Poll: Ball joints vulnerable?

[Martinjmpr]

Just curious what the consensus was on Taco/4runner IFS ball joints and how vulnerable they are.

Over on http://www.t4r.org there's a scary thread about a couple of guys who had ball joints break while driving down the road, needless to say, causing a lot of damage to their front ends.

I haven't looked in my manual (drove the DD Mazda today not the 4r) so I don't know what the manufacturer recommended interval for ball joints is, but I'm curious as to how often folks here are replacing theirs. My 4runner has 135k on it and I'm certain it's still on the original ball joints. I've also got the big trip to DVNP coming up soon and I'm wondering if

(a) I'm driving a ticking time bomb or

(b) I should just chill out and not worry.

Hence the poll!

 

[corax]

Inspect them first - if there is any play, then replace them. As a ball joint wears, the ball seat that the ball rides on gets thinner until slop or play starts to appear. Most ball joints have some kind of spring that keeps pressure on the ball stud to compensate for this. As the spring extends it exerts less pressure on the ball stud resulting in play. Play in the joint, and the resultant shock loading to the ball/stud as it gets beat back and forth driving around, is the most likely cause for a crack to start leading to failure. If it gives you peace of mind, replace them - it might not be necessary, but they've already given you many miles of use

 

[CYi5]

You'll find more threads on yotatech. I replaced mine with OEM after seeing several pictures. Cheap insurance, it's a DIY job. Did mine at 150,000.

 

[bikerjosh]

Ball joint cancer

I'm at 149k within two weeks, guess as soon as I get a free weekend and get the truck back I'll tackle this.
Josh

 

[CA-RJ]

I did mine at 202k miles. They were worn out, but not too bad. I did them mostly for peace of mind.

 

[oxi]

Just curious what the consensus was on Taco/4runner IFS ball joints and how vulnerable they are.

Over on http://www.t4r.org there's a scary thread about a couple of guys who had ball joints break while driving down the road, needless to say, causing a lot of damage to their front ends.

I haven't looked in my manual (drove the DD Mazda today not the 4r) so I don't know what the manufacturer recommended interval for ball joints is, but I'm curious as to how often folks here are replacing theirs. My 4runner has 135k on it and I'm certain it's still on the original ball joints. I've also got the big trip to DVNP coming up soon and I'm wondering if

(a) I'm driving a ticking time bomb or

(b) I should just chill out and not worry.

Hence the poll!

Just set up a routine maint. program with your vehicle depending on how hard you drive, etc... and replace them when you feel comfortable.

I have a 2010 Tacoma and plan to replace them at 50,000 miles regardless which will be about 5 years. I have larger tires over stock and do some wheeling and live in Wisconsin where salt is always used.

Those that I replace will be used as spare parts after 50,000 miles.

I had a 2005 X-Runner that I drove hard on road courses like Road America as well as parking lot auto-x with Milwaukee Region SCCA and never had a problem with Toyota's front end even with over negative 2 degrees of front camber (still my daily driver) and running 285/30 on 18x9.5 ASA wheels with BFG R1's...

I even did a rally-cross with this X-Runner:

The key was routine maint. regardless of milelage, etc... I kept that X-Runner running strong at speeds hitting 130 mph, up shifts to rev limiter and downshifts with hard braking which led to high wheel temps and under hood temps by changing fluids often.

Flush coolant every spring, replace coolant hoses every other year, change plugs every year, serp belt every other tear, hydraulic fluid (ran DOT 5 even as daily driving) every spring, tranny fluid twice a year, rear end every year, oil changes about 7-8 times a year, etc...

I pushed that pickup hard but guess what after 5 years of competition and daily driving to 55,000 miles?

Not one failure from the engine or drivetrain or suspension out of my control!

I did have to replace the stock clutch with a stage II because the motor was cranking out 330 hp at the time...

 

[Gerdo]

I changed mine at ~190,000 miles. I did mine as preventive maintenance. Once out you could feel some looseness. I put in the best auto parts store units, MISTAKE! I put Toyota OE units in ~30,000 miles later.

Use only Toyota OE. Others will fail quicker.

 

[PirateMcGee]

Just set up a routine maint. program with your vehicle depending on how hard you drive, etc... and replace them when you feel comfortable.

I have a 2010 Tacoma and plan to replace them at 50,000 miles regardless which will be about 5 years. I have larger tires over stock and do some wheeling and live in Wisconsin where salt is always used.

Those that I replace will be used as spare parts after 50,000 miles.

I had a 2005 X-Runner that I drove hard on road courses like Road America as well as parking lot auto-x with Milwaukee Region SCCA and never had a problem with Toyota's front end even with over negative 2 degrees of front camber (still my daily driver) and running 285/30 on 18x9.5 ASA wheels with BFG R1's...

The key was routine maint. regardless of milelage, etc... I kept that X-Runner running strong at speeds hitting 130 mph, up shifts to rev limiter and downshifts with hard braking which led to high wheel temps and under hood temps by changing fluids often.

Flush coolant every spring, replace coolant hoses every other year, change plugs every year, serp belt every other tear, hydraulic fluid (ran DOT 5 even as daily driving) every spring, tranny fluid twice a year, rear end every year, oil changes about 7-8 times a year, etc...

I pushed that pickup hard but guess what after 5 years of competition and daily driving to 55,000 miles?

Not one failure from the engine or drivetrain or suspension out of my control!

I did have to replace the stock clutch with a stage II because the motor was cranking out 330 hp at the time...

mmmmmmmmmmmmmm x-runner, I love those trucks