YIKES!!! ... this was kinda scary!

[artist]

Driving along, encountered a small bump crossing a Hwy, and CRUNCH!
Needless to say, I ended up replacing all the front ball-joints, one axle and a brake-line.
Researching now, I noticed there had been a recall a number of years ago on 3rd Generation vehicles due to a lower ball-joint issue. I'm now curious if my 1998 would've been part of that recall?

 

[having fun]

Holy shit, thank god you where going slow.

 

[artist]

Holy shit, thank god you where going slow.

Yes - I'm thankful I wasn't on one of our local mountainous roads, or cruising down the hwy at high speed - the outcome may have been quite worse.

What was sobering to me after the incident, was that there was seemingly no warning that something like this was coming - the front end was quiet (no clunking of any sort), and the steering seemed fine. :twitch:

 

[having fun]

Yes - I'm thankful I wasn't on one of our local mountainous roads, or cruising down the hwy at high speed - the outcome may have been quite worse.

What was sobering to me after the incident, was that there was seemingly no warning that something like this was coming - the front end was quiet (no clunking of any sort), and the steering seemed fine. :twitch:

They never do. I had SPC LR arms before, 25k on them. The BJ had so much slop in them, made me wonder if the next off road adventure, they would just snap. Have uni balls on now, easier to check them yet stronger.

Bottoms start making noises when going bad.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

They never do. I had SPC LR arms before, 25k on them. The BJ had so much slop in them, made me wonder if the next off road adventure, they would just snap. Have uni balls on now, easier to check them yet stronger.

Bottoms start making noises when going bad.

Huh, that's weird. The UBJ on my SPCs are fairly tight... I'm curious if they changed the design/construction over the years.

As to the OP, it's entirely possible the vehicle may be part of the recall.

 

[artist]

Huh, that's weird. The UBJ on my SPCs are fairly tight... I'm curious if they changed the design/construction over the years.

As to the OP, it's entirely possible the vehicle may be part of the recall.

...so, this long after the fact, do you think Toyota would still consider reimbursement on the repair? It's a 1998 which I purchased in 2004 with no idea at the time about any recall. I know it'd be a longggggg shot, but, ... :noidea:

 

[RS Dude]

I know there was a head gasket recall (mine got two replacements!) and a rear spring sagging issue recall. Check with your local Toyota dealership.

 

[having fun]

Huh, that's weird. The UBJ on my SPCs are fairly tight... I'm curious if they changed the design/construction over the years.

I know mine where the newer design(bushing change). I noticed when articulating, at full front drop, you can see how much of a stress angle is on them. Then you ad the rear twisting opposite directions. Probably no help on occasion that front wheel drop, hits boulders from the side, hits your rims when slipping into them. Good possibilities for failure.

 

[artist]

Well, apparently the recall only included 2001-2004 models :shrug:

 

[Hepar]

How many miles on it? I mean, it seems the vast majority of LBJ failures are either rigs that are lifted or rigs that have over 200k on them. Might be a price to pay for having a vehicle that is considered that reliable. Either way, mine has around 100k miles and I plan on changing them out soon.

You'll probably never have LBJ failure in an Audi because the odds are you'll never make it anywhere near 200k miles.

 

[artist]

How many miles on it? I mean, it seems the vast majority of LBJ failures are either rigs that are lifted or rigs that have over 200k on them. Might be a price to pay for having a vehicle that is considered that reliable. Either way, mine has around 100k miles and I plan on changing them out soon.

You'll probably never have LBJ failure in an Audi because the odds are you'll never make it anywhere near 200k miles.

You are absolutely right! In no way do I blame the Toyota product on this one - our 4runner has been a great vehicle for us... and still is, despite now needing some refurbishing. The runner has never been altered (lifted), and has mostly hwy miles on it (not an off-roader), but, at 295000 miles, :thumb3: the failure of certain components is not surprising. During a phone-conversation with Toyota, they assured me that had the runner been under a recall, they definitely would have still honoured it, even at this point (wow, good on 'em), but, the recall didn't start until 2001.

 

[Hepar]

You are absolutely right! In no way do I blame the Toyota product on this one - our 4runner has been a great vehicle for us... and still is, despite now needing some refurbishing. The runner has never been altered (lifted), and has mostly hwy miles on it (not an off-roader), but, at 295000 miles, :thumb3: the failure of certain components is not surprising. During a phone-conversation with Toyota, they assured me that had the runner been under a recall, they definitely would have still honoured it, even at this point (wow, good on 'em), but, the recall didn't start until 2001.

Almost made it to 300k with those things!

And just so you know, my original response was not meant in any way to come across as an attack or blame or anything like it. Was just pointing out some observations I've had with LBJ's. Most definitely glad it didn't happen at a higher speed and that you are ok.

 

[artist]

Almost made it to 300k with those things!

And just so you know, my original response was not meant in any way to come across as an attack or blame or anything like it. Was just pointing out some observations I've had with LBJ's. Most definitely glad it didn't happen at a higher speed and that you are ok.

...I know, and, I'll gladly take some blame on this one. Although I've (as far as I thought) maintained the vehicle quite meticulously, now in hindsight, I should have switched out the ball-joints a longgggg time ago. Like I said in the earlier post though, there seemed to be no indication in the performance of the vehicle that the joints were that far gone (no noise - no klunking) - but, lesson learned!

 

[Hepar]

...I know, and, I'll gladly take some blame on this one. Although I've (as far as I thought) maintained the vehicle quite meticulously, now in hindsight, I should have switched out the ball-joints a longgggg time ago. Like I said in the earlier post though, there seemed to be no indication in the performance of the vehicle that the joints were that far gone (no noise - no klunking) - but, lesson learned!

I think that is the tricky part. Is that it is so hard to tell if they are close to failing.

 

[Mgyver1]

Driving along, encountered a small bump crossing a Hwy, and CRUNCH!
Needless to say, I ended up replacing all the front ball-joints, one axle and a brake-line.
Researching now, I noticed there had been a recall a number of years ago on 3rd Generation vehicles due to a lower ball-joint issue. I'm now curious if my 1998 would've been part of that recall?

I hope you replaced the LBJs with OEM ones, otherwise your rig will look the same as that photo you posted in about 20k miles.

 

[96BladeRunner]

Good thing the damage wasn't worse! I've seen some pics where the fender and the flares were heavily damaged along with everything else. I should probably do mine soon haha

 

[atalarico]

Woah to so many things in the thread! First, definitely glad that you weren't hurt in that one. Second, definitely glad your Runner wasn't hurt worse. Third, almost 300k miles! That's awesome!

Just out of curiosity, does anyone know any more specifics about the head gasket recall? I'd loooove it if my 97 was never taken in and I could get that replaced by someone else!

 

[AZjake]

Bummer