You should replace your ball joints...

[NODNARB01]

Sankei was supposedly once an OEM manufacturer, but they are NOT OEM units.
A member here recently did a write up on a set he got, and he was very unhappy with the build quality. I don't think he ended up running them, and I remember the ball socket was so poorly made, it was scarring the ball as it was manipulated. I would be weary.
OEM is packaged in Genuine Toyota packaging, with a Toyota part number. Period.

Well that's a kick in the nuts. Bummer. I've got one side on already, so I'll see how it does but probably hold off on the other and buy new oem's and replace them soon then.

Got my new cv boots on and frame cleaned up at least. Now onto making upper arms.


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[Mark_BC]

So I got a nice 24" breaker bar from Crappy Tire for $20, the internet said it was $42. Gets good reviews. I managed to break free every nut / bolt fairly easily. The driver's side went all OK except there is only one castle nut that comes with the LBJ, and it is the lower one. The upper one must come with the outer tie rod, which I didn't have. OK, so I used the old nut. I'm sure it will be good for a while until I get outer tie rods.

I finished that side and I was home free on the passenger side and I was ratcheting up the upper castle nut and it just kept on going and going. The stud in the outer tie rod was spinning! So now I'll have to go down to the stealership tomorrow, hopefully they have OTR's in stock otherwise the truck's out of commmission out for a few days. I'd recommend doing at least the outer tie rods at the same time as the LBJ.

It's nice, this job was good justification to get a bunch of tools, now I have a nice set for future work. The savings in labour from the mechanic pays for the tools and more. Although what is my time worth?

 

[JBurt]

Try an impact to tighten up your castle nut.

 

[Mark_BC]

Try an impact to tighten up your castle nut.

It just spins the bolt in the the tie rod and there is no way of holding that.

 

[ZionXIX]

So I got a nice 24" breaker bar from Crappy Tire for $20, the internet said it was $42. Gets good reviews. I managed to break free every nut / bolt fairly easily. The driver's side went all OK except there is only one castle nut that comes with the LBJ, and it is the lower one. The upper one must come with the outer tie rod, which I didn't have. OK, so I used the old nut. I'm sure it will be good for a while until I get outer tie rods.

I finished that side and I was home free on the passenger side and I was ratcheting up the upper castle nut and it just kept on going and going. The stud in the outer tie rod was spinning! So now I'll have to go down to the stealership tomorrow, hopefully they have OTR's in stock otherwise the truck's out of commmission out for a few days. I'd recommend doing at least the outer tie rods at the same time as the LBJ.

It's nice, this job was good justification to get a bunch of tools, now I have a nice set for future work. The savings in labour from the mechanic pays for the tools and more. Although what is my time worth?

I had the same problem with my OTRE. The nut would tighten and then the whole joint would start spinning. I didnt know I was suppose to give the bottom of the OTRE a little tap with a hammer to get the metal to bite and then I was able to torque it down.

 

[theesotericone]

Although what is my time worth?

My wife asks me that question every time I need(want) to work on the truck. Spend time with her vs spending time wrenching. So, I make a lot of compromises. And I buy lots of chocolate.

As far as what my times worth? With $100 hourly rate at my local shops, I'd say roughly 100 bucks an hour. And that buys a lot of chocolate.:lmao:

 

[Mark_BC]

I had the same problem with my OTRE. The nut would tighten and then the whole joint would start spinning. I didnt know I was suppose to give the bottom of the OTRE a little tap with a hammer to get the metal to bite and then I was able to torque it down.

Thanks I'll try it!!!

 

[Mark_BC]

Spend time with her vs spending time wrenching.

Get her to help you and you kill two birds with one stone. But then she might drag you into some girly activity to even it up.

 

[shahsmerdis]

My wife asks me that question every time I need(want) to work on the truck. Spend time with her vs spending time wrenching. So, I make a lot of compromises. And I buy lots of chocolate.

As far as what my times worth? With $100 hourly rate at my local shops, I'd say roughly 100 bucks an hour. And that buys a lot of chocolate.:lmao:

I tell you, getting the car to someone to repair my car can also be hard.

Chocolates nice dinners.

but i tell you free time vs time fixing things was my battle in 2016.....

 

[theesotericone]

Get her to help you and you kill two birds with one stone. But then she might drag you into some girly activity to even it up.

Lol. I'll give you a quick story. When we first moved in together she wanted to hang a few oil paintings she'd done. She asked to borrow my impact to do it. Sure babe go ahead.

A few minutes later I walk into the bedroom to see her trying to screw in a drywall screw. She's holding the impact and pushing with all she's got. I walk over and say "Babe, the guns in reverse". lol

 

[mtbtim]

I tell you, getting the car to someone to repair my car can also be hard.

Chocolates nice dinners.

but i tell you free time vs time fixing things was my battle in 2016.....

My girlfriend says I love trucks more than her. Depending on the day, she's probably right. My truck sometimes gives me grief but not like my girlfriend can when she gets her panties in a wad.

 

[theesotericone]

My girlfriend says I love trucks more than her. Depending on the day, she's probably right. My truck sometimes gives me grief but not like my girlfriend can when she gets her panties in a wad.

Yeah man, I've gotten really pissed at my rig but it's never made me sleep on the couch.

 

[Mark_BC]

Lol. I'll give you a quick story. When we first moved in together she wanted to hang a few oil paintings she'd done. She asked to borrow my impact to do it. Sure babe go ahead.

A few minutes later I walk into the bedroom to see her trying to screw in a drywall screw. She's holding the impact and pushing with all she's got. I walk over and say "Babe, the guns in reverse". lol

Good she didn't use it in forward in drywall.

