Lower Ball Joint Bolts

I just installed a new lower ball joint on my driver’s side. One of the four bolts that fasten it keeps spinning even though there’s some amount of resistance. Do you think I stripped the threads?

 

Yeah it's probably stripped. It is most likely your bolt. Pull it out and take a look at the threads. Make sure you are torquing them to the correct spec since there are two published values based on the different bolts you can use.

 

I hope it’s just the bolt. You think it’s safe to drive in the meantime?

 

No.

 

You don't want to drive a vehicle without your lower ball joints properly torqued.

You'll run into an even worse issue where you'll snap said bolt, or worse, into your spindle and cause more headache for yourself.

Where did you source your parts IE ball joints and bolts?

Someone will chime in with the exact numbers to use as well as torque values

 

You can order the oem bolts from camelback Toyota. If you call them with you vin they will make sure you get the right ones. I agree with the others, it is not safe to drive without all those bolts at proper torque. That particular failure is catastrophic

 

Its the hole. I have to tap a new one. Any advice?

 

The retap went well. I was able to torque each bolt to about 85 lbs.

 

That's wayyyyy too tight. This is why it stripped in the first place. I would not drive the vehicle because I can guarantee that those bolts are stretched past their yield point. That's very dangerous.

 

Well dang. Some sources say 40 lbs and others say 65 lbs. do I need new bolts? Or should I just loosen them a little bit?

 

The one stripped before because I used an impact ratchet like a fool about three months ago

 

The torque depends on the bolt that you use. The jist of it is that they only torque to 37ftlb for the OE black bolts.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...ed-about-lower-ball-joint-bolts.772506/page-5

Once a bolt is compromised, backing it out won't do anything except make it even worse. Yes you will need new bolts. Check that thread out.

 

That’s helpful. I appreciate you. I’ll pick up some new bolts tomorrow and set them to 37 ft/lbs.

 

I really hope they don't break when you remove them. That's a lot of pressure for those small threads to take.

 

I’ve learned something this evening. It’ll be prayer. I’ll go easy.

 

Lower Ball Joint bolts torque spec is 59 ft-lbs

 

It depends on which bolts are used. The black bolts are 37 ft-lbs, the green bolts are 59 ft-lbs.

Everything You Always Wanted About Lower Ball Joint Bolts

 

I used 10.9 since it was short notice. Torqued it to 59 ft lbs. The other bolts did not snap, thanks be to God. Should be good, unless there’s anything else that I’m missing.

 

Encourage you to stop by and review @SpikerEng's informative thread... You're probably going to want to remove all of the bolts and re-do. He covers 10.9 bolts. Really should review.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-ball-joint-bolts.772506/page-4#post-27990684

**Just because the other 7 didn't snap doesn't mean you are in the clear. Hope it works out.

 

Darn.