Not all states in the US do a full vehicle Safety Inspection, most just do Emissions inspections. But I know up here in MA they do a full inspection on 96+ Vehicles, hence the reason why I still have my 95 Hatch (No Emissions FTW!)

 

Got it back from the dealership today, didnt come out to bad, I had them replace the other side too since I didnt know how old it was either. The bill was $550 so it was less then I expected. The new ball joints have grease fittings on them, so thats awesome.

 

I like that they're greasable but didn't know Toyota offered them that way.

 

where in canada is this practice? It sure isnt in BC.

 

Just throwing this out there.. when you lift the vehicle up on the frame.. the wieght of the torsion bars/coils puts pressure on the ball joints so you wont' notice play. You need to get a jack under the lower control arm as close to bj and lift it enough to get the tire off the ground to get a crow bar underneath the tire and then you use the bar to move the tire up and down to check for play. and yes up down is for ball joints side to side is for tie rods, pitman arm, idler arm/steering parts.

 

What part of NC are you from?

 

I'm from right outside Charlotte, but I live in Boone now, I go to App State.

 

wait a sec...first you say you only had the runner 3 months or so (first post)

then you go and say that you had it up on the lift like a year ago checkin everything out????

 

cool...Im in Boone every weekend. Im getting ready to head up there the back way through the richlands and sampson...If you see a beat up Tacoma flag me down

 

worked at tire kingdom.damn i feel sorry for you. sorry ass company

 

I was just wondering why if you worked at this tire shop and had mechanics there and lifts, then why did you go and spend $550 to have the stealership fix your truck?

I'm not bashing your shop, just wondering if the mechanics there know their stuff.
You could have saved a lot of $$ doing this yourself.

 

same thing happened to me but i was going down the road doing 35 and thought i hit a pot hole and BANG! heard a horrible scraping noise and pulled over to see my entire right front tire/spindle/brake line/ ABS wire wedged under my yota yea wasnt a great day i bent the top of the spindle pulled out both balljoints and bent the rim

 

The balljoints on early Tacomas and 96 to 04 4runners, Tundras and Tacomas are all non failsafe designs. The ball is above the lower control arm which leads to the ball constantly being pulled apart from its socket. When it fails it will totally separate causing the arm to drop to the road. Toyota has since switched to the failsafe design which compresses the ball into the socket instead of trying to pull it apart. The ball is under the lower control arm now instead of on top of it...05 and up Tacomas, 4Runners, FJ Cruiser and new Tundras. If the ball gets worn and loose it will not pull apart and drop on the road.