Remember when replacing ball joints all of them are not equal. Spend the couple extra bucks and get OEM ones from Toyota. I've known two guys that used Moog on their 4runners and they didn't hold up nearly as good as the OEM ones did.

I learned this the hard way years ago with a 85 P/U, hit a bump going 50mph on the highway and the bottom ball joint came apart. They were moogs with about 50k miles on them.

 

Good info FogRunner

I probably would have cheaped out -good to hear the real cost of that.

 

I've had Moog ball joints for over 100K and they're still fine. Moog as well many other company's products are all made by the same Japanese manufacturer "555", who in fact also makes the stock OEM ones.

Personally, I've heard of more OEM ball joint failures than any other brand. I think a ball joint is just one of those parts that is very susceptible to failure because of the stress that is put on it. Just don't buy the super cheap ones - you will get what you pay for.

 

The same thing happened to me except I was in the Ingles parking lot backing out of a spot, I went ahead an had the other one replaced at the same time, just in case, about the same mileage for me too.

 

I think its safe to say that as soon as you get over 200K its time to change. I was at 230,000. Another buddy of mine had his go out when he was going 40 down the road. It totaled. He had 220,000.

 

I used tie downs just like that to get mine on the tow truck. MIne is all back together and i drove it to big bear today. easy repair

 

yeah i wish mine would have worked... We ended up taking the tire off and putting a log under that side and winched it off to the side.

 

IIRC, Toyota did a recall for those ball joints due to manufacturing defects. i think the recall applied to 2000-2002 models

 

this is good to know, I got 245,--- plus on mine. Prob original bj's, like everything else. No slop in mine, but this is cheap insurance. Will order me some today, might take a few to get them on though.

 

Serious design flaw on First gen Tacomas,Tundras and 3Gen 4Runners. There are 2 Main failure points..the 4x14mm securing bolts and the balljoint itself. Toyota made a serious blunder in this design which they fixed in the newer models. You cannot have the ball on top of the load arm because any slight wear will cause the ball to be pulled out of the socket with catastrophic results. The 4x14 mm securing bolts are under tension due to vertical load and twisting forces due to the steering..yes the steering is attached to the balljoint. These trucks are dangerous and a time bomb waiting on a sudden failure anywhere. There is nothing that can be done to make it safe besides very regular inspections. Shame on Toyota for such a hugeee design flaw.

 

Yep. So many people have died from catastrophic ball joint failure.
Give it a damn rest already.

:wabbit2:

 

What are you talking about?

 

The above post in a two year old thread.

This thread:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f28/...ailure-258350/

And this thread:
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f2/t...ilures-244804/



:wabbit2:

 

just like the relay rods on ifs trucks?

 

Correct!!! I will still and always say its a design flaw..it's the folks who drive these Gen trucks that have to worry. Older and newer gen trucks don't have this issue.
Over and out!!

 

His point is why did you did this old thread up?

 

Cause he's a woman.

:wabbit2:

 

Who started this thread.... Me?????

 

[QUOTE=waskillywabbit;51972603]Cause he's a woman.

:wabbit2:[/QUOTE

You better not be calling anybody a woman here on this forum!!!