Lower Control Arm bearing leaking?

[Bloomer]

Mentioned in other posts I installed a 2.5 inch OME suspension. I haven't driven the land cruiser since the install, other than to settle the front end to adjust for final lift height (maybe 5 miles). Currently sitting at 21.25 inches measured from center hub to fender edge. Have not had alignment yet, which is why I have not driven it since the install.

Noticed this evening I had some grease exposed beneath the lower control arm bearing. Is this normal after installing a lift? The land cruiser is a 2006 with less than 50,000 miles.

Could something be wrong with how I installed the lift?

 

[2000UZJ]

I have over 100K on my 2000, I do not have any leakage from the lower ball joint boots. Although they are shot, they are not leaking. Clean up the grease and keep an eye on them. As you lift the front end of these trucks, everything starts running at excessive angles, you may of torn, or pulled the boot off.

 

[badlander]

Looks like CV Joint grease......

 

[Bloomer]

Pretty sure it's not from the CVs. The boots and axles are bone dry. I've checked them often after purchasing this land cruiser earlier this year and have never seen any issue.

This grease showed up only after installing the lift (OME T-bars and shocks, diff drop). The land cruiser has been parked in the garage for about 2 weeks and only driven (maybe at the most) 5 miles since the install. I recall seeing some seepage after installing the lift and wiping it off (this was maybe a week ago when I was underneath measuring the diameter of the CV boot housing). Chalked it up to just seepage due to differing angles resulting from the lift. Was under the land cruiser last night cleaning things up and noticed more seepage on both sides. The land cruiser has not been driven since the last time I noticed the seepage and wiped it up a week ago. I inspected it thoroughly and it does not appear to be running down from the CVs.

So, are the lower ball joints sealed bearings. Anyway to regrease them or verify the appropriate amount of grease is still present?

 

[AimCOtaco]

You can replace the boot which gives good access to re-grease the ball joint. The boot may have filled with air if you separated the lower recently and is just purging the pressure. Boots are cheap, you may want to open it up and have a look.

 

[spressomon]

BTW IIRC per beno Toyota has discontinued the ball joint boot kits. Grab 'em while you can/if you can.

 

[2000UZJ]

BTW IIRC per beno Toyota has discontinued the ball joint boot kits. Grab 'em while you can/if you can.

They are indeed discontinued.

 

[AimCOtaco]

Wow, service parts for 6 yr old Landcruisers are going out of production? "I love what you do for me..."

I have a spare pair of uppers but they are a different p/n correct? Uppers still available?

 

[OregonLC]

New arm only.

So they only come as part of the LCA? Expensive, but it also would get you new LCA bushings at the same time.

Quick check of Rock Auto shows they do have aftermarket LCA Ball Joint Kits available too...

 

[spressomon]

^ FYI: The frame side LCA bushing is a separate part # as it is not attached to the LCA.

 

[spressomon]

I sourced Daystar bushings for my H1 upper ball joints that at a glance appear like they might be a substitute for the OEM front LCA ball joint boot.

 

[OGBeno]

Wow, service parts for 6 yr old Landcruisers are going out of production? "I love what you do for me..."

I have a spare pair of uppers but they are a different p/n correct? Uppers still available?

OK. Correction. Uppers are not available as a reboot kit.

Lowers are available as a reboot kit.

My bad. I inverted the part numbers in my head. Just double checked them against the master tape.

 

[Bloomer]

Can't get them anymore.

New arm only. There was a production stop-sale on them. No information on why. Talked to CDan about this and he too cannot get them. A national thing obviously.

Makes me want to put all the OE stuff back on the Land Cruiser and give it to the wife to use as kid-mobile for awhile. Figured with only 46,000 miles I wouldn't have had this issue. I have a Lexus extended warranty so maybe will go that route and find an older land cruiser to play with.

 

[spressomon]

OK. Correction. Uppers are not available as a reboot kit.

Lowers are available as a reboot kit.

My bad. I inverted the part numbers in my head. Just double checked them against the master tape.

Mobetta 411

...until Mr T opts to go similar route to UCA boot kits

 

[bluecruiser]

I would just wipe that and watch for it to continue to seep. When you lift a truck from the height it has been riding at you will disturb some of the 'seals' and get slight weeping like that. To be honest, that boot looks really new and is likely not needing to be replaced.

Also, believe me you are not the first one who wishes they had left OEM stuff on, sometimes all of this "upgrading" gets to be aggravating when little stuff starts popping up.

 

[2000UZJ]

Also, believe me you are not the first one who wishes they had left OEM stuff on, sometimes all of this "upgrading" gets to be aggravating when little stuff starts popping up.

No kidding. Somedays, when I want to enjoy the weather, I roll down the windows and realize why people look at my truck funny. The noise my suspension makes is horrifying.

 

[cruiserdan]

The 100 Series ball joint boots are currently still available. I see no indication of imminent demise. Stocking levels are, not suprisingly, low because this is an item that is not often replaced on a low production volume vehicle that is no longer being built. The lower is Land Cruiser-specific, the upper is also used on 4Runner, Sequoia, Tundra and FJ Cruiser. Toyota has the uppers on manual release which requires the dealer to submit a VIN to get the parts released. They only want them going on vehicles, not dealers' shelves for speculative purposes. It is possible that they are also tracking failure rates by application.

Upper part number, 43324-69085
Lower part number. 43345-69015

 

[spressomon]

Thanks Dan!

 

[2001LC]

I would just wipe that and watch for it to continue to seep. When you lift a truck from the height it has been riding at you will disturb some of the 'seals' and get slight weeping like that. To be honest, that boot looks really new and is likely not needing to be replaced.

Also, believe me you are not the first one who wishes they had left OEM stuff on, sometimes all of this "upgrading" gets to be aggravating when little stuff starts popping up.

Good advise^^^^^^^^ not likely to disable you on the road IMHO. Provided you inspect periodically and be aware of feel in steering & sounds. Although voids warranty with the aftermarket parts on.

Anytime any modern vehicle is modified one must expect more maintenance & repair issues, its a trade off.

Note: "Inspect"; torn boot, ball joint play test, note amount of grease loosing and listen for a dried out ball socket it many creak, but not likely for many miles from now.

The 100 Series ball joint boots are currently still available. I see no indication of imminent demise. Stocking levels are, not suprisingly, low because this is an item that is not often replaced on a low production volume vehicle that is no longer being built. The lower is Land Cruiser-specific, the upper is also used on 4Runner, Sequoia, Tundra and FJ Cruiser. Toyota has the uppers on manual release which requires the dealer to submit a VIN to get the parts released. They only want them going on vehicles, not dealers' shelves for speculative purposes. It is possible that they are also tracking failure rates by application.

Upper part number, 43324-69085
Lower part number. 43345-69015

Wow; what great & in-depth info. Kudos to you CD and Thank you.

 

[2000UZJ]

While we are on the subject of lower ball joints/control arms. I have a set of OEM lowers in the garage, I am about to install them and since replacing all my bushings upfront with polyurethane (it's changed the truck completely), do you think it would be worth swapping the OEM rubber bushings out for the SuperPro bushings?