what brand of upper and lower ball joints do you recommend? my wife just got a quote from the dealership for over 3700 dollars parts and labor to replace them both sides. any advice ? looks like the parts department wants to replace the control arms. Thanks
upper and lower ball joints.
- Thread starter dustbowl
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555 from Cruiser Outfitters Give them a call @cruiseroutfit will hook you up.
That’s what I used. Worked great.
JunkCrzr89
Competent Ignoramoose
Sankei 555 ball joints from @cruiseroutfit 
gregnash
Anal Retentive Analyst
There is a kit on the @cruiseroutfit website for about $130... that will be the way I am going when I do mine seeing as I really have no need for aftermarket UCA.
Trunk Monkey
Moderator
Toyota doesn't show the ball joints as a serviceable item alone, only replacing the whole control arm. As mentioned, you can get the 555 replaces, they're OE Japanese quality. The lowers can be replaced on truck, the uppers the arm needs to come off and the joint pressed out for best results. Lots of ball joint info in previous threads for searching.
gregnash
Anal Retentive Analyst
Anyone that has replaced upper/lower with the 555s, are they greasable/serviceable or no?
You can pack the boots with grease (manually), but there are no zerks to service them.
Trunk Monkey
Moderator
Not greaseable and shouldn't be needed.
I was able to replace my passenger side upper ball joint on the truck using a rental-type ball joint press.
I just did the driver side last week; lower ball joint, tie rod, and UCA with new ball joint. I couldn't get the old ball joint out with a rental press on the truck so I just replaced the entire UCA. I'll try to remove the old ball joint after I do the same on the passenger side and then setup for a spare on each.
Thanks for all the ball joint orders. Unfortunately we ran out in December, and had to start taking back orders for them. Just last week we receive a literal pallet of Japanese goodies and have hundreds of ball joints in stock. We are all caught up with backorders and everybody should have plenty to do this weekend 
gregnash
Anal Retentive Analyst
Thanks for all the ball joint orders. Unfortunately we ran out in December, and had to start taking back orders for them. Just last week we receive a literal pallet of Japanese goodies and have hundreds of ball joints in stock. We are all caught up with backorders and everybody should have plenty to do this weekend
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Awesome!!! On my shortlist of stuff that needs taken care of.
Looks like I am going to have to put in a massive order with you Kurt. Gonna need uppers, lowers, new hub flanges, gaskets, new cone washers, new preload nut, claw washers, the works for this garbage. But debating on whether I want to wait and save up money for the OEM axles or people have been liking the Cardone HD/Napa MaxDrive axles.
And actually it was lucky that you have all the part numbers listed for the OME kits because i was able to cross reference the part number from the install sheet from the PO on my new rig with your site and actually figure out what is on the truck. PO couldn't remember, he "just threw on" an OME lift kit.
Right on, let us know when you’re ready!
While the OEM Toyota axles are quite expensive, they will last another 200,000 miles. I often recommend people reboot their original Toyota axles long before they replace particularly with aftermarket.
gregnash
Anal Retentive Analyst
yeah I wish the PO had done that with this truck. Instead I got some cheapo chinesium axles that the half-ass shop installed.
