Suspension broke @ 75mph

97hb

97hb

New member
So I am driving home about 100miles away at 2am in the morning. Everything is riding smooth when I hear a pop and it pulls hard left almost into the median barrier. I am thinking the tire blew as its pulling hard left until I make the next exit about 1/2 mile down the road. Anyways I think the lower ball joint let go. Looks like the tire rubbed the upper control arm causing me to pull left hard. This is the first time the Runner left me stranded :( @ 208k miles. What do you guys think, is it the lower ball joint? I heard the 3rd gen guys upgrade to the taco bj. Is that an option for us 4th gen? Had to rent a uhaul cause they wanted $700 for the wrecker to tow back to Dallas. Uhaul cost me $180 ;) Thanks for any info
!
PS - Speed limit in Texas is now 75mph and 80mph in west Texas!
 
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It would be a total guessing game without any pictures. Generally if it was the lower ball joint the wheel would have folded out or under the vehicle ripping several things especially at 75mph. Mine happened at 5-10mph and destroyed brakeline, cv, fender. Post pictures and can tell what all is involved.
 
I can't tell too well from the pictures, but it looks like something happened to the axle. Its not sitting flush against the backside of the hub from your pictures. Not sure if that is the cause or result. :/
 
To me it appears that both ball joints are attached. It looks like a major wheel bearing failure to me. With that many miles I would get everything checked out.
 
BlackWorksInc said:
I can't tell too well from the pictures, but it looks like something happened to the axle. Its not sitting flush against the backside of the hub from your pictures. Not sure if that is the cause or result. :/
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I agree. It looks like your axle popped out which would explain all of the grease.
 
Yes for sure that is axle grease. The axle has a hole ripped in the cv boot now. I'm sure that I need a new one. Yes the LBJ and tie rods are still connected but I don't get how the tire is rubbing the uca? I am going to order both LBJ, both ties, a new axle and anything else I should look at? Thanks for all the replys guys!
 
97hb said:
Yes for sure that is axle grease. The axle has a hole ripped in the cv boot now. I'm sure that I need a new one. Yes the LBJ and tie rods are still connected but I don't get how the tire is rubbing the uca? I am going to order both LBJ, both ties, a new axle and anything else I should look at? Thanks for all the replys guys!
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You will know more once you pull the tire off and can see everything better..
 
03_4x4Runner said:
To me it appears that both ball joints are attached. It looks like a major wheel bearing failure to me. With that many miles I would get everything checked out.
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+1 to possible wheel bearing failure. With a lower balljoint failure, the tire shouldn't be able to rub up top like that... Unless something failed up top? Have you had any strange noises at higher speed lately, and written it off as a bad tire?
 
97hb said:
Yes for sure that is axle grease. The axle has a hole ripped in the cv boot now. I'm sure that I need a new one. Yes the LBJ and tie rods are still connected but I don't get how the tire is rubbing the uca? I am going to order both LBJ, both ties, a new axle and anything else I should look at? Thanks for all the replys guys!
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If the hub bearing is what supports the axle on the spindle and centers it. If the hub bearing fails then it could potentially tilt the hub in the spindle causing the tire to wobble and or rub.
 
It diffenately could be the wheel baring and hub. Though they usually make a lot of noise before the let go. As for the lower ball joints I'm pretty sure that 4th gens have a different style of joint than the 3rd gen that don't let the wheel come apart from the spindle like the 3rd gens. Let us know what you find
 
feel for you dude, glad you didn't lose control and you weren't injured. i've seen yoda's with 350K miles with no issues like this. i believe this would qualify as catastrophic failure thus warrant toyo usa looking into the failure. maybe even a free repair>as if< doesnt hurt to ask.
 
I want to put $20 on wheel bearing. Maybe broken shaft or axle nut backed out. In the bottom picture you can see the axle tight against the knuckle as it should be and the gap increases toward the top. Then the hub and bearing separated because the two are just pressed together. You would have to pull the wheel of to really know for sure.

Ball joints and control arms look ok.
 
^^ How the hell would you know? Do you own a 4runner? Seriously dude get off this forum, not only do we not want you here, but you also don't have a 4runner. Go find a R8 forum or something to go play on
 
Eastcoastrunner said:
wow. someone's hatin'!:sniper:
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Haaa, no kidding. He must have been the guy that thought that there was some relevance to his mileage and how long his battery was lasting. Sorry if I hurt his feelings.

Just for the record, I don't know what happened which is why I wanted to place a bet using an educated guess. I don't think anyone knows for sure because we can't see the other side. I do know the components pretty well having replaced wheel bearings and axle shafts on 4th gen 4 runners before. Yes I do own one and have since 2003. I have never claimed to be an expert.

It would be nice if the OP would come back an let us know. I am curious.
 
Sungod said:
Haaa, no kidding. He must have been the guy that thought that there was some relevance to his mileage and how long his battery was lasting. Sorry if I hurt his feelings.

Just for the record, I don't know what happened which is why I wanted to place a bet using an educated guess. I don't think anyone knows for sure because we can't see the other side. I do know the components pretty well having replaced wheel bearings and axle shafts on 4th gen 4 runners before. Yes I do own one and have since 2003. I have never claimed to be an expert.

It would be nice if the OP would come back an let us know. I am curious.
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The quote knight was talking about is below. He had nothing against you, but rather against ''Lexus LX
''. No worries.




Lexus LX said:
Lower ball joint failures and complete LCA failures have been reported more than once for 4th gens
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- Sent via Tapatalk for Android
 
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