Bilstein 5100 lift!! now leaking ball joint??

[Diesel4wd]

So finally I got my truck lifted and picked it up just a little while ago. Bilstein 5100 up front set to max and wheelers aal 1.5 in the back all along with diff drop and cv boot mod. Just a little while after driving it i noticed that my passenger side upper ball joint was leaking because a torn boot. Keep in mind my truck also has 133,000 miles. Should i address the leaking ball joint......? or am i just paranoid?

thanks-
sam

[Computer Tech]

my 02 4x2 tundra got leveled out using the 5100 preload shocks and no problems. Who installed this?? What year is the truck?? Have you had the ball joints replaced as per the recall??? My 02 tundra had the balljoints replaced per a recall tundra placed years back. the ballljoint recall is not just on the newer tundras its also on gthe 02s, I am not sure of 00-01

[tundraman89]

So finally I got my truck lifted and picked it up just a little while ago. Bilstein 5100 up front set to max and wheelers aal 1.5 in the back all along with diff drop and cv boot mod. Just a little while after driving it i noticed that my passenger side upper ball joint was leaking because a torn boot. Keep in mind my truck also has 133,000 miles. Should i address the leaking ball joint......? or am i just paranoid?

thanks-
sam

I didn't think it had grease fittins.

[Computer Tech]

mine got lifted at an off road shop.... maybe the installer hit the balljoint boots with some tools? Is there any signs of scratches in the upper A Arms?? if so take it back to the shop and make em replace some brand new toyota balljoints, but definetely call toyota first to see if any balljoint recall needs to be done to truck, thats the first thing you need to do ASAP??? If it was done already by toyota telll em to do it again as per the recall!!!

[LGL002]

The recalls were for lower ball joints not upper. With as many miles as you have on your truck chances are the joints rubber seals age couldn't deal with added stress and new position from your suspension mod. Replacing both upper ball joints will be your safest fix unless you want to deal with loss of control when they fail.

Larry

[tundrainorange]

Or you could just get Camburg uca's which will give you smoother travel better articulation and never have to deal with torn boots again......just my 2 cents.

[Diesel4wd]

yea i would love some uca's only problem is im on a tight budget

[Diesel4wd]

also could i just replace the boot? or should i just replace the hole ball joint assembly while im in there?

[LGL002]

I doubt you can get just the boot itself but I'm really not sure. The other issue is do you know for sure the tear just happened or could it have been there for a while and just became visible when the mod was done. Personally I'd replace both upper ball joints for my and my families safety. I understand economics have to be considered so it's just a matter of a personal decision how to deal with it. Good Luck whichever route you decide on.

Larry

[Diesel4wd]

I think im just gonna leave the ball joints alone for now unless there is a cheap alternative solution. Im also going to put the 5100's one notch from the top so i can have a little rake and hopefully receive back some of my down travel. As well as relieve some stress on the front. My 2000 is getting in her older age haha.

[tundrainorange]

Just clean it up for now and put some of that heavy duty black silicone on it...then save up for uca's

[Tundra Truck Driver]

I think im just gonna leave the ball joints alone for now unless there is a cheap alternative solution. Im also going to put the 5100's one notch from the top so i can have a little rake and hopefully receive back some of my down travel. As well as relieve some stress on the front. My 2000 is getting in her older age haha.

Are there any short/long term consequences to leaving leaking ball joints alone? My drivers side is leaking (2nd time now)... if I repack some white lithium grease and seal the rubber boot up til I got some UCAs or new ball joints, think I'll be okay? Or am I setting myself up for disaster?

[TundraSurfBum]

my uppers look just like that at Toy tech said no biggie.... lowers were the ones that were recalled... BTW mine looked like that 20k ago with no lift... no problems to date.

[Fissile]

If they used a fork to open your upper joint then the boot is probably torn. Look into getting a new boot or seal it back up.

[Tundrav8yamaha]

Haven't had any issues from my 5100 Love these shock's

The recall didn't affect the 2000 Tundra as I used to own one and didn't get any letter on that.

Erik