Ball joints brand for regular road driving

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Antipodes4WD

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Lower ball joint on IFS needs replacement. Toyota will only sell entire arm. Am I right to think that 555 ball joints would be fitted to that arm anyway? In terms of longevity, is 555 OEM the best option available in Australia? I am sceptical about https://www.the4wdshed.com/lower-ball-joint-toyota-landcruiser-100-series-lh-rh-BJ8620 pushed by 4WD shops as being superior to OEM and Japanese steel. I am not even sure it is not covered in paint, which would be a bad idea for the place where it must be very tight contact between surfaces.

I would consider changing entire arm, but would I make to wheels alignment after such feat since everything will be out of whack. Besides, I do not hear any disturbing noises when driving. The vehicle is inching towards 400,000km on a regular road and no record of bushes changes.
 
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Antipodes4WD said:
Lower ball joint on IFS needs replacement. Toyota will only sell entire arm. Am I right to think that 555 ball joints would be fitted to that arm anyway? In terms of longevity, is 555 OEM the best option available in Australia? I am sceptical about https://www.the4wdshed.com/lower-ball-joint-toyota-landcruiser-100-series-lh-rh-BJ8620 pushed by 4WD shops as being superior to OEM and Japanese steel. I am not even sure it is not covered in paint, which would be a bad idea for the place where it must be very tight contact between surfaces.

I would consider changing entire arm, but would I make to wheels alignment after such feat since everything will be out of whack. Besides, I do not hear any disturbing noises when driving. The vehicle is inching towards 400,000km on a regular road and no record of bushes changes.
Click to expand...
555 are the best option of which I know for replacing just the LBJ. In your case though you probably want to consider replacing the lower control arm and the rear bushing at that mileage, which will come with a new LBJ. You can also replace the bushing and LBJ in your existing arm if the arm itself is in good shape. You will want to get your alignment checked after arm replacement.
 
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Best option if you intend to keep the vehicle long term: Get the oem control arms from Amayama.

If not the Napa ball joints are the best non oem option but they’re more expensive. Ive had just about every ball joint out there and strongly prefer Napa fwiw.
 
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excessive said:
Just get the OEM control arms from Toyota, when they are having a 25% sale ( which is happening right now !)

Suspension Arm Assembly Lower Right Hand
Part Number: 48620-60010		1$353.73
Suspension Arm Assembly Lower Left Hand
Part Number: 48640-60010		1$353.73
Click to expand...
Those have the OEM bushings pre-installed, don't they?
 
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FWIW, the 555's won't last anywhere near as long as the Toyota OEM bushings. You may get a year, or two out of them, at most.

But, if the price is important to you, it may be more beneficial financially to replace the lower ball joint, and the upper for that matter, several times, instead of replacing them once and being done with it for the remainder of the life of the truck, or at lease as long as you have it.

The 555 ball joints will perform as well as the OEM for road use, just not as long as the OEM will. This is one of the very few cases, at least in my mind, where there isn't a clear cut choice between aftermarket and OEM.

It's also worth considering why Toyota doesn't want to sell the ball joint bushings separately. Is it because they are concerned about the quality control of the ball joint during/after installation, or is it that they are just worried about protecting profits? I'd argue that given the extremely small quantities of parts we're talking about here, compared with all the other Toyota parts swimming around in the parts world, it's the former and not the latter.

If I'm correct, then you also may want to factor that into your decision to install any ball joint, whether OEM or aftermarket. I think Toyota has earned a little consideration with regard to part life an quality control, over the years.

Just my 2¢.
 
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Malleus said:
FWIW, the 555's won't last anywhere near as long as the Toyota OEM bushings. You may get a year, or two out of them, at most.

But, if the price is important to you, it may be more beneficial financially to replace the lower ball joint, and the upper for that matter, several times, instead of replacing them once and being done with it for the remainder of the life of the truck, or at lease as long as you have it.

The 555 ball joints will perform as well as the OEM for road use, just not as long as the OEM will. This is one of the very few cases, at least in my mind, where there isn't a clear cut choice between aftermarket and OEM.

It's also worth considering why Toyota doesn't want to sell the ball joint bushings separately. Is it because they are concerned about the quality control of the ball joint during/after installation, or is it that they are just worried about protecting profits? I'd argue that given the extremely small quantities of parts we're talking about here, compared with all the other Toyota parts swimming around in the parts world, it's the former and not the latter.

If I'm correct, then you also may want to factor that into your decision to install any ball joint, whether OEM or aftermarket. I think Toyota has earned a little consideration with regard to part life an quality control, over the years.

Just my 2¢.
Click to expand...
Has anyone cross sectioned the Sankei BJs from Toyota and the "aftermarket" ones to see if there's a difference in materials/quality? Just curious how inferior of a product they're making to sell under their own name.
 
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Been running 555 upper and lower replacement joints for 5-6 years, no issues at all, as are dozens of people on Mud and thousands not. Not sure where the longevity concerns are coming from.
 
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Eyedaho said:
Has anyone cross sectioned the Sankei BJs from Toyota and the "aftermarket" ones to see if there's a difference in materials/quality? Just curious how inferior of a product they're making to sell under their own name.
Click to expand...
I'd love to do it, if I had the access to a real metrology lab that I used to have...but those ships sailed long ago.
 
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Malleus said:
FWIW, the 555's won't last anywhere near as long as the Toyota OEM bushings. You may get a year, or two out of them, at most.

But, if the price is important to you, it may be more beneficial financially to replace the lower ball joint, and the upper for that matter, several times, instead of replacing them once and being done with it for the remainder of the life of the truck, or at lease as long as you have it.

