there. Then I changed the Inner and Outer Tie Rods. Clunking is still there. This time when when connecting the LBJ's to the OTR's I only tightened down 'til I could put the cotter pin in.

The next weekend when I was changing out the Steering Rack Bushings, it looks like the LBJ's still pushed the grease out of the boots, but didn't tear them this time.

So if you're thinking about getting the Recall Kit, I wouldn't. Although it looks like the guy in the video didn't have trouble torqueing them down, I would just get the normal ones. I just ordered new LBJ's and OTR's so I can get these parts torqued to spec...

Driver Side Lower Ball Joint 43340-39465
Passenger Side Ball Joint 43330-39585

Anyone know what my clunking could be? LCA bushings? Wheel bearing?

 

[jgue467]

For the bump clunk, Control arm bushings look solid?

Never heard of a 'recall kit' - doesn't come up at parts.toyota.com, hmm.

 

[Bad Luck]

For the bump clunk, Control arm bushings look solid?

Never heard of a 'recall kit' - doesn't come up at parts.toyota.com, hmm.

Lower Ball Joint Kit (contains two lower ball joints) 04005-02235 | Toyota Parts
Comes with a left and right lower ball joint but does not come with castle nuts or cotter pins. It's the part number used for the 01-02 LBJ recall. I ordered a set before and they were identical to the OEM ones that I took off. No issues installing.

 

[og80gt]

For the bump clunk, Control arm bushings look solid?


Not sure! I haven't taken a look at them yet, but I only have 160K miles on it and has only been street driven so far....

 

[Scott5017]

lbj fail

witness my pain in gif form, consider myself extremely lucky tbh. OEMs already ordered.

 

[Devbot]

witness my pain in gif form, consider myself extremely lucky tbh. OEMs already ordered.

About as lucky as can be! Did the bolts shear or did the joint break?
Any damage to the fender?

 

[brillo_76]

How many miles on the lbj? When were they last checked for play? They diffantly are a weak spot...

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