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diagnosing ball joints

Discussion in '1st Gen Tundras (2000-2006)' started by chester, Sep 22, 2020.

  1. Sep 22, 2020 at 7:31 AM
    #1
    chester

    chester [OP] best member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2020
    Member:
    #41497
    Messages:
    43
    Vehicle:
    2005 Double Cab SR5
    I'm new to Tundra's and bought 220k mile 1st gen. Thanks to this forum, I've gone completely through it and got it running perfect. Well, almost completely. The last item is ball joints. I've read many posts on here about them, and all the posts come in two flavors - 1) catastrophic failure, or 2) how to replace them. Where I'm struggling is how to determine if mine need replacing.

    I Googled symptoms of a bad ball joint, and I don't have any of the common issues. Normally, I would conclude that my truck is fine. However, I get the feeling from this forum that I should change them anyway. Is that correct? If so, why? Are they considered a wear item on this truck and should be preventatively replaced every x years?
     
  2. Sep 22, 2020 at 9:19 AM
    #2
    fytedapowr

    fytedapowr New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 16, 2018
    Member:
    #21771
    Messages:
    84
    Gender:
    Male
    First Name:
    Jake
    Austin TX
    Vehicle:
    '15 1794 4x4
    Bilstein 6112/5160, CB +2 shackles, SPC UCA's, CB bumper shims, 35's
    Since you have a gen 1, I would certainly thoroughly check your lower ball joints. Check the design difference between them and gen 2+, and you'll see why failure would be bad and how many people have had problems with them. I can't remember if they are already pressed in with the LCA like gen 2+, but if so, it's likely worth just buying new LCAs.

    the best way to check ball joints from what I've seen is to jack up the front where the tire is off the ground (frame or LCA) and move back and forth with hands at 9' and 3', then again at 12' and 6'. You can also create a lever with a 2x4 laying next to the tire and a lever (wrecking bar, 2x4 or whatever) under the tire and on top of the laying 2x4. Push down on the opposite end up the lever to lift the tire laterally up and down to check any extra movement in the joints. if you don't have a spotter to see the inside of the wheel well while lifting the tire up and down, you can video from a well positioned phone.
     
    ktundra likes this.
  3. Sep 22, 2020 at 10:25 AM
    #3
    ktundra

    ktundra rust be damned

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2018
    Member:
    #17429
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    First Name:
    Lex
    NJ
    Vehicle:
    06 Tundra DC Limited 4WD
    Bilstein 5100
    If you haven't already, create an account and enter your VIN at https://www.toyota.com/owners/

    See if this had been done previously at a Toyota facility and recorded, as it may have been done under recall/warranty for some models.
     
    Last edited: Sep 22, 2020
    Smily likes this.
  4. Sep 22, 2020 at 1:09 PM
    #4
    chester

    chester [OP] best member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2020
    Member:
    #41497
    Messages:
    43
    Vehicle:
    2005 Double Cab SR5
    Thanks. I just checked, and there's no mention of any ball joint replacement.
     

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