Just Scored My Unicorn - Now What?

My .02, if it isn't broken don't fix it. Lower ball joints and spark plugs, yeah go for it. If you aren't up to mileage/age for a timing belt and water pump you might hold off and save your $$. The timing belts are critical on these, but they last a lot longer than the replacement interval assuming they haven't been soaked in antifreeze or oil. Pull the timing belt cover back and take a look, if it looks good, leave it for now.

If you read through this forum there are plenty of examples of people creating headaches for themselves by "over maintaining" their trucks and causing collateral damage.. replacing things that aren't necessary or just poking the bear in general.

62,000 miles, 4X4 and the V8!! You did indeed catch a unicorn.

 

Congrats on your purchase. Nice looking truck!

 

• Needs new plugs and coils (should I re-do the valve cover gaskets while I'm at it?)
• Some idiot rattle-canned the underbody with ghetto off the shelf line-x. There's no rust, I don't know what they were hiding. Does anybody do an underbody detail/prep with an outdoor lift and a hotsie? I want to detail the crap out of this thing to really be able to see what I need to replace due to age

Congrats. I think valve cover gaskets would be a good idea since they tend to leak on these engines. You're not necessarily to the mileage, but with age they're probably pretty as well.

 

Is that part number for the 05? When I look it up it says fitment not verified even with vin.

 

Correct, none of the recall kits will show guaranteed fitment and fitment gets iffy at crossover years. The recall/TSB/SSC documents for each truck will give the VIN# cutoff for each year, and the crossovers are (if memory serves) in (at least) '02 and '04. Furthermore, many dealerships won't let you order the kit straight-up, or wil ltell you "part doesn't exist". The part (for a long time) won't even pull up in the Toyota Parts online system.

In the sticky thread section for the 1st gen subforum, you'll find a 'lower ball joint' sticky thread. On the first page, I listed the recall kits. Unless you're in a crossover year, like you, who have an '05 and it's clear which kit is for you, the kit will work.

Just know: When buying the kit, some items are not included. Buying the whole LBJ outright you'll get the castle and cotter, and only need to buy 4 new bolts for each joint. The recall kit is the joint, and only the joint. It may not even include the rubber boot/flange. You'll need to re-use stuff.

Can't recommend enough getting fresh bolts, and again, see the LBJ parts thread for part numbers, since there are a few options. For the '05-'06 if you want to buy outside of the kit, here's everything you need to order (I just replaced mine, this is from my order)

Left (driver) Part Number: 43340-39595
Right (passgr) Part Number: 43330-39825
Bolt (need 8): 90105-12316​

 

The recall kit (containing two ball joints and two cotter pins) are valid for these trucks:

 

Looks like LBJ recall replacement was performed by a dealer in 2007. I'll have them check it when they do the timing belt etc, and everything feels tight, so it sounds like I'm good?

Do the improved recall joints have any known issues?

 

How do you guys look up everything that has been done to your VIN without taking it to the dealer? I have seen a few chime in before in threads like this and tell the OP what all has been done, are these people who work at a dillership and just being nice with the info or is there a way to look up everything that has been done to your VIN?
I went thru the Carfax on mine when i bought it but it didnt have those details about the ball joints or any of the other TSB stuff. If i can look it up myself, does anybody gotta link?

 

https://www.toyota.com/owners/
Create an account and input your VIN.

 

The recall ball joints will eventually be a problem when they wear out. However, your truck only has 60k miles on it with fewer miles on the replaced ball joints. I wouldn't worry about the ball joints for another 50k miles or so.

 

I did, i have put the VIN in multiple times in the /my-vehicle/service-history-user and in the /recall sections and nothing tells me anything.... Any help in guidance thru the website?

 

ahhhh finally found it.

 

I definitely had some weirdness after lifting with my LBJ and only ~77k miles. Pretty sure mine were done around 5k, I don't remember. 100k is a good estimate, but with age, grease tends to cake and harden.

 

1
5/2014
04-06 TUNDRA RUST

04-06 TUNDRA RUST ~|~ORDER KIT FOR DOD RUSTPROOF ~|~CERTAIN 2004-2006 TUNDRAS MAY EXHIBIT SIGNS OF RUST PERFORATION ON THE FRAMES ~|~RUSTPROOFED FRAME PER DOD RECALL OP: 3628C2

does this mean the frame was coated with the rust inhibitor stuff?

and this means the LBJ was done?
1
11/2007
70B RPL BALL JNT,CK&ADJ ALGN SSC

70B RPL BALL JNT,CK&ADJ ALGN SSC ~|~70B RPL BALL JNT,CK&ADJ ALGN SSC ~|~COMPLETED 70B CAMPAIGN

 

Yes, and you're ineligible for any frame campaigns as a result.

 

Rustproofed…need to add that to the three great lies.

 

I know. If they actually did the job it was horrible. I hate it. They suck. I used the stuff called QUROX a chemical rust converter made by certified labs. It converts the rust to a black primer and then I primed the frame and painted it. But there are still areas between brackets and where the frame stiffener is that are rusted I can’t get to. There aren’t any holes but there was enough surface rust in places it made me sick. Dealer that sold it to me took pictures of the best parts, leaving out the worst on purpose. Cat heat shield bolts were all rusted thru and heat shields rattling, heat shield over the muffler rotted thru, Ect ect Ect. I was disheartened but I’ve made it thru it.