Lower ball joint symptoms

I’ve been around long enough and had my fair share of ball joint failures before I wasn’t even knowledgeable about ball joints. My passenger side lower has been making a pop noise I recently had to take it out cause I replaced my front suspension with LT. I have a moog replacement already, but I haven’t gotten to it. Has anyone had pop issues then shortly losing the ball joint entirely? I had it off the truck and it has some spots that seem tough to push around it wasn’t loose or wobbly. But I’ve been told popping relates to the ball and the joint having play which I didn’t feel any.

 

Aftermarket LBJ's aren't going to last. I have a couple extras if you need one

 

Just replace them, it really is a no brainer?

 

Well yea lol but I mean the fact you can’t really test them to know if it’s bad, I was just asking cause sometimes they appear and move normal but fail anyways lol

 

You can, the FSM lists a specific level of play that is within tolerance.

Any more than that and it's due for replacement.

 

But you can

https://youtu.be/bu2rQMxXV2M

https://youtu.be/rteeAOQlrKY

 

If you invested in LT, new OEM lower ball joints should be the equivalent of getting yourself a ham sandwich. Treat yourself to not kissing a roadway.

 

Yes, popping is bad. When this one came out it was galled, and explained the popping. My son drives this truck and he said it had been making a few noises prior. When we got in there, we ended up doing all four ball joints, one wheel bearing, and two CV axles. All in a student parking lot at Montana state. Not exactly Matt's off-road recovery, but was definitely dad's parking lot recovery.

 

I thought I recalled reading that once you can “feel” play, it is well beyond wear standard for replacement- meaning, no way to know when it will fail which is why the recommendation to just change it…
Considering the consequences if it fails.

 

what’s an acceptable amount of play? i have about 1mm of movement, just the slightest amount on my passenger side but driver side is ok, should i replace?

 

The video posted above lists how to check for play.

My personal opinion; unless I know without a shadow of a doubt that the LBJs on my truck were recently replaced with OEM parts, I'd just replace them.

Did that when I got my Tacoma and same with my 4Runner. It ain't expensive and it'll save tons of potential headache.

 

If you dont know this trucks history....
.....this one of the first things you do.
Move it to the top of the list.

On a scale of 1 to 10.......these are about a 2....

This just happened to my neighbor's ram two weeks ago.....
backed out of his drive....and made two houses......then

BAMB!

Everybody on the block heard it.....

At least it was on a sunday morning.....

 

I prefer the premium ones from napa.......the one's with the grease zert.....

the oem ones are on the same level as their denso radiator,....
that is 'barely adequate' ......

 

Yes. Without question.

 

Moogs are $100 for both lowers. You can change both in under 30 minutes. I like Moog because they're greaseable.

 

Never stated they were difficult to replace or that it took long at all. Not much more either for OEM.

But due to the design, I'd opt for the strongest I could get which is why I'd recommend OEM lbjs as well as OEM bolts.

Your truck not mine, you do as you wish.

 

Never said you were wrong OEM is great. They're $100 each for OEM plus bolts. Anything is better than a worn-out balljoint though. If you ever have doubts about a ball joint or suspect a noise I'd replace it.

 

100% agree.

 

Tons is the only solution....

 

King pin dana 60