Spiker Engineering Lower Ball Joint Bolt Test (1st Gen)

I'll be doing some front end work soon so I'll be ordering new bolts. Trying to recap this thread.

@NickB_01TRD @spiker @richsadams

For my 2002. I believe I have the rubber protective boots. It sounds like the best options are:

1. ARP 663-1004 torqued to spec(59 ft lbs for 2002) $50.22 with shipping from Summit
   
2. Toyota (black) 90119-10933. $1.49 each=$11.92 for 8.

Did I miss anything? Since I'm already placing a Toyota order with free shipping I'm not sure I want to spend $50 on the ARP bolts. Leaning towards buying new ones from Toyota instead.



Edit- I just read Spikes test closer. It seems if I go with the black bolts I should only torque to 37 ft-lbs.

"There is one caveat about the Black bolt that must be mentioned. This bolt was designed to be torqued to 37 ft-lbs, due to its very low friction coefficient. The downside of this is that if these bolts are torqued to the more commonly quoted FSM torque of 59 ft-lbs, they will likely yield. We’ve seen many forum posts where folks have torqued the Black bolts to 59 ft-lbs and had them break, then concluded (wrongly) that the Black bolts must be weaker than others. So the caveat is that if these Black bolts are installed in trucks that originally came with Red or Green bolts, anyone working on these trucks in the future must be told to torque the bolts to the lower torque values. This is particularly important if you let a mechanic work on your truck, who may not be aware that you installed non-factory bolts with lower torque requirements."

 

Black bolts will probably do you well. I do believe they said that the bolts were longer to help with the protection boots. So as long as you have the boots you should be good. I was worried they'd be too long for truck with no boots but I haven't been able to confirm that yet.

 

Nick, the ARP 663-1004 hardened bolts and washers fit the new Toyota lower ball joints (no boots) on our '00 SR5 AC 4WD perfectly. More here:

https://www.tundras.com/threads/lower-ball-joints-part-numbers.97100/page-5#post-2926386

 

Sorry I was referring to the black Toyota brand bolts (90119-10933)
I'm running the ARPs as well.

 

Ohhh... didn't try those.

 

So if I’ve deciphered this thread. I could use the arp 663-1004 or the black 9010512316 for my LBJ replacement on my 2004 AC?

 

The 04s are a weird year. I think some have the "old style" ball joints and some have the "new style" you'd have to figure out what style ball joints you have. Maybe post up some pics of what you have. Your production date may be good as well.

 

Will do. I already have the OEM replacement LBJ’s so I’ll post some tomorrow.

 

So the manufacture date is 02/04. Here are some photos of what’s on the truck and what I received from the dealer.

 

Those lower shock bushings look like they've seen better days. Not quite to the point of clapped out, but not far.

Closest to OEM replacement can be had with

$345 Bilstein's 4600 Monotube Gas OEM Shocks Set for 2000-2006 Toyota Tundra 2WD 4WD

Bilstein's 4600 series.

 

I have some icons getting ready to go in. Just gathering all the stuff to do it at the same time. Forgot to order replacement bolts and stumbled on this thread.

 

Man, if you're replacing your UCA to compensate for the lift you're putting in, I hope your upper balljoints aren't as much of a bitch as mine. I could've done everything I needed to on each side in under 30 minutes. Spent probably 2.5 hours trying to get that bastard UBJ out.

 

Wanting to keep the lift less than 2.5. Don’t currently plan on replacing the UCAs. I’ll cross that road if I need to.

 

I'm in the same boat, with same cab, in the same color

Ideally looking to dial in around 2.25" with my COs. Definitely need extended swaybar links at that height. I'm hoping I don't need the added camber from UCAs, but suspect it'll help more than anything with wheel/tire fitment than alignment.

 

- extended sway bar links added to list…
For some reason the list keeps getting bigger.

What ones are you going with?

 

Same ones from the suspension section of this thread. It's what many are using, whether for OEM replacement or lifted applications (anything 1" - 3.5").

​

 

You're the first member besides myself that I've seen with a 1st gen in Knoxville. Welcome.

 

Yeah man, they’re great trucks. I’ve had the truck for about 4 years. I’m just now getting around to all the stuff that needs to be done. Mainly because I didn’t take the time to learn about it. Found this forum and my wallet has just been getting lighter and lighter, but I’m enjoying it so far.

 

I have the suspension maxx sway bar links as well @Trailsy27. The only thing I would add is to buy or make a super thin, 14mm, open end wrench. The bottom bolt on the links are right up against where you mount.

I rarely advocate anything on the 'zon, but this is worth the $9

$10 Capri Tools 14 mm x 15 mm Super-Thin Open End Wrench, Metric, 11850-1415

https://www.amazon.com/Capri-Tools-Super-Thin-Wrench-Metric/dp/B0791XJ8WC

 

Thanks for the tip!

 

Those look to be the bigger joints to me. I was hoping someone else would chime in as I haven't even seen the 04-06 set in person before. In that case you'd need the 9010512316.

 

Gotcha, thanks!

 

I have learned how important this thread is….

When I bought the truck, I checked the lower ball joints and could tell that they had been replaced.

Unfortunately, they either used inferior bolts or over torqued the original ones or something because all four bolts failed on the highway.




On that note, if anybody’s looking to buy a 1st GEN Total Chaos +3.5 long travel set up, let me know, never got to install mine

 

Wow, @tokolosh that is terrifying. just glad you're okay!

 

Ooof. Bro. So sorry this happened to you, but grateful you shared. Hope you're cool, I know it takes hours and sometimes days for the shock of something like this to wear off.

 

Big oof. Lbj's & arb bolts just moved way up my list.

If i can sell my jeep i'll probably be very interested in the tc stuff.

 

So sorry that happened to you. I'm glad you're ok.

 

This is the first time I've seen the LBJ fail at highway speed. Oddly enough, each one I've seen was at low speed and some claimed the truck was making warning noise before it happened. @tokolosh , you're saying the bolts failed rather than the ball joint. Were you able to snap any pictures you can share?

Again, so sorry this happened. Do you think you'll buy another 1st gen?

 

I was gonna say the same thing. There's more stress on things while at low speeds. It's wild that this happened on the highway. This is also an 05 with the better joint setup. Interesting to see the bolts fail. Wonder if junk bolts, old bolts, or what.

Happy everyone is alright but this is why this ball joint thing isn't just some bullshit like some think it is.

 

I think he was right about em being over torqued and snapping. But im kinda surprised the ubj & steering came off with it. When my lbj let go in the blazer @ 65 i was able to limp it to the shoulder, but i also used the ebrake to slow down, instead of the main brakes.