So I got er done. You have to squeeze the tie rod boot and LBJ together when the bolt spins, then it holds. Thanks everyone. Thinking I'll do the tie rods but maybe I'll wait till after Mexico next month, that will be another 6000 km.

 

[fire_walker]

Steering knuckle replacement?

New Member thanks for the add.
My Drivers side lower ball joint broke while driving on a dirt road, spent the night in my 4runner in pretty cold temps, replaced it on the trail with the help of some friends. And drove it to a mechanic to double check it and replace my CVjoint. Its been about a long year of feeling unsafe in my own vehicle. Recently replaced the left side again due to same noise I was hearing. Was made aware that in ball joint failures it is a good idea to replace the steering knuckle as well (the hole where the ball joint fits into), because it is weakened as a result of the failure. And the lower ball joints will continue to fail until this problem is addressed. I was wondering if anyone else has come across this? or has any idea how to replace the steering knuckle, looks like a lengthy process due to the face that the bolts seemed fused to remove it?

 

[Co4Fun]

New Member thanks for the add.
My Drivers side lower ball joint broke while driving on a dirt road, spent the night in my 4runner in pretty cold temps, replaced it on the trail with the help of some friends. And drove it to a mechanic to double check it and replace my CVjoint. Its been about a long year of feeling unsafe in my own vehicle. Recently replaced the left side again due to same noise I was hearing. Was made aware that in ball joint failures it is a good idea to replace the steering knuckle as well (the hole where the ball joint fits into), because it is weakened as a result of the failure. And the lower ball joints will continue to fail until this problem is addressed. I was wondering if anyone else has come across this? or has any idea how to replace the steering knuckle, looks like a lengthy process due to the face that the bolts seemed fused to remove it?

Every time another one of these is posted I start worrying again. I am truly glad you were okay but getting stuck up in the high country like that could be not so fun either. I just had my LBJ's done with OEM at 130k but I also do wheel this rig a bit so they get worked. I don't know about the steering knuckle but I'll be watching.

Any more info would be interesting....were they original LBJ's? Any idea how many miles on them? Have you wheeled the rig a lot? How much lift? Any warning signs? Etc. etc.

Also curious on the story getting out. Assuming no cell coverage so did you wait for someone to come along, hike out...? Just sounds like a good story. And I know doing it trailside would not be a lot of fun!

 

[blaze17]

You need to check for play by jacking up the truck by the front cross member to take the weight off the tires and let them hang. Then check with a pry bar at the ball joint itself. Your definitely not going to see 0.5mm by moving the tire up and down.

 

[shahsmerdis]

My girlfriend says I love trucks more than her. Depending on the day, she's probably right. My truck sometimes gives me grief but not like my girlfriend can when she gets her panties in a wad.

my gf doesn't say anything, just gives me death glare.

She is kinda right. the 4runners I take care of aren't mine per say, but family cars. I drive a 2013 subaru impreza, I just do oil changes and tires. Nothing much else other than that. so for me to choose time to fix someone elses problem vs time with her. Its kinda unfair. As long as they both stop, or a small repair that would save a lot of money in the long run, I'm starting not to care.


side note:
I actually prefer my mom's 4th gen over my 2013 subaru....I can unleash the 8 cylinders and not worry about the 'offroad' driving in NYC.

getting back to the thread, I'll probably replace the ball joints in the next 6 months. I forgot that it was 0.5 mm of play.

 

[fire_walker]

Every time another one of these is posted I start worrying again. I am truly glad you were okay but getting stuck up in the high country like that could be not so fun either. I just had my LBJ's done with OEM at 130k but I also do wheel this rig a bit so they get worked. I don't know about the steering knuckle but I'll be watching.

Any more info would be interesting....were they original LBJ's? Any idea how many miles on them? Have you wheeled the rig a lot? How much lift? Any warning signs? Etc. etc.

Also curious on the story getting out. Assuming no cell coverage so did you wait for someone to come along, hike out...? Just sounds like a good story. And I know doing it trailside would not be a lot of fun!

Going into more detail, Pretty sure they were the original ball joints. Third owner 200,000+ miles 2001, 2in suspension lift. (found out today on this forum that there was a recall on 2001 ball joints) Frequently went exploring on the trails in Moab which can get even the most experienced driver in trouble.
Noticed some noise while turning left for about a month prior to the failure, thought it was something else. All in all, not doing my research and being a dip#### is what did me in. :ybrick:
Postponed my MT. Church winter ascent and hiked 3 miles in the back roads of Idaho until I finally got service :hunter:
Called in a few favors, got the parts delivered to me and found out how to replace them. Waited 2 hours on the side of the road until helped arrived. The replacement went better than expected and the rest is history. So.... test your ball joints and don't put them off!!!!

 

[fourfive]

Noticed some noise while turning left for about a month prior to the failure, thought it was something else.

I know noises can be challenging to describe especially over the internet but was it a popping, grinding, metal to metal shearing, clicking, etc?

Any changes in handling, steering wheel control, steering wheel play, or issues with re-centering of the steering wheel after making turns prior to the LBJ going out?

 

[fire_walker]

I know noises can be challenging to describe especially over the internet but was it a popping, grinding, metal to metal shearing, clicking, etc?

Any changes in handling, steering wheel control, steering wheel play, or issues with re-centering of the steering wheel after making turns prior to the LBJ going out?

The only noise I noticed was a squeeking sound when turning left at slow speeds, which I passed off as my frame squeeking. No loss of steering or alignment issues, that i noticed, all seemed normal.