Not a good night......

[Old Man Yager]

So I've been having some issues with the steering on my 2001 Tacoma, and I have the parts ordered to replace all the ball joints and tie rod ends. So guess what happens tonight? Drivers side lower ball joint fails, and drops the front end on the ground. Thank God I was in a parking lot and not on the freeway, would have been real mess. If any of you drive a Tacoma around that year, get your front end checked out. There was a recall on the lower ball joint, but the website has you put in your VIN , and it told me my truck wasn't on the recall. Hope this helps somebody else avoid this, I've heard stories of this part failing while at highway speed, not good!!

[syoungs]

Got real lucky there for sure, glad your OK

[Fastass350]

Thank God it was in a parking lot! Least you are one step ahead and have the parts already. Did that one time in my 85 Ford when it had 38's on it, broke both top and bottom, on the other side of a nasty tank trap so no way out. Took new ball joints up the next day and put it all back together. Good times!

[Skillet]

How many miles on it when that happened?  I've always thought of 4x4 ball joints as a regular (if expensive) maintenance item.

Edited to add - No matter what the situation, that is a scary deal right there. Glad you were at low speed.

[Thehowler]

So how was your front end  responding to bumps and small pot holes in the road for the last 10,000 miles?
Ruff?

[Old Man Yager]

So how was your front end  responding to bumps and small pot holes in the road for the last 10,000 miles?
Ruff?

Yes, was overdue and I know it. I wanted to get it done a few weeks ago, but I had to put a waterpump and timing belt in my wife's 4 Runner, so I had to wait to fix my truck.

[pianoman9701]

I'm glad the truck was the only casualty. I'd call that a good night, all things considered.

[Jonathan_S]

This is a good thing to keep in mind for owners of 96-02 4Runners and Tacomas. I can't speak for Generation 1 and 2 rigs. Both the Taco and the T4R have that catastrophic fail LBJ.

[Old Man Yager]

This is a good thing to keep in mind for owners of 96-02 4Runners and Tacomas. I can't speak for Generation 1 and 2 rigs. Both the Taco and the T4R have that catastrophic fail LBJ.

Agree, I felt like dumb ass for letting it go that far, but posted it for that reason, hope somebody else is able to avoid an accident.

[Jonathan_S]

This is a good thing to keep in mind for owners of 96-02 4Runners and Tacomas. I can't speak for Generation 1 and 2 rigs. Both the Taco and the T4R have that catastrophic fail LBJ.

Agree, I felt like dumb ass for letting it go that far, but posted it for that reason, hope somebody else is able to avoid an accident.

No worries! It happens to the best of us. And by that I mean it happened to my wife 

[fish vacuum]

What are the warning signs?

[Jonathan_S]

What are the warning signs?

They'll click clack for months. In our case, it was a new ball joint, it was just a faulty part so no warning.

[huntnnw]

And all dodge truck owners

[mikeybuck]

What are the warning signs?

They'll click clack for months. In our case, it was a new ball joint, it was just a faulty part so no warning.

If it was a new faulty part, what's the make? One day soon I'll need to replace mine.

[jackmaster]

Glad no one was hurt rob, could have been bad for sure!!! Let me know if you need help getting it put back together!!

[Jonathan_S]

What are the warning signs?

They'll click clack for months. In our case, it was a new ball joint, it was just a faulty part so no warning.

If it was a new faulty part, what's the make? One day soon I'll need to replace mine.

It was an OE part. Go with Moog. Lifetime guarantee. If they somehow do fail, you're only out the time it takes to swap...or the labor at a shop

[jackelope]

And all dodge truck owners

And Ford truck owners.
And Chevy truck owners.

I've probably made mortgage payments off of failing ball joints.


 

[Jonathan_S]

Straight axles are more better...maybe not for Jackelope