Joints and Arms

Hey everyone! Newbie on the block here,

First, I want to thank everyone for being a great source of laughs and information. (Long time reader)

My 02 Tundra is closely reaching 190k and the UBJ's are shot. I plan on replacing both the Uppers and Lowers with OEM. Thanks to everyone's experience and stories, shelling out for OEM ball joints is an easy decision.

I'm also considering replacing both upper and lower control arms due to mileage and I don't want to press out the UBJs if the UCAs don't last another 200k. Does this sound reasonable?

If so, would I want to go OEM or aftermarket for Arms? Should I consider OEM bushings instead?

 

Assuming you have gotten 190k out of the originals. I'd probably give a new set a go for another 150k and then start to monitor them a little bit closely once again. Just my opinion.

 

Welcome to the forum from OKC!

 

Welcome. I would assume your assumptions are correct. However, not having done my UBJ and while at 250K, it's hard for me to say personally how long the OEM will last but one would expect it to last just as long.

 

Here's where my brain is ...

Determining factor for next-steps depends on how the UCA and LCA bushings look. Are they still in good shape? If not, it's easier to replace arms than press out/in fresh bushings, IMO. Unless you press out and replace w/poly bushings.

Also, any plans to eventually level the truck, or maybe lift an inch or three? If you may lift or level in the future, maybe opt for an OEM-looking aftermarket UCA with a non-delta/non-uniball joint that's good for lifted & stock applications

While you're already set on UBJ/LBJ, with the LBJ being the one that's really critical to stay OEM, you may have alternate options for your LCAs. This thread covers some non-OEM alternatives and when they were fail/success.

Remember, LBJ hardware is important too.

And if you need to replace your cam bolts/sleeves because they're seized or you need to cut them out, replace w/OEM also. Non-OEM apparently have issues with using plastic sleeves vs. metal.

Welcome to the forum!

 

Welcome!

UBJ's aren't too hard to do, just take the knuckle off completely when/if you go to do it. I've seen videos of people that have left the knuckle on, but I'm not one of them, apparently... if you have the $$, go buy a BJ/bearing press kit from Harbor Freight, great to have and the loaner tools from the auto-parts stores are probably missing several pcs anyway.

UCA's themselves, however, are super easy to do. If you go aftermarket, just consider if you want to do sealed or open/uni-ball style. Depending where you live (and how much you like to spray PTFE dry lube on them) sealed might be the way to go.

I haven't done LCA's, yet, but I have heard/read that it is better to by the whole assembly instead of monkeying around with the bushings.

 

Had a flash back with thread title….joints and arms….you bogart joint, we break arms

 

I ended up ordering everything OEM. Peace of mind for another 200k! However, I'm having difficulty finding p/n for cam bolts and sleeves. Any help would be appreciated

 

The small section above the red text at the top of this post will help you track down the parts/numbers you're looking for.

Specifically, after you plug your VIN into the box and search, you're gonna wanna hit "Transmission and chassis" section. Then "Front spring & shock absorber" section down the page. Once there, click "open full size scheme" under the picture, then you can click on the picture of each part you want and it'll spit up the part number above the top of the pic. You'll need to order two of everything obvs.

For my '06, I see the bolts show up with their full part number, but the sleeves etc. you've got to click to open the part number. Don't use my parts here, my '06 is different from your '02.

 

You're the man @Shifty! Surprisingly all our LCA hardware does match according to that data link.

 

Interesting! I assumed with the LBJs having different p/n, the LCA and cam bolts would also.

Thanks for fishing! Let us all know how it pans out.