Lower Ball Joint Replacement

Hey guys, taking this truck off to college this week and making sure she’s in good shape to go. Do these LBJs need to be replaced? I’m not sure what determines that. Thanks guys!

 

If you don’t know how old they are or their use history and you have the funds to replace them with quality ones, I would do it. Hit the reset button on the mileage to a critical part. You don’t want it breaking on the way to college loaded with all your stuff in the back. Def don’t want it breaking loaded with hunnies in the back, that would be embarrassing. Get new bolts too and boot protectors if you want to add more protection to the boot on the joint itself. Use blue loctite for the new bolts you buy.

 

The boot looks good but it's impossible to tell from pics and looks don't matter much. What matters is play in the joint itself. Jack up the wheel and safely support the vehicle, then grab at 12 and 6 and attempt to rock the wheel. You can also strategically use a pry bar. It may help to have a second person watch for movement at the joint. This exercise would also reveal wb play so if you find slop watch for exactly where it is rather than immediately condemning bj's.

If you don't find play I absolutely would not bother with replacing.

Furthermore, things are not always what they seem; I just disassembled the 4 bolts on a '00 to do the CV and they were significantly rusted in. What should have been 4 minutes turned into well over an hour to remove 4 bolts using the blue wrench to carefully apply heat. I then chased all the threads and reassembled with anti-seize.

I tried removing the bj stud instead but no amount of PH3050A persuasion was convincing that taper to release.

IOW, don't fix what ain't broke.

 

Go to YT and search for "1998 tacoma lower ball joint test" or some such. Look at the videos that show how to use a long, heavy screwdriver, or a pry bar, or a crow bar to check for play.

 

The risk here is if you wait until it actually “breaks” you’ve got a lot more on your hands than a preventative ball joint replacement. And that’s if personal injury isn’t sustained as well. This is an area I would not play with fire.

 

OP only you can choose the level of fear mongering you find acceptable. If there's no play there's no reason to replace. Furthermore the odds of getting quality aftermarket joints that are any better than what's already in there is questionable. Source OEM I guess.

If you want to follow the logic of others you better replace upper ball joints, too. Also wheel bearings because they could separate and you'll lose a wheel. You better replace all steering linkages because a TRE could come apart. You better replace your steering rack because you don't dare risk losing power assist in a corner. You should just replace your brake pads, rotors and calipers now rather than risk personal injury (apparently). Also your master cylinder because, safety. Change out all your tires now because you don't want a blowout.

Or, you could inspect parts and replace when wear is actually detected and verified like all honest, professional shops do.

It's your money, your time and how much you enjoy panic porn. Good luck!!

 

I completely disagree with you. Most of the items you listed will display possible signs of wear or fatigue before they break. It's well documented that the lower ball joints are prone to sudden failure if not maintained (replaced). I do agree that you shouldn't change out parts just because- but for LBJs there is a perfectly rational reason to suggest that if the history is unknown, to simply replace them. The OEM joints are not that expensive, and they are certainly less expensive than the collateral damage caused by a failed one. That's not fear-mongering- that is passing on the collective wisdom and experience of this and other 1st gen Tacoma communities.

 

These are no. 1 reason for unforeseen failure on these trucks.....

Eventually you will have to replace, but there are other service items in that area that you need to go slow and look at everything carefully, looseness, leaks, split bellows, ect....
You didnt buy a camry, you bought a 4x4.......eats $100's for breakfast.....

So really need to go in and do them when you've got plenty of time and xtra cash for the unkowns.....
Maybe source out what tools your gonna need.....and parts.
Oem prices will knock your socks off......and still wont get a grease zert out of the deal..........thats so you come back to feed again.....

On plus side.....easiest job you can do on the truck.......gives you a view into how well the truck was maintained...
The 4x4 ones are little tougher too, if truck has been used off road slim to none, that will give u some xtra time.....

 

Forget the catastrophic results that can be seen when 26 year old LBJs are ignored because they are 'ok' - this is the simplest DIY job a person could undertake with the most return on time and investment, peace of mind wise, out of all the things you listed; there's really no reason not to replace these.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bu2rQMxXV2M

 

In theory this really only applies to the original factory installed ones.....
learn something new everyday.....

So in theory....any oem replacements manufactured after 2007 should be normal as any other avg vehicle.......

The Most Common Problems Toyota Tacoma Owners Complain About (motorbiscuit.com)

Wont get a free tow, but at least you'll know it could of happen to anyone....

 

Any body replace one in last ten years....and had that second one go out.....
actually happen to you.....not some I heard someone....

Mine will never fail.......I have zerts.....once a year, POW right to the kisser.......

 

Monte @Blackdawg has been through a pallet of LBJs. It all just depends on how you use your truck.

The thumbnail of the video above was from ~2014, and this one was 2017. Both passenger side, so presumably one was a replacement.

​

 

Just do the u tube video test.

 

Try to search the history of your truck on Toyota using your VIN. You might find that it was replaced not long ago. I would check that and test the joint for play. Wouldn't replace if it seemed fine.

 

I know that there was a recall many years ago and my local dealer replaced mine...I remember driving the truck afterwards and it drove like a totally new vehicle.

 

That recall was in the mid to late 2000s. It addressed a flaw in the manufacturing of a range of specific lower ball joints. Having them changed from that recall does not invalidate the advice above. The LBJ are wear items and need to be changed out. If you don't know when the last time they were changed, it's time.