sprockmember

It's funny... the 2001 and 2002 4runners have a ball joint recall... but not the 2000's... hmmm...






I really just wanted to show off my flex...

scuba

I like em when it happens to other trucks
JK. That sucks. How many miles are on em ?

I just changed out all of my ball joints at 135K miles.

sprockmember

I've got about 140...

Elton

could of been much worse !

clydehatchet

...ouch

Yukon

Wow! That sucks... Putting new ball joints on my list..

4Yoter

Damn that sucks.

did it cause any other damage to anything?

AZkid

shows you why not to jump

scuba

Looks to me like he'll need a new fender/fender flare and a tire. I've seen when this happens to others.. Op is lucky if it didn't rip the CV apart. Looks like the door escaped. I don't see any fluids on the ground so I don't think he ripped a brake line or pulled the CV out of the diff. That's about all I can think that could be damaged.

FogRunner

Just remember to use Toyota OEM ball joints. Moog's quality has gone to the crapper.


Fog

JamesD

How many miles on your truck?

jason191918

read posts 2 and 3....

CLin9383

dang that sucks. i searched but could not find any answers but is there anyway you can tell if your ball joint is about to go? I mean i'd rather change it to prevent this type of accident. is it necessary to change both upper and lower at the same time? i just hit 164k on my 4runner and want to avoid any major break downs as it is my only vehicle. thanks!

LINY4Runner

It's really just something you change as a preventative measure. Sometimes you can feel slack in them when you try to shimmy the wheel top-to-bottom, but this is a different situation. The metal sheared off and there was probably not much to tip anyone off that this would happen.
With all the horror stories and pictures like this, I would recommend changing them at about the same intervals as your timing belt, 90-125k.
At just about $200, and turbo-easy to do in your driveway, there's no reason not to do it.

DailyDrive

When was the last time a safety inspection was done by a professional on that vehicle? I don't see any stickers on the windshield.

sprockmember

Define professional...

I wheel with a mechanic, we checked the rig out before I bought it, as well as just about everytime I'm out at his place to ask questions and such. There was no front end clacking, or grease spots around it (I actually do check that sort of thing). I wasn't doing anything crazy, just a left hand turn from a stop.

What scares me about professionals/experts, is they think they know it all... and are usually quick to sell you parts you don't need. I have a friend that worked for honda who said they never really "fixed" anything, they just replaced the broken/worn part with new parts.

Man... DailyDrive, I don't know why, but that post totally rubbed me the wrong way.

Thanks for the support guys, the teardown begins today, even though I won't be able to get parts until tomorrow. I'll try to document what I've done even though I've already found a few post that runs through the upper and lower ball joint replacement

J2F42C

Good luck with it. Mine not only started leaking but made creaking noises as well.

Each state is different with inspections. NC requires them (where I live) have rather laid back inspections. VA is all buisness when it comes to them. SC, where I went to college and my parents live, did away with them in 96.

When my friend's went out on him last year rolling out his driveway (lucky), he had not visible signs of failure other than 148,000 miles on them. He replaced the CV, the outer tie rod, and both the right and left lower and upper ball joints. Then he got an alignment and was good to go. I know that does nothing to help the fender, but at least it gets your 4runner rolling.

I love MT. My cousin worked for Moonlight Basin in Big Sky setting off controlled charges for the ski lodge so all the rich ski posers could ski without incident. I was in Big Sky for half the year in 05, camping at the Greek Creek off 191, and really exploring the Gallatin Forest. I worked at the Ace Hardware at the corner of 191 and 64. I never made it to Billings, just to Big Timber once. Ode to be there again.....

scuba

Here's this post...
http://www.ttora.com/forum/showthrea...ve+tony&page=2

My sincere advice though.. Pull the knuckle completely. Take the CV out, pull the brake lines.. Take the things to a shop that does ball joints. They should charge you about 40-60 bucks to press out and in the upper ball joints. The lowers are a cinch, just need the 2 jaw puller.
I tried to do it like the write up above and failed. I could do the lowers just fine but when it came to pressing in the uppers I was over my head.


What proof do you have of this ?

Qyota

Is an alignment required after new lower BJs?

Matt16

^No, unless you remove the lower control arm, which you don't.