The 555 ball joints will perform as well as the OEM for road use, just not as long as the OEM will. This is one of the very few cases, at least in my mind, where there isn't a clear cut choice between aftermarket and OEM.

It's also worth considering why Toyota doesn't want to sell the ball joint bushings separately. Is it because they are concerned about the quality control of the ball joint during/after installation, or is it that they are just worried about protecting profits? I'd argue that given the extremely small quantities of parts we're talking about here, compared with all the other Toyota parts swimming around in the parts world, it's the former and not the latter.

If I'm correct, then you also may want to factor that into your decision to install any ball joint, whether OEM or aftermarket. I think Toyota has earned a little consideration with regard to part life an quality control, over the years.

Just my 2¢.
Click to expand...
Malleus, thank you for your input!
Things are complicated at antipodes. I'd go for entire arm replacement, but because that will require castor and camber adjustments it has to be done at a workshop that is competent in wheels alignment. A problem with it is inflated cost, which is 2 folds:

First is Toyota abusing their position. When we bought this vehicle, the engine would occasionally die at traffic lights. Toyota figured out that it was a potentiometer at the accelerator pedal (100 model drives by wire rather than by cable as my trusty 1991 Nissan Terrano). The potentiometer, which would be $5 at radioshack only came with entire pedal assembly at AU$1200! That gives me a reason to believe that Toyota's behaviour is more about twisting your hand to make money rather than safety. Otherwise at most there would be Toyota potentiometer you can replace without disassembling the vehicle.

Secodly, my experience tells that most workshops in this part of the world can't be trusted. In Australia they won't even allow you to watch what they are doing, citing same 'safety regulation'. When I just bought the vehicle and had no garage, I paid for all oils replacement. Recently was replacing front driveshaft and it was not gear oil draining from the front diff. Outer bearings nut was not secured either. And that labour is expensive, they pay tax, I pay tax. Same guys sent me to their affiliates to change diesel pump to stop enging dying at intersections and I occasionally hear rattling somewhere in clutch after they replaced it.

My strategy is to do everything I can myself because I know what and how it had been done, I have time on my hands not to cut corners, and it saves me a lot of money I otherwise have to earn.

I am not that rich to buy cheap parts, but on this occasion I ordered 555 that has stamp 'Made in Japan'. Will find clear metal protection paint to address complaints about rust and I will be observing how it performs.
 
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I get your point about the gas pedal; I think that's one item Toyota reuses across platforms. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong there. I've had nagging dislikes about Toyota reusing parts since the FJ40s, but that's just me. I understand Toyota is a business.

I also get your concern about having work done; it's the same here. Good help is hard to find.
 
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Malleus said:
FWIW, the 555's won't last anywhere near as long as the Toyota OEM bushings. You may get a year, or two out of them, at most.

But, if the price is important to you, it may be more beneficial financially to replace the lower ball joint, and the upper for that matter, several times, instead of replacing them once and being done with it for the remainder of the life of the truck, or at lease as long as you have it.

The 555 ball joints will perform as well as the OEM for road use, just not as long as the OEM will. This is one of the very few cases, at least in my mind, where there isn't a clear cut choice between aftermarket and OEM.

It's also worth considering why Toyota doesn't want to sell the ball joint bushings separately. Is it because they are concerned about the quality control of the ball joint during/after installation, or is it that they are just worried about protecting profits? I'd argue that given the extremely small quantities of parts we're talking about here, compared with all the other Toyota parts swimming around in the parts world, it's the former and not the latter.

If I'm correct, then you also may want to factor that into your decision to install any ball joint, whether OEM or aftermarket. I think Toyota has earned a little consideration with regard to part life an quality control, over the years.

Just my 2¢.
Click to expand...
I rebuilt my front end 85k miles ago. I used 555 lower ball joints and Moog bushings (they did have Toyota part numbers stamped on them - luck?). Still going strong, and this truck sees a couple thousand miles a year off road, and some of that approaching the limits of the 100 series. I probably would have used Toyota bushings if I had planned the job, but I started with a bearing job and had quick mission creep into the whole front end, and couldn't wait on the shipping.
 
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Antipodes4WD said:
Lower ball joint on IFS needs replacement. Toyota will only sell entire arm. Am I right to think that 555 ball joints would be fitted to that arm anyway? In terms of longevity, is 555 OEM the best option available in Australia? I am sceptical about https://www.the4wdshed.com/lower-ball-joint-toyota-landcruiser-100-series-lh-rh-BJ8620 pushed by 4WD shops as being superior to OEM and Japanese steel. I am not even sure it is not covered in paint, which would be a bad idea for the place where it must be very tight contact between surfaces.

I would consider changing entire arm, but would I make to wheels alignment after such feat since everything will be out of whack. Besides, I do not hear any disturbing noises when driving. The vehicle is inching towards 400,000km on a regular road and no record of bushes changes.
Click to expand...
Received the 555 ball joint today; it says Made in Japan, whether believe it or not. On the boot removal (I understand it is pressed in situ without the boot) I do not see much grease. I'd prefer the grease rather being squeezed out during installation rather than a void left to be filled with water and dirt. What grease is suggested to coexist with what 555 put there?

Also, the included instruction says a mark on the joint 'must adhere to the knuckle'. It is barely seen and not exactly matching to their picture. I'd say there is slightly less-pronounced mark at the opposite side of the joint.

Anyone can shed a light on that?

BallJoint.JPG
 
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Those that installed 555 upper ball joints.
Any issues or concerns with the oversized gap for the lock ring?
The factory ball joint has a much tighter tolerance vs these 555 joints.
 
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