Spherical bearing replacement - is there a 'how-to'?

[ahtoxa11]

So I've been having rattling noises from the rear axle when hitting broken pavement. Narrowed it down to the spherical bearings when holding the rod end while someone bounces on the rear bumper hard. Hands feel the clunk in the shocks (both rears, driver is worse).

I couldn't find a good how-to for the spherical bearing replacement -- specifically for the rear.

I know they are held by c-clips, but what other tools do I need? I am a super-shadetree mech and only have standard tools. No press or anything. Can I do these myself? Is there anything else I should consider outside of the spherical bearings to be making this noise? I'm pretty sure it's the shocks because the clunk is not felt in the frame or other suspension components such as the trailing arm.

 

[Jeremy556]

The lower shock spherical bearings wear out all the time, much more so if you expose them to road salt. Definitely start there, especially if those are the only suspension mods you have.

Remove shock. Remove snap rings from both sides, put a socket near the same size as the OD of the bearing in and smack it with a hammer to remove. Reinstall 1 snap ring, coat new bearing outer edge in grease and tap it in gently with the same socket, then install the 2nd snap ring.

This is regular maintenance on race shocks. Not sure on Kings, but on mine the bearings are COM10T and can be purchased cheap at Summit. I have a drawer full of them.

 

[BorotHex]

Took me forever to figure out that a spherical bearing is a Heim joint. Carry on.

 

[ahtoxa11]

The lower shock spherical bearings wear out all the time, much more so if you expose them to road salt. Definitely start there, especially if those are the only suspension mods you have.

Remove shock. Remove snap rings from both sides, put a socket near the same size as the OD of the bearing in and smack it with a hammer to remove. Reinstall 1 snap ring, coat new bearing outer edge in grease and tap it in gently with the same socket, then install the 2nd snap ring.

This is regular maintenance on race shocks. Not sure on Kings, but on mine the bearings are COM10T and can be purchased cheap at Summit. I have a drawer full of them.

Thanks, man. I got the part numbers from King, though I'm not sure whether they are or aren't the same as the ones you listed below. I'll just order what King told me.

I've got about 12k miles on my Kings now, so I'm not surprised that they wore out. Lots of miles in the dusty CO trails, so yeah. I'll be ordering front and back (different according to King) and just doing all of them -- the upper and lower on the fronts and lowers on the rears. Might have to get a shop to do it since I don't want to pull the coilovers.

 

[honda250xtitan]

Took me forever to figure out that a spherical bearing is a Heim joint. Carry on.

it happens :hiding:

 

[nb rob]

Is there anything else I should consider outside of the spherical bearings to be making this noise?

I replaced my spherical bearings, and I still had the clunk you described. I found it in the exact same way.

On my truck, there is a tiny amount of slop on the rear post that the misalignment spacer attaches to. When the lower bolt is tightened completely, there is still room for the shock to rattle around on that post. It damn near drove me crazy.

The solution was to add a shim washer. I posted a photo on here at one time, but I can't remember where.

edit: found it
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3436714-post145.html

 

[ahtoxa11]

I replaced my spherical bearings, and I still had the clunk you described. I found it in the exact same way.

On my truck, there is a tiny amount of slop on the rear post that the misalignment spacer attaches to. When the lower bolt is tightened completely, there is still room for the shock to rattle around on that post. It damn near drove me crazy.

The solution was to add a shim washer. I posted a photo on here at one time, but I can't remember where.

edit: found it
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3436714-post145.html

I actually remember this post of yours, which was helpful -- thank you. Months ago I had a very light clunk from driver rear and I actually got these washers and installed them, but the noise didn't go away.

I have a strong suspicion that the noise back then was the start of the slop in the sphericals. Back then, I only heard it when under the vehicle right next to the shock - I didn't hear it all that much bouncing on the back bumper. Now, though, the clunk is VERY audible when doing the bumper bounce. It's also very audible when going over long stretches of broken pavement, which was NOT the case before.

At first I thought my spare was loose or something -- sounds like I have a metal toolbox back there -- but I'm pretty sure it's the sphericals just being worn out. I thought I even saw the play in the joint, but I didn't have much time to look at it as my neighbor getting tired of bouncing my bumper. Haha.

 

[ahtoxa11]

I replaced my spherical bearings, and I still had the clunk you described. I found it in the exact same way.

On my truck, there is a tiny amount of slop on the rear post that the misalignment spacer attaches to. When the lower bolt is tightened completely, there is still room for the shock to rattle around on that post. It damn near drove me crazy.

The solution was to add a shim washer. I posted a photo on here at one time, but I can't remember where.

edit: found it
https://www.toyota-4runner.org/3436714-post145.html

One more question -- where exactly did you mount that washer? When I was following your post months ago, I can't say I was sure of how exactly you installed it. Memory is hazy, but I recall there wasn't really two ways to do it either, but I wanted to confirm. I'll investigate that again just in case.

 

[nb rob]

One more question -- where exactly did you mount that washer? When I was following your post months ago, I can't say I was sure of how exactly you installed it. Memory is hazy, but I recall there wasn't really two ways to do it either, but I wanted to confirm. I'll investigate that again just in case.

The sphericals definitely wear out and require replacement, so your next move is a good one in my opinion.

For mounting the shin washer; I completely removed my bottom bearing and misalignment spacer from the post on the axle, added the shim washer, and then mounted the shock on the post again.

Originally I popped the washer in and held it in place with a dab of brake pad adhesive—- I just wanted to see if it would work. Then I left it that way for a while because I was happy to have a silent suspension.
Eventually I popped the shock off and put the spacer on first, followed by the shock. Which is the way I would recommend, if only to not lose the spacer during maintenance.

I hope you get it sorted out. New bearings are always awesome. I just figured I’d throw that shim idea out there— too bad it didn’t solve the problem

 

[honda250xtitan]

The sphericals definitely wear out and require replacement, so your next move is a good one in my opinion.

For mounting the shin washer; I completely removed my bottom bearing and misalignment spacer from the post on the axle, added the shim washer, and then mounted the shock on the post again.

Originally I popped the washer in and held it in place with a dab of brake pad adhesive—- I just wanted to see if it would work. Then I left it that way for a while because I was happy to have a silent suspension.
Eventually I popped the shock off and put the spacer on first, followed by the shock. Which is the way I would recommend, if only to not lose the spacer during maintenance.

I hope you get it sorted out. New bearings are always awesome. I just figured I’d throw that shim idea out there— too bad it didn’t solve the problem

this sounds similar to the washer Fox sent with my 2.0's. totally different as theyre bushing bottom but still. maybe the toyota post is a odd ball size so king/fox etc either ignore that or send an extra washer to make up for that.