Mechanical Question - Worn Ball Joints

Hi Ozwasp. The ball joints are the connectors for your suspension and steering so are an important part of the geometry. In extreme cases they can come apart creating an extremely dangerous situation. I would have an expert give a guide to how quickly they require replacement to avoid any danger of a ball joint failure. Regards, Bob.

I have a 2000 hilux, surprised you can hear anything over the motor, is it the diesel? Either way same running gear I think so when do you hear the knocking? On turning or idling or driving at low speed etc?

ozwasp

Nobody can answer that question without seeing them. When a ball joint gets to the audible knocking stage, they are usually very well worn and can be dangerous.

Do they have grease nipples on them? Toyota fits little screw in plugs and they should be removed and replaced with nipples. If yours have nipples and they have been regularly greased, particularly after driving through deep water, then they should last longer than 195,000 ks. If they don't have them then that would be why the RAC has told you they are worn. There would be a good chance they are rusty inside and could easily be on the verge of coming apart.

I assume the RAC is talking about the top joints. They are the load bearing ones on your type of suspension and usually wear out far faster than the bottom. The bottom ones are little more than locators and don't have anywhere near as much stress on them. The weight of the vehicle is forcing the two halves of the top joints together and this is why you don't hear anything on flat smooth roads. The moment the weight is eased on the joint e.g the wheel leaving the ground, the weight of the wheel, hub, brakes etc
as they hang down will try and pull the joint apart. If the wear is bad enough it will let go and you will be in big trouble.

Any mechanic who has been in the trade for a few years will have seen a few ball joints break so don't take any chances, replace them immediately.

Get it done now. Its not worth the risk. Or take it off the road.

Thats what we would do.

Phil

If you snap a ball joint in half you are a passenger in a very dangerous position, I would have it towed on a tilt tray to have it fixed tomorrow.

HI ozwasp
Yes I agree with all the above......leaving these things until whenever is not a good practice....get it sorted and get back to enjoying
Brian R

Besides the extra wear to the tyres by the steering flopping in and out of alignment. Get it done soon.

My 2003 'lux running 31" tyres ate pitman/idlers for breakfast. Well not that bad, but had the front end done twice in 160k. It was a well used vehicle offroad though. Had grease nipples etc tapped into the pitman and all. The advice I got from various sources was "use genuine parts". The first rebuild I used ebay parts and they failed quickly. It's not a big job to do the ball joints - there are two. Get the whole front end checked - it'll be due.