2004 GX470 Lower Ball Joint Replacement

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C

chowwwww

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Hello,

So yesterday while driving noticed that the truck was making some noises from the driverside. Checked under the truck and saw that the lowerball joint boot is ripper and some grease has leaked out. Only a matter of time now before it fully fails, so would like to replaced that ASAP. Question is, I'm scared the the OEM Lexus part will cost a lot, so I was wondering if anyone here knows if I could just purchase a 2004 V8 4runner driver side LBJ instead? for LBJ, I would only go with OEM.
 
So, I just checked and you cant purchase the LBJ by itself. It actually comes with the entire LCA as a unit. But they do offer a bootkit that I can buy to replace the boot and add grease. I will be checking the unit for play later today and if there is no movement I will just buy the boot kit and reboot it. Anyone have thoughts or opinions on this? the boot kit. $21.77 and the LCA is $270 both these are V8 4runner parts.
 
I have 115k on my 4runner and I just changed the entire LCA with Toyota OEM units. The truck drives much tighter now and am happy I went that direction. With all the labor, and only having to do it once every 10 years, I'm happy I went that direction. I also had a shop reboot and regrease my CVs since the front was apart. All in, it was effort/money well spent. The truck feels like new.
 
I plan on doing that with my Tacoma. The gx will never see offroad so I wasn't sure if I actually need to change the entire unit. I am trying to just see if I can buy the lower ball joint and press it out and in. but it seems the OEM part only sells it as a complete unit with the LCA and I can only find MOOG lbj. I know for the Tacoma since I take it camping and wheeling if I will go strictly OEM, but now debating if MOOG will be fine for street driving.
 
Rockauto sells the LBJ separately
 
You can buy the just the LBJ by itself. I was able to find part numbers through the toyota120 forum when I replaced mine a few years ago.
 
Ended up just purchasing the MOOG LBJ. wasn't able to find just he OEM LBJ buy itself and had no luck finding the part number. Talked to both Toyota and lexus and they said I needed to buy the entire LCA. Hopefully the moog will be fine for street.
 
IME, I off-roaded both my T4R and GX with MOOG BJs and never had a problem with them. Just make sure that if/when you install them that you position the zerk fitting accordingly. I purchased some angled ones just to make it easier. With the proper tools it's not that difficult of a job to do. :banana::banana: at most.
 
I have some OEM LCAs with new inners . If you swap lbj to moog then install it would make it easier. $200 for both plus shipping
 
I found the moog part to be doo doo. I bought a Senkai 555 ball joint (an OE supplier) and pressed that in. It's goung great so far.
 
I really like my SupePro lower control arm bushing. They are quiet, does not produce more vibration off road and easy to install. I got the double offset version combined with SPC UCA allow me to avoid firewall and body mount clearance issue. They are expensive but come with life time warranty.

If you are paying mechanic to replace bushing and ball joint, OEM replacement would cost about the same and might be better choice.
 
Balrog said:
OK, I found a source. What do you like for control arm bushings?
Click to expand...

I used the Whiteline bushings. They're a poly bushing so I expected a bit of increased NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) but was willing to make the trade off for the increased range of motion a poly bushing offers in the downward travel of the control arm. I have an extended travel coilover so that mattered to me.
After installing them, I found no increase in NVH over stock.
 
ArBrnSnpr said:
I used the Whiteline bushings. They're a poly bushing so I expected a bit of increased NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) but was willing to make the trade off for the increased range of motion a poly bushing offers in the downward travel of the control arm. I have an extended travel coilover so that mattered to me.
After installing them, I found no increase in NVH over stock.
Click to expand...
Interesting. I'm more about longevity & price than increased performance. It's odd that Lexus doesn't market the ball joints. My control arms are in good shape. I've got multiple grease leaks at 135K. I won't be surprized if the CV boots & joints are next.
 
ArBrnSnpr said:
I used the Whiteline bushings. They're a poly bushing so I expected a bit of increased NVH (noise, vibration, harshness) but was willing to make the trade off for the increased range of motion a poly bushing offers in the downward travel of the control arm. I have an extended travel coilover so that mattered to me.
After installing them, I found no increase in NVH over stock.
Click to expand...
After some checking, Whiteline doesn't make bushings for GX470 upper control arm. I'm sold on the free arm concept. Anyone have suggestions in this price point?
 
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