So, these are NOT permanently pressed in as the dealer would have you believe?
Replacing UCA's & Looking for Opinions/Experience
- Thread starter 340W
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Oneluv13T4R
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[MENTION=95189]340W[/MENTION]
Nope. NOT as they make it out no. Would they ever fall apart..never. Do they just come apart...no.
The only way they come apart is with a torch by heating up the metal around the bushing and pushing it out once the heat shrinks it from its bond in the metal sleeve. Super simple each bushing takea about 10 mins to heat,push out,clean up the inside metal sleeve and then slide new bushing with the provided lube using a c-clamp and bam your done.Now slap the whole UCA in which is another 10mins.
Instructions on this come with the new bushing set from energy suspension and I believe there's a couple vids on youtube as well
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Oneluv13T4R
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They definitely are removable. This is for the Lower ball joint, but the upper is the same idea.
Lower Ball Joint Replacement - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum
Lower Ball Joint Replacement - Toyota 120 Platforms Forum
I wanted to post an update to this thread, as I completed the work this afternoon. I purchased Moog ball joints and bought a spare set of UCA's from another gracious member. I had a local machine shop swap the new ball joints in so I could replace the UCA's as an assembly to save me time. ($30 well spent, BTW)
I have to say, this was one of the more intimidating, but surprisingly easy bits of maintenance I've done to the truck. You would think replacing a major suspension component would take forever, but I replaced both UCA's and took a test drive in under 3 hours. I don't have any special tools, a lift or any of those luxuries. This was done in my single-car garage with hand tools. It really wasn't difficult at all, and there's lots of room to work in our trucks. I didn't even need the pickle fork I bought for the job; I just hammered on the spindle and the joint popped loose. The new ball joints are great and the car handles much more stably now.
For those searching or considering this maintenance, take heed. Toyota will tell you the UBJ's aren't replaceable - "they're permanently pressed in." Horse crap. They quoted me $1500 to fix the problem. Yah ok.
Buy whatever replacement UBJ you want, tackle it yourself, and save hundreds of dollars. My truck has spent its entire life in the rust belt, and I didn't find anything frozen or seized. A breaker bar took care of anything remotely stubborn. Overall, I'm totally satisfied with the maintenance and sitting pretty with the fact I'll probably never have to do it again.
I have to say, this was one of the more intimidating, but surprisingly easy bits of maintenance I've done to the truck. You would think replacing a major suspension component would take forever, but I replaced both UCA's and took a test drive in under 3 hours. I don't have any special tools, a lift or any of those luxuries. This was done in my single-car garage with hand tools. It really wasn't difficult at all, and there's lots of room to work in our trucks. I didn't even need the pickle fork I bought for the job; I just hammered on the spindle and the joint popped loose. The new ball joints are great and the car handles much more stably now.
For those searching or considering this maintenance, take heed. Toyota will tell you the UBJ's aren't replaceable - "they're permanently pressed in." Horse crap. They quoted me $1500 to fix the problem. Yah ok.
Buy whatever replacement UBJ you want, tackle it yourself, and save hundreds of dollars. My truck has spent its entire life in the rust belt, and I didn't find anything frozen or seized. A breaker bar took care of anything remotely stubborn. Overall, I'm totally satisfied with the maintenance and sitting pretty with the fact I'll probably never have to do it again.
