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Ball joint!! Happy Friggen New Year to me!! Ugh

Discussion in '1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006)' started by Adventundra, Jan 11, 2023.

  1. Jan 11, 2023 at 6:37 PM
    #1
    Adventundra

    Adventundra [OP] New Member

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    Cap and bed slide
    Went to back out my 2001 to check some deer spots and drivers side dropped to the ground!! Good thing it didn’t happen while out driving around…especially the day before when me n my son were 45 mins from home out bird huntin in the woods!!

    I had scheduled the truck w a mechanic prior to this for front end work and he said after the holidays…now it sits in my driveway. He said he would come over and fix it in my driveway so towing it wouldn’t break anymore parts…but he been a no show so far. A tow truck can’t access the front of the truck….so they wud need to drag it onto a flat bed.
    If this mechanic is not a man of his word and fix it in the driveway…shud I have a tow truck drag it up a flat bed n bring it to a shop? I wud also try n do it myself but I have never done it before and wud need to jack it up somehow pretty high.

    8B201E74-F02D-4FCB-AE69-8A1DFB274D77.jpg
    0F6362EB-AA13-418E-A1BB-890FC20DB61B.jpg
    BCB4235C-8CB3-4EDB-A875-C5A57537CDDA.jpg
     
    Mr Badwrench likes this.
  2. Jan 11, 2023 at 6:45 PM
    #2
    Jack McCarthy

    Jack McCarthy Truck repair enthusiast; Rust Aficionado

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    Is it just the ball joint that snapped? Any damage to the spindle or upper control arm? You could get a jack in there if you have something stable to put it upon like a 2x10 or maybe 3 2x4s. You’d probably want to jack it under one of the front crossmembers to lift both sides of the truck and put jackstands underneath.

    Replace with OEM ball joints only. Most others are inferior and don’t last. Toyota even has a recall on them years back.

    Good luck.
     
    Last edited: Jan 11, 2023
    Adventundra[OP] and Aerindel like this.
  3. Jan 11, 2023 at 6:46 PM
    #3
    Aerindel

    Aerindel New Member

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    Its a pretty basic mechanical job if you are good at that stuff and have a decent jack. But really, I don't know you, so you have to figure out if your up to it or not yourself.
     
    Adventundra[OP] likes this.
  4. Jan 11, 2023 at 6:48 PM
    #4
    KNABORES

    KNABORES Sarcasm incoming

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    You could totally repair that ball joint. You got this.
     
    FrenchToasty and Adventundra[OP] like this.
  5. Jan 11, 2023 at 6:48 PM
    #5
    Adventundra

    Adventundra [OP] New Member

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    Cap and bed slide
    Thanks!! Just looks like ball came out of joint…I think no other damage.
     
  6. Jan 11, 2023 at 6:50 PM
    #6
    biebs96

    biebs96 my other truck is a big brown truck

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    It looks like it punctured the tire? Hopefully it’s just an indentation…
     
    Randy Morton likes this.
  7. Jan 11, 2023 at 6:52 PM
    #7
    KNABORES

    KNABORES Sarcasm incoming

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    Are those the original factory shocks?
     
  8. Jan 11, 2023 at 6:53 PM
    #8
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Thankfully you didn't have your 2001 TRD Pro cruising at 75 mph!
     
  9. Jan 11, 2023 at 6:54 PM
    #9
    Randy Morton

    Randy Morton Life takes its toll, please have exact change.

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    Looks like it's just an indentation. If it punctured the tire, the rim would probably be closer to the ground.
     
    Shark Bait and Adventundra[OP] like this.
  10. Jan 11, 2023 at 6:55 PM
    #10
    Adventundra

    Adventundra [OP] New Member

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    Thanks! I think I can do it…seems basic enough…I have repaired boat motors and other mechanical stuff …just have to jack it up high enough somehow. I will try and find some videos on replacing it.
     
  11. Jan 11, 2023 at 6:58 PM
    #11
    Adventundra

    Adventundra [OP] New Member

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    Cap and bed slide
    Yepper. I even took a different road the other day w less tandem dump truck traffic cuz I heard some squeaking down there…cud have drifted rt into oncoming lanes of those big rigs carrying fill dirt!! Wuda been a goner!!
     
  12. Jan 11, 2023 at 6:59 PM
    #12
    ColoradoTJ

    ColoradoTJ Certified tow LEO Staff Member

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    Thankfully that didn't happen.

    Swap out all those joints and be good for another 200K.
     
  13. Jan 11, 2023 at 7:00 PM
    #13
    Randy Morton

    Randy Morton Life takes its toll, please have exact change.

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    Yikes!
     
