Lower ball joints/part numbers

My two cents. I will NEVER use Mevotech parts. I got a 2005 Tundra with 308,000 miles a few years ago. (350K still working good now) The only thing I found to have been replaced was the right lower ball joint. After the first 2000 miles I drove it, I heard a ball joint squeak. 2 miles from home to check it out, the lower ball joint broke. After removing the broken part and doing research I found it was a new Mevotech sealed ball joint that had failed. When I took the broken ball joint apart I found it had seized because of lack of grease. It had broken the stud off the ball joint. Luckily I had dropped off my grand daughters 30 minutes earlier. I sent pictures and info to Mevotech support, they contacted me back and reassured me it had the proper amount of grease when manufactured. I replaced with a Moog balljoint. 45,000 miles, Moog is still like new.

 

You're a ballsy motherfucker for running Moogs, especially after the huge LBJ recall two years ago (or whatever), which also impacted NAPA, ACDelco and one other brand (link). And it just so happens your year is the year impacted. Tenneco was who was used for the parts, and I believe even Tenneco was subbing out to a smaller, sketchier warehouse in mainland China to have the LBJs made.

Moog is veritable shitware these days, it's not the company it was 20 years ago, before they started outsourcing virtually everything to mainland China, to the cheapest bidder. They make nothing in-house anymore. Their parts are garbage, and the videos below show several examples of Moog parts specifically.

Replace your Moogs dude, you're running on borrowed time. OEM or die (potentially). This thread undoubtedly have several people who were also running Moog LBJs.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQWwTB8w2Hk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtpQR_AaVp8

https://youtube.com/shorts/V3nu20CFs9M?si=zSPrHj3ZUJQa6dcB

https://youtube.com/shorts/gnywGP2mMwo?si=ZWFq47Z4RUr9Kcd_

https://youtube.com/shorts/lMBZNwA80f0?si=f7pT06e1I47FMv-v​

 

The Moog ball joint I got was in a box covered in dust... I had hoped that Moog hadn't gone the way of every other part by selling the name. The part I got was I know old stock.

.

 

At the minuscule cost of OEM, I wouldn’t trust it. $120 per side or less, with new bolts. We’ve seen too many casualties and war stories, even with Moog. Just knowing you’ll be out more than $120 if the LBJ fails you due to collateral damage (or worse, a totaled truck if it happens at speed), seems like a no/brainer for a job that took me around 30min/side with basic tools. Not telling you what to do here … just sharing what we’ve seen. Over, and over again, to the point it’s painful.

 

Look into getting/Buy the recall kit it’s like $40 cheaper

part number 4006-62134

 

Memorial day sale:

 

What is this magic? Did I buy the wrong thing?

 

Different years use different LBJ, older years cost more money, and the recall kit he referenced (which isn’t for your year) doesn’t come with fresh bolts, castle nut, and cotter, which you should replace also. It may not come with the rubber shield, it’s just bare joints. Not only that, but not many dealerships will sell you the recall kit directly, it’s very limited. They also cannot guarantee fitment, so it’s up to you whether you want to buy the kit or not. It gets sketchy for any truck within a crossover year.

 

for clarity sake on what I posted above and in case anyone else is curious or shopping OEM LBJs , according to Toyota by VIN for 2006 AC 2WD:
A few pics of what I purchased in SanDiego [normreevestoyota]
Lt & Rt LBJs in box, with boots installed and 4 cotter pins in a sealed bag [nothing more]; $205 per set [no castle nuts]. 8 mount bolts, extra$.






part #s [and bag of 8 mount bolts]


BTW Mods: If I attach thumbnail size, can they still be opened to ful size, and if so, does this make a more efficient use of website space?

 

Trying to get some things in order here in this thread as it's kinda all over the place.

What ball joint part numbers did you order? I think at this point I'm really trying to determine if the ball joints with the protectors on them are any different than the regular early ball joints. Do they all have screw holes to add the protector? Need to hear from some of the 02-03 guys that have messed with this. @Mr.bee
I'll tag @Jack McCarthy but it looks like you didn't have protectors on your old ones so maybe you won't apply here. As well as FirstGenVol as quoted above.

