Help Please - lower ball joint hardware

I need the correct part numbers for the LBJ mounting bolts and castle nuts for a 2004 Tundra SR5 V8 EC.

I bought a factory recall set of LBJs, new-old-stock, less hardware.

I've read all the Spiker Eng. test reports and they seem to be for '96 to '02 4Runners. Plus I've spent many hours trying to find the right bolts for an '04, but there are too many conflicting numbers that I have had no luck knowing which ones are the correct numbers.

 

https://www.tundras.com/threads/lower-ball-joints-part-numbers.97100/

https://www.tundras.com/threads/howto-use-the-toyota-parts-system-to-find-order-parts.113808/

Those two threads from the sticky thread section here on the forum are what you need. 2004 is a crossover year, which means there was a change in part# mid-year. Nobody on this forum will be able to give you better info on this than, say, your local dealership’s parts counter. But the 2nd of those threads will point you to the part number directly using the first few gullet points. You’ll find it in the Chassis section, under front steering knuckle, which will be a little more than halfway down the list in the 2nd picture at the EPC site.

This is one of those rare times when I’d tell you NOT to put the onus of getting the right part number on a random internet stranger. Call your local parts counter at the dealership nearest you OR call Ourisman Toyota and confirm with them before you order from them. Sadly, you just missed the 25% off sale with Toyota nationally. It ended Sunday night.

 

I think they just started another 4 day 25 percent off special. I ordered tie rod ends this afternoon and it was the 25 percent off, free shipping over $75.

 

Yup. Screenshot from just now.

 

For 2004 Tundras, the answer is pretty straightforward depending on whether you have the 14 mm or the 17 mm bolt heads and spindles. If you have the bigger ball joints with 17 mm bolt heads (throw a socket on it) then they should have been replaced under Special Service Campaign (SSC) 70B using the exact same LBJ replacement kit as the 05-06 Tundras. That kit was Part No. 04006-62134.

I am curious as to how you got a recall kit without the castle nuts and cotter pins included???

I replaced my LBJs in the fall using the same LBJs and bolts as the 05-06 crowd verified by Toyota South (TSR) and Toyota Knoxville (TKN) Parts Staff. There are 3 different bolts that can be used on the 17 mm big.LBJs. I have two of the bolt part #s in front of me since I ordered both sets. They are:

90105-A0187 Flange Bolt [Alternative]
90105-12316 Flange Bolt [Primary]

Here is what they look like side by side compared to the original bolt at 222k. From L to R:

1) 90105-12316 - More polished appearance with heavier coating of factory red thread locker.
2) 90105-A0187 - Less polished appearance, lighter coating of red thread locker, a single thread longer, and appearance very similar to original LBJ bolt. This is what I am currently running on my 04 AC.
3) Original Bolt off production line assuming the bolts were re-used during the LBJ replacement at 50k under SSC 70B instructions.



One note of caution, the TMC Autoparts site was a hot mess and listed a limited production ball joint that I was not familiar with and didn't make sense. I have those different part #s in my notes but not listing to avoid confusion. Also, if you log into Autoparts by VIN or Yr/Model and select a dealer it carries the faulty LBJ part #s over to the dealership site. For fun and games, I checked the EPC parts site linked in the Parts sticky thread and it also lists some strange part # that is not correct. Go figure.

Again, independent Parts verification by three different Toyota Parts Departments yielded the mounting bolt part #s listed for these 17mm LBJs that I installed:

43340-39595 Lower Ball Joint Assembly Left Hand with Knuckle Arm
43330-39825 Lower Ball Joint Assembly Right Hand with Knuckle Arm

These came equipped with the Lower Ball Joint Dust Cover Protector (43346-34010), so no need to order separately. The assembly also included the castle nut and cotter pin so I never bothered to look up those part numbers either. Maybe someone else with the 17 mm bolts can help you there.

Edit: Ourisman Toyota (OTR) correctly lists my LBJs by VIN and identifies the castle nut and cotter pin part #s for the 17 mm LBJs listed above as the following:

1) 90171-18003 Lower Ball Joint Retainer Nut (2004-2006 Tundra)
2) 95381-03225 Lower Ball Joint Cotter Pin (2000-2006 Tundra). Note: There is a misprint in the SSC 70B Parts List that shows this as the castle nut. Also the bulletin identifies this part for CPs as:
3) 90252-03015 LBJ Kit Cotter Pins

https://toyotaparts.ourismantoyotaofrichmond.com

I have some info on the 14 mm, including SSC 50J if that is what you have but obviously not what I needed or used. If you have the smaller LBJ, best to check with a dealer.

 

This info is awesome should be in the LBJ sticky thread.

Recall kit - all I've seen at least - are just the bare joint and rubber guard bolted on in some (or possibly all) cases. No castle, no cotter. Did you order a recall kit and get castle + cotter? Bare joints come with those extras for sure. Just haven't seen the kit come with it.

 

I bought this kit from Ourisman in September 2024 for my 06 DC. It only came with the two LBJ's and 4 cotter pins. Ourisman stated that's what it comes with.
I bought the nuts and bolts separate.

