Lower Ball Joints- Anyone had issues??? (1 Viewer)

[arich]

Helping a buddy diagnose a rattle. He had a dealer tell him he needed to replace his lower ball joints which basically means replacing the entire lower control arms since they're likely seized.
I have not read of any issues and the search turned up nothing. I'm telling him to wait until I can take a look at it next weekend.
He's got Radflo Suspension too, so it could be a spherical bushing which would cause a similar sound.

Anyone had any failures of the ball joints??? It's got less than 80,000 miles.

 

[Mogwai]

Sounds odd. I think @Taco2Cruiser confirmed that you can rebuild just the lower ball joints though.

 

[mark71]

Helping a buddy diagnose a rattle. He had a dealer tell him he needed to replace his lower ball joints which basically means replacing the entire lower control arms since they're likely seized.
I have not read of any issues and the search turned up nothing. I'm telling him to wait until I can take a look at it next weekend.
He's got Radflo Suspension too, so it could be a spherical bushing which would cause a similar sound.

Anyone had any failures of the ball joints??? It's got less than 80,000 miles.

After my suspension-noise chase, my only input is that it seems very unlikely the LCA ball joint is bad. When I pulled mine and compared to a new one, 120K miles didn't seem to have made any difference to the old ball joint. Unless his truck has been seriously abused, you're probably right to be thinking the problem lies elsewhere.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Helping a buddy diagnose a rattle. He had a dealer tell him he needed to replace his lower ball joints which basically means replacing the entire lower control arms since they're likely seized.
I have not read of any issues and the search turned up nothing. I'm telling him to wait until I can take a look at it next weekend.
He's got Radflo Suspension too, so it could be a spherical bushing which would cause a similar sound.

Anyone had any failures of the ball joints??? It's got less than 80,000 miles.

First off, thanks for thinking about me @Mogwai.

I replaced the lower ball joints with Centric mostly because the boots where compromised. I could of just replaced just replaced the boot, but I kinda wanted to have fun.

That said I agree with @mark71, my 200 had 93,000 on it at the time, and the lower ball joints themselves where rock solid, zero play and could of easily gone 100k longer.

So if your friend does have a lower ball joint failure, at least you could just replace it like I did for $160, instead of $600 in parts. I usually don't have good results with non Toyota ball joints, but these Centric are still rock solid at 10k on them (usually when I start to see the tiniest play in Moog stuff). But I bet the issue is something else. Now if they see grease escaped from the boot, that might be why they said lower ball joint failure. But again, replace the boot and add some grease, or replace balljoint itself.

 

[TonyP]

First off, thanks for thinking about me @Mogwai.

I replaced the lower ball joints with Centric mostly because the boots where compromised. I could of just replaced just replaced the boot, but I kinda wanted to have fun.

That said I agree with @mark71, my 200 had 93,000 on it at the time, and the lower ball joints themselves where rock solid, zero play and could of easily gone 100k longer.

So if your friend does have a lower ball joint failure, at least you could just replace it like I did for $160, instead of $600 in parts. I usually don't have good results with non Toyota ball joints, but these Centric are still rock solid at 10k on them (usually when I start to see the tiniest play in Moog stuff). But I bet the issue is something else. Now if they see grease escaped from the boot, that might be why they said lower ball joint failure. But again, replace the boot and add some grease, or replace balljoint itself.

Is it a press-out? Or a circlip?

Link for the centric?

One of mine squirted some grease but the boot is fine. I might just keep an eye on it.

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

Is it a press-out? Or a circlip?

Link for the centric?

One of mine squirted some grease but the boot is fine. I might just keep an eye on it.

It's both circlip and pressed. Both are IN THERE! I was in the BudBuilt shop and used a large cut off wheel to remove the circlip quick.

The balljoint was pressed in from the Toyota factor so hard it had deep gouges in the ball joint case. It would not come out without a good about of heat from the torch. But, heat works wonders, then an airgun was all that was needed. I froze the new ball joint right before I pressed them in, and a simple pair of angled pliers popped the new circlip on.