Edit: Thought I read through everything but I found some more info, from what I gather all the 02-04 with protectors just get held on with the bolts that hold the joint in so it really seems like they should run the same joints, just different length bolts.

I know there are ball joint recall kits but I was hoping to lay out the individual part numbers for each type of ball joint and what truck they fit, and maybe get it up near the beginning of this thread or maybe in a new one. Thanks all!

 

No separate screw holes; you use the existing bolt holes on two of the bolts.

 

That's what I was thinking at this point, same joint as 00-01, different longer bolts and that's it.

 

None of my pics have the lbj p/n on em, but they were the same p/n sunnier used. 2 of the bolts on each side hold the protectors in, but i'd doubt they're a different bolt length, just a thin washer worth. I used the black bolts with the captured washer, and they were all the same length.

 

Yeah that's what I mean, you run the black bolts in all 4 holes but two of them go up through the protector. Alright, just want to be sure that each individual ball joint part number is the same for 00-August04 then September04-06 is the big ball style

 

This looks like the same kit I just installed.

 

Did you order it as a kit with one of the kit part numbers?

 

I ordered 8 bolts individually, 1 left LBJ, 1 right LBJ and 2 protectors.

 

Left 4334039356
Right 4333039466
Protector 43346-60011
Sound right?

 

It’s good you mentioned that @Mr.bee. After doing my two LBJs I notice I had two washers (so double stack with one that comes with new bolts) on a couple of the bolts. Must be to offset the thickness of the dust cover on the other two bolts.

 

I have a Frankenstein tundra apparently. New LBJ kit is correct for my year (proper 05) but PO installed a different year OEM lbj on one side. Did the spindles also change because it doesn’t want to play nice

 

Yes. Mid '04+ has larger bolts & maybe a different bolt pattern.

 

This totally messed this install up, so I either need to get a new “pre mid 04” style LBJ and 4 “pre 04” bolts to get it working again with drivers side sporting 04 spindle and passenger side 05-06. Or get a new spindle and wheel bearing and use my 05 LBJ and bolts. Shit.

how do I tell what year lbj/spindle my frankentruck is sporting?? 01-02 or 02-03??

 

Look at the picture in this past post that shows the way the boot protector attaches. Does your joint have two screw holes in the top to attach the protector? LINK

 

Dude, I feel for ya
I found the PO of my Tundy gave me one 13we caliper, and one 13wl caliper.
It was a real head scratcher for me because I was brand new to Tundras, and Toyota in general.
Your dilemma is a little worse though...

 

Do your new 04+ bolts thread into the spindle you believe is suspect, or are the threads on the spindle too narrow for the bolts?

00-03 Little LBJs and spindles should have M10 bolts (14mm socket)
04-06 Big LBJs and spindles should have M12 bolts (17mm socket)

You can also use a digital caliper and measure the bolt holes on both the LBJs and spindles to see if they are 10mm or 12mm.

 

Has anyone kept track of big ball/small ball on fgv's failure thread? According to the nomenclature i'd expect the big balls to fail less.

 

I think the failures need to be separated too by joint or bolt failure too. Seems there's more potential user-install issues with the various M10 bolts, and the M12 bolts hold up better to reuse.

 

Hard to measure but does seem more common in the earlier ones but I've also seen several double cabs crippled by it. Best to stay on top of maintenance regardless.

 

Obligatory...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WwJ6OVSwkM

 

Ball joint and bolt part numbers all years

2000-2003 (small ball joint before September 2003) Left joint: 4334039356 Right joint: 4333039466
There are a couple bolt options depending on your use/budget:
9008010066 Torque to 59ft-lbs (SINGLE USE BOLT ONLY) or ARP bolt 663-1004 (more expensive but can be reused)

If you want to run the boot protector or already have it (it will fit all 2000-2003 small ball trucks) it is part number 43346-60011 and you will need the longer black bolts for it which are part number 9011910933 and torqued to 37ft-lbs.

2003(big ball joint after September 2003)-2006
Left joint: 43340-39595 Right joint: 43330-39825 Bolts:9010512316 torqued to 59 ft-lbs
I'm sure there is an ARP equivalent to these bolts but I couldn't tell you what they are off hand.

I went off of info on this thread and a couple others. Trying to have one single post to go to for individual ball joint part numbers.