04006-62134. Both lower joints. No castle nuts or bolts.
90105-12316. Bolts
90171-18003. Nuts
2 of the cotter pins fit the tie rod ends but the other 2 were kind of small for the LBJ nut so I used a bigger one.

 

From what i am gathering, the "KIT" was what they sent the dealers for the recall. This was for the trucks when they were relatively new so Toyota planned on the dealers reusing the castle nuts. 04006-62134. Both lower joints. No castle nuts or bolts.

You can buy the LBJ independently and they come with:
43340-39595 Lower Ball Joint Assembly Left Hand with Knuckle Arm
43330-39825 Lower Ball Joint Assembly Right Hand with Knuckle Arm
These came equipped with the Lower Ball Joint Dust Cover Protector, castle nut, and cotter pin.

 

At this point does the OP even know if he has the right ball joints because wouldn't that coincide with the smaller or larger bolts?

 

They make two types in the same diameter/length. Grade 8's (I think) and some others with washers, not sure the grade.

 

Guys, the recall lower ball joint kit I bought was from an eBay seller. From what I've read above, those kits did not have castle nuts, cotter pins, or mounting bolts. I got Toyota 43330-39825 and 43340-39595 LBJs.

I'll check the original mounting bolt head size when the weather clears up again.

Thanks for all the feedback, especially from TnPlowBoy - GTREAT write-up!

I have one more question, ugh, I know, as the two LBJs arrived today... Why do the LBJs have two upper holes with what looks like extended shims that stick out lower than the face of the other side's machined bolt head faces?
Are they positioners for RH and LH?

 

Dude. Never. Ever. Ever. Buy parts on fleaBay or scAmazon. Counterfeit/knockoff hell on there. There is ZERO legitimate reason to ever buy auto parts on either place. How do you know the parts you got are -00% authentic, and who are you going to go after for damages if they’re not, and fail?

 

Those are to center your part so the holes line up properly. You’ll understand when you install.

 

Hi -I'm a little late to the party, but any chance you noticed if there were actual part numbers the LBJs themselves? I'm confused because the SSC/recall (70B) describes what's in the 04006-62134 kit. It looks like the castle nut and cotters are supposed to be included, but I'm not super concerned about that. What I am wondering is why the RH and LH LBJ part numbers mentioned don't match up in any parts catalogs -- even as superseded parts. I'd assume Toyota would assemble the kit using existing parts with real numbers, but who knows, maybe they had a run of special "kit" LBJs made (and if so, are they better? worse? same?

04006-62134 Lower Ball Joint Kit listed above includes the following parts:
• 43340-34012, Lower Ball Joint Assembly LH (Quantity 1) (comes up as a pinion gear in the catalogs)
• 43330-34032, Lower Ball Joint Assembly RH (Quantity 1) (comes up as
• 90252-03015, Cotter Pins (Quantity 2) • 95381-03225, Nut (Quantity 2)​

I know I can get the joints individually using Vin via the Toyota part vendors, but it's so much cheaper to buy them as the recall kit. I figure if it worked when they did the recall on my rig in 2006, then they should work now. Right?

 

"So much cheaper"?

I paid 10-15% more getting them individually during a sale. Interestingly, a similar sale for 15% off is going on for the next 3-4 days. And buying individually I got new cotters and castle nuts.

I challenge this idea that "it's so much cheaper". If you're worried about compatibility, just buy the individual parts, my friend. The kits have no guarantee of fitment, and you've provided zero info on what year/production date your truck is inside your profile, so no clue how anyone here is supposed to help you figure out whether or not that kit is apropos for you.

That SSC was issued, what, 15 years ago? The part numbers are likely not going to match up. And no dealer is going to give you compatibility on the kit - it's not intended for consumer sale, it's intended for dealership service departments. There is an internal tool they use (@BubbaW has pointed to it for some years) to confirm SSC kit fitment based on VIN. But I want to say it's only valid for certain years.

 

Whoa, you're comin' hot ;-)

....Ourisman lists the kit at $183.44. The left and right LBJ come out to 274.12. So almost $100 difference ... a lot more than 10-15 percent. As for the castles and cotters -- I've seen other reports other places where people have received them (as well as the boots) with the kit. So that's a bit of an unknown and may be an extra cost, but it's still more than 10-15 percent diff.

As for compatibility -- I'm not exactly worried, more that I'm collecting data. If @gagecalman did have part numbers on the individual BJ it would be helpful to me and others.

I'm sorry I didn't have info about my vehicle in my profile. I set it up years ago but I guess I never completed it. That's done now. I've stopped by here a fair amount of the years, but apparently haven't posted (people who know me would be surprised by that). Vehicle is an 05 Sequoia 4x4 SR5. Build date is 02/04. I'm fairly confident that it falls into the "late" 04 size LBJs.

I have the 17mm bolts, 24mm castle, and longer LBJ "base" than they were using in the late 03-early 04. Measurements and visuals match up with my son's 06 Tundra Access Cab LBJs. Finally, I have the factory records and the recall was done (in 06) under the
70b recall, which is for the "later" Tundras and Sequoias. There's only 1 kit according to the 70b SSC (for a whole lot of vehicles) and one kit for the 50j (early) SSC, so I don't know why it wouldn't fit, but I will admit that my limited experience with Toyotas has shown me they're a bit fast and loose with part numbers and documentation.

