Ball joint broke on the highway....help....

Always thank the Lord for all circumstances. Bad things happen so we can have a challenge to rise to and to allow us to learn new things.

I met my wife because I got fired from a job I loved so much I'd have worked for free.

I got her to fall in love with me 11,000 miles away because I learned lessons from her immediate predecessor who lost interest when I didn't know how to handle internet relationships. On the plus side my wife is low maintenance and works like a Terminator programmed to mow grass.

You can do this. People here will help.

My help: get the right power tools for this job.

 

So I see you are a firefighter.

I am also a firfeighter. Captain in fact at this point after 20 years.

Guess what the very best powertool ever invented (IMO) for removing ball joints is?......that I happen to have access too.....did the job in two seconds.

 

One of you tech savy guys print that sticker (OEM or Die) and I'd buy.

 

Captain? WOW! (Hasty salute!). I was a firefighter, volunteer for two years with two different departments. What calls I went on I greatly enjoyed and felt I had some impact. I think it's a great way for someone to serve their community and learn life-saving skills at the same time. With my first department I saw some of the most selfless bravery one could imagine. Those guys were some hard chargers. The chief was exactly the kind of leader every man of action would want to have. (Wow, flood of memories just now).

*****
What powertool? Car cutter upper from the department crash truck?

 

Jaws from the crash truck, can apply tons of force, with high precision in a small space.

If they didn't cost $10,000 dollars I'm sure every mechanic would have them.

 

Once I put 2 and 2 together (the heat today has thrown my mind off a bit) I realized that is likely what you used.

Perks of the job!

 

Thats Crazy!!!
I've never seen anyone break a ball joint even in my many years of offroading!!

 

I saw the aftermath of such a failure. Sometime last fall, after joining this site and learning about the issue, a guy parked at the lumber area of Lowe's. I walked past, noticed it was a 1st gen. Tundra, missing the driver's outer and inner fenders!

I spoke with the owner. He said "it just collapsed while sitting at a gas station, tearing the fender off."

The man didn't know about OEM as a replacement, probably got whatever the garage threw on and he definitely wasn't interested in knowing the timing belt needed changed. SMH. He went on to say "I graduate nursing school this semester and I'll just buy a new truck."

Clearly a solid plan, sure to keep his debt to a minimum. LOL

 

It's a known issue on 1st gens.

https://www.tundras.com/threads/first-gen-lower-ball-joint-lbj-failures.141860/

 

Once I thought about it most of my off roading was done in a Tacoma which is a hell of a lot lighter than the Tundra.
I'd bet that has a lot to do with it.

 

You pulled out the jaws of life to work on the truck? That's awesome! Please tell me you got pictures of that.

 

Ah...You'd think they could beef up the joint by going with a different material.
As a Machinist(retired)there's all kinds of stronger materials out there,while it may cost more initially at least you wouldnt run the risk of getting into a wreck and possibly killing yourself or worse someone else.

 

I don't have a picture of it, but I'm sure someone does. It's not a matter of material used, but design of the joint. Ours are in constant tension with the weight of the truck trying to rip the joint apart. They flipped the design for the 2nd gen eliminating the issue. They do make a uniball kit that partially eliminates the design, but it's pricey.

 

Either way you're gonna have to either change the design or go with a stronger material.

 

I think that’s Mevotech Supreme which they are not supreme - more like shit.

 

That's how it seems to go. Everything breaks at the same time whether you have one or 3 vehicles.

 

MS == MEVOTECH SUPREME. ('supreme' line)

"Supreme" should clearly be in quotes. But as @The Black Mamba so intelligently reported earlier, the blue boots were also a giveaway it was Mevotech.

 

Supreme Crap

 

It's a typo. They were supposed to be called Mevotech Subprime.

 

Woke up today at 9 with a headache. Asked my wife to get my a Tylenol and a Redbull....(caffine and tylenol usually work on headaches)....figured I would read on my ipad for a bit until they kicked in.

Woke up six hours later. Wife gone to work, dog and cat sleeping ontop of me....guess I was tired.

 

On facebook yesterday I was talking with a guy who did the uniball conversion after the originals failed, he then had the uniball fail a year later.

 

Trying to take my time today and put together an order with toyota.....can't sign in.....being told the service is down....

 

Toyota parts says these do not fit my vehicle.

 

Ok, glad you're getting it under control. I'm down in Beaverhead County.