NEW LBJ Uni-ball pre-order!

Over on the Facebook first-gen page, a company is finally taking pre-orders for Uniball LBJ's.

I e-mailed them and see if they will do a group by!!

I'll let you guys know if I get a response!

Info is great to see!!!

Discuss!

$599 -$50 for pre-order = $549

$500 OTD for a pair of these.

This includes tax and shipping in the US.

https://bbmoffroad.com/shop/ols/products/00-03-tundra-uniball-conversion

Pair of lower uniball conversions for 00-03 Tundra (will not fit 04-06 ).

Included:

(2) lower uniball conversion brackets with 4140 chromoly uniball cups

(2) Fk uniballs

(4) 17-4 misalignments

(2) 5/8" bolts

(2) 5/8" washers grade 8

(2) 5/8" stover nuts


currently waiting on machined parts


may vary slightly from pictures shown as that's the prototype

 

I'd be interested in seeing if it changes the pivot point from the factory lbj. The special bolt deal should allow you to move the pivot towards the axle, but without measuring the difference I couldn't tell you by how much. When I mocked up a similar setup on my truck it was not working well geometry wise. I lost down travel due to it acting like a spindle drop. If they can get it to work with their special bolt/stud deal then that's great. In fact, I may even revisit my plan to do one. Without having every detail at my fingers I can't recall every issue I had besides coming to the conclusion it wouldn't work for me.

If I recall, there wasn't much meat on the LBJ bracket to cut out a big enough hole to sink the uniball into it without it getting very thin. This was a 2006 double cab, that has a different bracket then they are using. I had to cut a block to fill the cavity that the ball joint fit into and mount the uniball below it. The picture should explain some. With some gusseting it might be possible on my spindle, but the material was getting pretty thin all around if I cut that much off. I'll get a picture to illustrate later.

 

Other than not having stupid ball joints breaking and needing to be replaced, what are the other benefits to these?

The price really isn't too bad considering that OEM ball joints are over $200 for the set now.

 

Curious what the lower arm will look like.

Edit- I see now, they sunk a uniball into the joint and the tapered bolt has a stop on it. Might be a pain to apply torque to that setup when attaching the lower arm.

@rock climber strength is probably the only improvement at the lower joint, but uniballs do require replacement here and there. I think the travel limitations in order are upper ball joint> sway bar > tie rods > lower arm bushings if I remember right. I don't think this will provide a gain in travel.

Not to knock a new company and especially don't want to discourage improvements on first gen, but I would be shy of being an early adopter. Without seeing the geometry and some long term guinea pigs its scary to jump on.

 

Strength is about all I can see. Uniballs tend to wear out quicker than ball joints. I say tend to, but on my truck it's looking like upper ball joints will last about 1-1.5 years. So that's about $60 every year and the lowers might not last that long given they will get more road salt and moisture. The capped top is nice though. I always wanted to do that to my uppers. It could help them last a bit longer, but it's still an unsealed joint with races that will get dirt impregnated and such.

In the time I've had my suspension built... My upper uniballs have had play for a maybe 6 months and my Moog lower ball joints still feel tight. Of course the 06 and some other years is said to have stronger it bigger lower ball joints too. That could help.

There's a guy who did the lower uniball conversion on a 4runner(I think). It looked similar to the ones linked to for pre-sale. The difference is his ball joint bracket looked similar to mine and he had to remove a bunch of material and basically a whole edge to fit it there. I don't know if that's a win strength wise. I'll try to find a link

 

Not the one I was looking for, but it's similar. In this case there is some actual meat there to weld the uniball cup. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/uniball-stock-replacement-lower-ball-joints.587804/

 

If your coilover allows you can gain about an inch of droop from a uniball upper. I don't think a gain will be had from a uniball lower because my suspension doesn't max out the stock lower joint as is. (Uniball uppers/no sway bar/extended coilovers)

 

UPDATE 5/23/21:

Got an email from Chris at BBM offroad and they are willing to do a group buy.

Working out the details and show be available in June or so...

I'll post more info as I get it.

They are looking at 5 orders to get a group buys going.

Right now it's an additional $50 off but working out the details like shipping and tax.

I'm up for it, so I guess I'll be #1 so only 4 more of you guys.

There is still time so think about it and I'll make a list once the details are sorted out.

As of now ( and I can't stress enough that I need to confirm...) It will be $499 for a pair of these, custom machined for our first gens.

 

UPDATE 5/25/21:

OK so Chris at BBM Offroad got back to me and confirmed the deal.

$500 OTD for a pair of these.

This includes tax and shipping in the US.

Payment will be handled thru his PayPal once they're ready.

In a few weeks, he will confirm everything and sending machining updates along the way.

Again we only need 5 for this deal.

So post if you're interested.

1.EvilRB
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5.

 

Bump, I’d be in on this on except #doublecabproblems