95.5-2004 Tacomas & 96-2002 4Runners 4th gen pickups and 3rd gen 4Runners

Control arm bushings and ball joints

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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 01:24 AM
  #1  
BajaRunner's Avatar
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From: 5th Gen San Diegan, California
Control arm bushings and ball joints

well my lower control arm bushings and ball joints are shot....... anyone replace these?
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 08:42 AM
  #2  
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From: GSU/ATL/SD
Its time for some total chaos replacements
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 10:42 AM
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From: 5th Gen San Diegan, California
...I couldn't find any on their website for the lower arms? I also couldn't find the ball joints.

How hard is it to press out the lower joint? I'm assuming I'll need to take it to a shop. How hard is it to replace the control arm bushings?!

How come whenever I ask a question on this forum I never get any answers!?
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 10:46 AM
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From: Evanston, wy
is the lower BJ's?? I think they are about 70 a piece like a 14mm four bolts. .

Last edited by SnowRunner98; Sep 5, 2009 at 10:56 AM.
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 10:55 AM
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http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/artic...ticle_id=60227

hope this gets ya started. uppers, you need that press out kit from any part store. you can rent one, and make sure you have air. I used the slug adapter/ ball joint removal tool from TC.

control arm bushings i'm clueless.
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 12:17 PM
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From: San Diego
Do you have access to an air compressor? I can help. I live in N. County.
Can I see a picture of your lower control arm/ball joint area?
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 01:00 PM
  #7  
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From: Austin, Texas
LCA bushings are apparently a big PITA.
They need to be pressed out and pressed in.
Don't go poly just get oem rubber.
Or swap them out for some lower mileage LCA's
http://ttora.com/forum/showthread.php?t=140034

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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 02:19 PM
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From: AZ
The balljoints are a PAIN! All 4 of mine went out in a 1 week span also ripping my CVs. cost me $720 for all 4 and 2 cvs. Ya go with something designed for abuse.
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 04:17 PM
  #9  
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From: 5th Gen San Diegan, California
The guys at the alignment shop, who are known to be some of the best in SD County, (East County Alignment) told me that my lower pass ball joint need to be replaced and the LCA bushings needed to be replaced before I could even get an alignment. Annoying.

Thanks for those links.

DesertCamper...I live in Solana Beach, where abouts are you? No, no more air compressor for me.

Looks like finding some newer, used LCA's will be the way to go! Of course I sold my "spares" 2 years ago....
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Old Sep 5, 2009 | 09:35 PM
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From: San Diego
I'm up in Bonsall just north of Vista next to Oceanside. We could do this. I just looked under my roommates '98 4Runner to get familiar with that particular type of ball joint and it looks like a piece of cake.
Try "mini trucks" off of Newton ave. down by the Coronado bridge. They usually have plenty of Toyota's. Good source for your LCA's
East County Alignment is a good shop. I used to work at Beeline in Pacific Beach.

I have access to an air compressor in Ramona. I wouldn't mind trying the bushings too. If you have a lot of rust, from living by the beach, you might want to get some replacement cam bolts for it before we start. If you do get arms, try to get the cam bolts with them. The yard may just cut them out so you'll have to request them.
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Old Sep 6, 2009 | 09:11 AM
  #11  
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From: 5th Gen San Diegan, California
Thats funny, I was just in Bonsall yesterday picking up a MTR

I'll PM you.. .
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Old Jan 4, 2010 | 10:35 PM
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From: Fletcher Hills, CA
Look at the author of the fix-it article. Used to work with him.

How'd it turn out?

STICK
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Old Jan 5, 2010 | 07:20 AM
  #13  
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From: 5th Gen San Diegan, California
Well, this is what i did:
Bought lower mileage LCA's from DeathCougar (Josh) from Nix99. They had great bushings, and I decided to get brand new ball joints from NAPA. ($80 each).

I also bought a newer steering rack from DeathCougar.

Then I bought the Bilstein 5125 shocks and new Tundra coils from Sonoran Steel.

I just got back from a week in Baja and the ride was great, and the 400 miles on the twisty highway was good. The 100 miles offroad was great as well.

I am still getting a large CLUNK from the front on certain bumps (Usually at higher speeds, with an abrupt incline of the terrain). I cannot replicate it all the time. It must be something else. (No sway bar has been installed).

Next up are the Upper Ball joints, and after that, I am pretty unsure what else I could possibly replace.
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