  14. Jan 11, 2023 at 7:03 PM
    #14
    Adventundra

    Adventundra [OP] New Member

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    Cap and bed slide
    Yup….just resting on the tire n causing an indentation….now I have to worry bout the integrity of that tire now. I knew I Shuda bought this LB a few wks ago!!! SMH

    2675C2FA-1B8B-48E4-956D-694378A59067.jpg
     
    Randy Morton[QUOTED] likes this.
  15. Jan 11, 2023 at 7:03 PM
    #15
    TILLY

    TILLY Gently Used Member

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    ^^^ THIS ^^^ Make sure to do both while you have in up in the air.
     
  16. Jan 11, 2023 at 7:07 PM
    #16
    shifty`

    shifty` Is the Gila Copter a love machine?

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    Sorry, that sucks! That LBJ looks newer than all the frame and stuff around it. Has it been replaced before?

    Current one that snapped doesn't necessarily look like OEM.
     
    Adventundra[OP] likes this.
  17. Jan 11, 2023 at 7:11 PM
    #17
    FirstGenVol

    FirstGenVol Brake Czar

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    Please use OEM replacements and buy new bolts while you're at it.
     
    BTBAKER and Adventundra[OP] like this.
  18. Jan 11, 2023 at 7:14 PM
    #18
    Adventundra

    Adventundra [OP] New Member

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    I think they were done many years ago…can’t remember much bout when
     
  19. Jan 11, 2023 at 7:15 PM
    #19
    Adventundra

    Adventundra [OP] New Member

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    WFD473 likes this.
  20. Jan 11, 2023 at 7:16 PM
    #20
    PenderBen

    PenderBen Forum lurker…

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    What front end work were you scheduled to have done?
     
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  21. Jan 11, 2023 at 7:21 PM
    #21
    Adventundra

    Adventundra [OP] New Member

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    Mechanic checked it out and said everything seemed “tight” but he could buy $500 in parts and $400 in labor to do a complete front end job….I imagine he was guna do both LBJs cuz the main issue was a horrible squeak while turning the steering wheel. Guys credibility dropped off big time since he been ghosting me
     
  22. Jan 11, 2023 at 7:22 PM
    #22
    Mr Badwrench

    Mr Badwrench New Member

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    On new years day there was a Tacoma in a Dennys parking lot with a failed LBJ, in my town. I was thinking to myself... what a sh!tty way to start a new year.
     
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  23. Jan 11, 2023 at 7:24 PM
    #23
    Adventundra

    Adventundra [OP] New Member

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    Lol. Yup. That’s exactly how I felt…& it was actually on New Year’s Day n been sitting since waiting on this guy.
    I got the kind of luck that….if it was raining titties…I wud get hit in the head w a dick!!!
     
    JasonC., CodyP, 16CMTXED and 3 others like this.
  24. Jan 11, 2023 at 7:25 PM
    #24
    PenderBen

    PenderBen Forum lurker…

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    Yeah, sounds like maybe time for a different mechanic ;-)
    I was going to suggest throwing a cheap aftermarket LBJ on just to get it to the shop, depending on what was scheduled to replaced, still could be an option- just don’t leave it on there.
    LBJ is pretty easy diy if you’ve got the tools for it.
     
    Adventundra[OP] likes this.
  25. Jan 11, 2023 at 7:27 PM
    #25
    Adventundra

    Adventundra [OP] New Member

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    Thanks! Tools are at a bare minimum…but my pal has a shop n cud probably borrow some jacks etc…fix it then get it in to his shop for other side
     
    PenderBen[QUOTED] likes this.
  26. Jan 11, 2023 at 7:31 PM
    #26
    Mr Badwrench

    Mr Badwrench New Member

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    It's not a terrible job, but it isn't fun. You don't really need any specialized tools besides a 36mm socket for the cv axle nut. You can pop the joint (what's left of it) out with a jack and two 3lbs.

    In the dead of winter, I'd probably opt to let someone else do it though, especially if the price was right.
     
  27. Jan 11, 2023 at 7:35 PM
    #27
    NickB_01TRD

    NickB_01TRD You don't need less cars, just more driveway.

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    As others have stated make sure and get OEM parts from a reliable source like rockauto and not Amazon. Do both sides either yourself or let the mechanic do the other side. Best of luck to ya.
     
  28. Jan 11, 2023 at 7:37 PM
    #28
    PenderBen

    PenderBen Forum lurker…

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    I didn’t remove the axle or anything, basically just unbolted all the LBJ bolts, removed cotter pin and castle nut, used a pickle fork to separate the ball joint and reassembled in reverse, torque to spec. Get new bolts too, don’t reuse the old ones.
    It’s been a couple years since I did mine so I don’t remember it vividly, but it was no drama (unlike the upper balljoint…).
     
  29. Jan 11, 2023 at 7:49 PM
    #29
    BTBAKER

    BTBAKER DIFFERENT NAME. SAME JUNK.

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    Good luck with the repairs. Really glad you weren’t hauling ass when it happened. :thumbsup:
     
    Adventundra[OP] likes this.
  30. Jan 11, 2023 at 9:28 PM
    #30
    Aerindel

    Aerindel New Member

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    This is how I do it too. No need to take the axle off.
     
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