I get that they're not in the compatibility business on a dealer-only kit. But I was surprised that the LBJ numbers listed as being in the kit aren't "real" on the parts site -- at least any longer in 2025. The idea that Toyota doesn't save/cross reference/supersede 15-20 year old part numbers kind of blows my librarian mind. I come from a long line of beater VW/Audi. You can find part numbers actively maintained 40 years later. Anyway, so that's why I asked if those individual LBJ has numbers on them and why I was speculating that maybe they came up with a recall kit and numbers specifically for kit components. It certainly would help with tracking in the future if the Toyota or NHTSA wanted data on failures after the recall.

Yeah, that tool is for the early vehicles (under the 50J SSC). But it's kind of helpful in that it'll reject your vehicle if it doesn't apply. Doc is here and it includes a link to the tool. The 70B doc is also helpful because it references years and vins for both Tundra and Sequoia to help determine if the later kit will work with a specific truck.

 

I'm with Shifty on this one. I never saw the value in buying the kit. I bought mine on a Toyota National Sale last year for $208 Total [includes both LH & RH ball joints], out the door - tax (none), delivery (free) and all, for about a $20 difference - except mine came with the dust protector, castle nuts, and cotter pins. Plus, by the time you add sales tax and shipping onto Ourisman, where do you stand as to actual cost?

 

Nah, you're applying a hot tone to my message, I can't control that

That's cool, but who shops at Ourisman nowadays, and why?

2004 is a crossover year (I think maybe on Sequoia too?) so I don't know if the production year VIN I used will be same parts as yours, but I'm seeing my preferred dealer, with free ship, no tax (if you're outside Alabama), with the current 15% off sale is $215 out the door, to your doorstep. You'll add tax if you're in Alabama, but I think $213 buying individually for everything I mentioned is way the hell better than $208 out the door. You've got 3 days 19 hours from the time of this reply before the sale ends ... but even off-sale, they're $125/ea side for a 2004 Sequoia 4WD (price below is that $125 - 15%)

We have reports in here that the boots came. Haven't seen castles and cotters yet. That's taken from our LBJ parts# sticky thread at the top of this subforum.

​

 

Oh, and just a comment to add, you'll find a lot of other VW enthusiasts on here, current and former VW owners/tweakers, me included. I agree, tes, ETKA is a hell of a lot better with upkeep on parts data. But you must understand, that kinda goes with German culture. Germans will keep a mountain of data to ensure proper service on a grain of sand, or even legacy for that matter. Japanese are, IMHO, a bit more practical about maintaining what is logical, keeping the things that make sense. I'm sure there are more recent documents, but once you get 10-12 years out, any expectation that they're going to continue refining, or making huge efforts is out the door. At least it sure seems that way with the Toyota vehicles our household has owned...

There's this sticky that shows you how to use the EPC to look up your parts. It contains 99% of what you'll need, but doesn't roll in parts data from SSC/TSB/other sources. The knuckle parts will be under Body & Chassis, then under Steering & Knuckle next to the 2nd diagram, after you pop your VIN in search. If you find the system frustrating, PM your VIN, I'm happy to look up the left/right LBJ part number and OEM bolt part number.

 

I think any screenshot of anything on sale prior to 2025 tarrifs should just be autoreplied “cool story bro”

I already miss the good old days.

 

I literally just pulled that screenshot 5 minuts before the reply.

Add it to the cart and go to check out for yourself. Left joint. Right Joint. Add to cart, and hit the checkout as Guest. Note the total inside the checkout window: $213.26

I don't fuck around, ask around. If I'm gonna tell you something with pricing on parts, it's going to be what I tell you it is, 99% of the time. "Bro!"

I also don't get paid to help here, but I'm happy to save you $$ as long as you're not an asshole. If you are the type who likes to be an asshole, LMK in advance. I don't want to make assumptions.

​

 

thanks. Didn’t realize the OP used different cheaper ones than I just ordered recently.

 

I hope you read what I just wrote with a lot of "rib", I'm just givin ya some hell

Price varies year to year. I've seen the 2000 year trucks as cheap as $94/ea, without national sales

 

Ha, fair point. Last big order I did was a couple years ago during a 25 percent off sale ... Maybe Chapel? (got GX brake calipers and rotors for about the same price and Amazon generic rebuilds).

I'm willing to admit when I'm wrong. 'Cause those are good prices and yeah, I get your point about not using the mystery kit number when the pricing is that close. I've found your EPC post and it was helpful. I *think* I get it, but I always stumble a bit with parts catalogs (and wiring diagrams -- I think my brain doesn't like monochrome 2D line drawgs!), so I'll PM as a reality check. Like I said, I'm pretty sure I fall into the later, big-ball category based on the recall docs, but as I said, I'm totally fine being wrong. And I'd much rather be wrong *before* I order versus after having the non-returnable parts in hand.

Thx!