Upper ball joint or boot vs. upper control arm?

[patrickdotryan]

Sorry for all the newbie 5th gen questions. I do search and read all the other threads before posting though!

On the new-to-us 2015 Limited, the pre purchase inspection also turned up one leaking upper ball joint boot. I assumed I’d just replace the ball joint - Toyota cheap and easy right? Wrong!

If I understand it, on the stock, un-lifted trucks, the upper ball joint is not replaceable on its own, right?

From what I read, the whole upper control arm needs to be replaced at $300 a side (OEM). That is NOT in our budget. Neither is new after market UCAs.

Question is, if the joint doesn’t have any play, am I OK to buy new boots, clean them up, grease them and put on the new boots?

I’d like to do this (and new shocks from another thread) while the car is still with me in California, before I send it to my daughter in Michigan and it gets coated in wool wax lanolin grease to keep the next two winters salt at bay.


Thanks!

 

[CutthroatSlam]

Sorry for all the newbie 5th gen questions. I do search and read all the other threads before posting though!

On the new-to-us 2015 Limited, the pre purchase inspection also turned up one leaking upper ball joint boot. I assumed I’d just replace the ball joint - Toyota cheap and easy right? Wrong!

If I understand it, on the stock, un-lifted trucks, the upper ball joint is not replaceable on its own, right?

From what I read, the whole upper control arm needs to be replaced at $300 a side (OEM). That is NOT in our budget. Neither is new after market UCAs.

Question is, if the joint doesn’t have any play, am I OK to buy new boots, clean them up, grease them and put on the new boots?

I’d like to do this (and new shocks from another thread) while the car is still with me in California, before I send it to my daughter in Michigan and it gets coated in wool wax lanolin grease to keep the next two winters salt at bay.


Thanks!

They sell replacement upper ball joints. They are a press to fit with C-Clip. Toyota just sells the complete UCA with ball joint. I have never rebooted a ball joint, but you can. Only do it if the grease has not been contaminated.

You can get the Toyota UCAs for cheaper than $300 online. Try Lithia Toyota Parts online.

 

[Ctrulock]

You can absolutely rebuild the boot on a ball joint as long as the actual joint isn't damaged. I find it easiest to take the entire uca off and clean off old grease then regrease and install new boot. Re install the uca and good as new.

 

[patrickdotryan]

They sell replacement upper ball joints. They are a press to fit with C-Clip.

. Thanks, that is great. What brand are these and who sells them? This sounds like a good solution.

 

[patrickdotryan]

You can absolutely rebuild the boot on a ball joint as long as the actual joint isn't damaged. I find it easiest to take the entire uca off and clean off old grease then regrease and install new boot. Re install the uca and good as new.

Thank you. This sounds like a good plan if I can’t find the replacement ball joints on my. I need to pull stuff apart to the the x-reas delete, so that would be the time to do this.

 

[CutthroatSlam]

I would stick to ball joints by Moog, Mevotech (higher end version from Napa) and AC Delco.

 

[1000MPH]

Did you confirm the boot is damaged? All of my joints ooze grease and have been for 5+ years. I bought replacement outer tire rods because those were the first to show signs but they’re still sitting unused in a box until I really need them. Everything, suspension wise, still feels tight to me.

 

[patrickdotryan]

Great info both, thank you. I have not gotten my hands on the truck yet, I am solely going off the very thorough pre-purchase inspection. I am being overly conservative because once I send the truck to my daughter in Michigan, I won’t have eyes on it!

Thanks for all the help. Patrick