STEERING AND SUSPENSION

I bought them on either amazon or CarID. I usually never forget things, but lots of surgeries lately, kinda dogs things a bit. They were $160 though.

 

[Mogwai]

I've got stock LCAs that need boots but the ball joints were good at 85k. Where can I get the boots only? how does this compare to oem/replacing the ball and boot at same time?

 

[Taco2Cruiser]

I've got stock LCAs that need boots but the ball joints were good at 85k. Where can I get the boots only? how does this compare to oem/replacing the ball and boot at same time?

Amazon.com: FEBEST TBJB-233 Lower Arm Ball Joint Boot: Automotive

That will be just the boot, you would need to source a good grease. Now, I think as 200 drivers we all value quality more than most and I'm not sure of the long term quality of these. But, if the boots are already bad, there really is no loss, just possible gains, especially if you do you own work.

But that thought is why I went with whole Centric ball joint at a minimum. And full disclosure, the owner before me had radial runout of the front right tire, and looks like they held the wheel to the left for tens of thousands of miles. That can easily wear joints irregularly, and never let a vehicle track strait again. So replacing the lower ball joints was another possible bad joint replaced (and my truck did drive more strait with replacement.) I've had good results with StopTech products (Centric is their parent company), so I was hoping that quality would be across all their lines, and so far it has been. But 10k isn't enough time to call them good in my opinion.

There are many cheaper lower ball joints out there.
Amazon.com: 2011 land cruiser ball joint
But having prior experience with Moog, AC Delco, Beck, and Dorman, I didn't want to try them again. I haven't tried Febest yet, and maybe being just a boot, I mean, how bad could it be? Famous last words.

 

[bjowett]

I have a few Three Five/555 Japan lower ball joints in stock.

 

[Climbingnut]

If I were changing ball joints, upper or lower, I'd do my best to stick with the 555's. I searched high and low when rebuilding the front end of my 99' Taco, skipped the stealership, and bought the 555 parts elsewhere. They were solid. If I was in your shoes, and my lower ball joints had 85k miles on them and the boots were bad, I'd anty up and purcahase the new 555's from Brian and make sure that I'm not looking at doing the job again in 10K miles because something went wrong.

Good luck!

 

[Mogwai]

Agreed on those 555 parts. I'm running the Tundra UCAs, I was just going to fix the stock ones for the next guy, but if they need new ball joints ill probably pass and these stockers are up for grabs if someone needs, located in San Diego.

 

[TonyP]

Agreed on those 555 parts. I'm running the Tundra UCAs, I was just going to fix the stock ones for the next guy, but if they need new ball joints ill probably pass and these stockers are up for grabs if someone needs, located in San Diego.

Uppers or lowers?

 

[Mogwai]

I've got both. I believe the uppers might be fine all around but I'd have to double check. Lowers are good minus ball joints and you'll need new cam bolt hardware (I have some but you'll want the SPC kits).

 

[TonyP]

I've got both. I believe the uppers might be fine all around but I'd have to double check. Lowers are good minus ball joints and you'll need new cam bolt hardware (I have some but you'll want the SPC kits).

I might snag those lowers from you to minimize downtime when I do my ball joints. If you want to bring them to Breck I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

[Mogwai]

I might snag those lowers from you to minimize downtime when I do my ball joints. If you want to bring them to Breck I'd greatly appreciate it.

If @Markuson can fit them I'll send w/ him, otherwise sadly I'm not making it to Breckenridge.

 

[Markuson]

If @Markuson can fit them I'll send w/ him, otherwise sadly I'm not making it to Breckenridge.

Should be ok.

Hey @Mogwai ...if you are not doing Breck, let Codyaustin5 know...because you are still on the confirmed list in post 1 of theBreck thread. Guys are on a wait list...so he'll want to know.

 

[Mogwai]

Should be ok.

Hey @Mogwai ...if you are not doing Breck, let Codyaustin5 know...because you are still on the confirmed list in post 1 of theBreck thread. Guys are on a wait list...so he'll want to know.

I did. I also did not sign up via official website registration so his numbers should not include me. But yeah the thread might not be up to date.