What bothers me a little bit is that the same part that is used on the full-size Tundra is also used on the much smaller & lighter Taco. This makes me wonder if the ball-joints are not just Tacoma parts that the engineers decided would work in the Tundra with an "acceptable" reduction in reserve strength (which maybe is proving not to be so acceptable?)
I agree, that really bothers me too. Pretty surprised Toyota would do that - I used to think that part of the reason Toyota had such a good reliability reputation is because they would OVERdesign a lot of parts....but apparently it's just the opposite right now!
Someone else commented earlier about the crappy brakes....my guess is that the brakes are also pretty much the same design as on the Tacoma. I might be wrong about that, but it seems ridiculous to put a brakes from a compact truck onto a fullsize truck!
Back in the end of March, I made a post regarding a letter I received from the NHTSA concerning Tundra ball joints (it was a survey asking if I had any problems with my joints). I didn't get any responses here...not sure if everyone just blew it off as a hoax or something or what. Anyway, I was pretty concerned about it - and so I called the NHTSA to get more details. From what they said, although it does affect all models (within the years specified), the guy said it was more of a problem for 4wd trucks.
To any of you guys that have oversize tires - Id be extra careful! You're putting a lot more stress on those balljoints than what they were designed for, and considering they are probably UNDERdesigned if anything, that's even more reason to be cautious.
On a side note - after hearing about all these ball joint issues, and seeing the crash test photos where the front wheel broke off, I decided I didn't want to have to worry about my front wheels breaking off, and so I traded my tundra for something else. It was a great truck though - I may get one again a couple years after the new redesign coming up, once all the kinks have been worked out. I dont think we'll have to worry much about Toyota's ball joints now that this recall has occured.
I talked to my dealer's service department this morning about the recall. My service writing pulled out a letter stating that the recall letters would go out in early June, but that the replacement parts and service instructions would not be available until early July. Couldn't even reserve a July appointment for me at this time...
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[QUOTE=turbohawk]
I still can't help but think they might have over-reacted since only 6 people thus far out of how many have actually had an issue.
It is better that they over-reacted than under react and have the story on 60 Minutes. That would have been much more embarassing to Toyota and those 6 cases would definitely have been pointed out.
I would condsider doing a bit of QA work on this item.
Call me to check my ability to be an asset to what goal(s) your trying to accomplish in the developement cycle of this product .
To any of you guys that have oversize tires - Id be extra careful! You're putting a lot more stress on those balljoints than what they were designed for, and considering they are probably UNDERdesigned if anything, that's even more reason to be cautious.
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Intersting given the ball joints and many of the other suspension parts are the same as they run on the older Taco's. Some Taco guys including myself have been running oversize tires for 10 years or so. I haven't read anything about ball joint/oversize tires issues on them...
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Intersting given the ball joints and many of the other suspension parts are the same as they run on the older Taco's. Some Taco guys including myself have been running oversize tires for 10 years or so. I haven't read anything about ball joint/oversize tires issues on them...
The difference, as I see it, anyway, is that the Tundra is a much larger & heavier truck than the Taco, & therefore puts a lot more stress on the front end. Larger wheels & tires amplify this stress.
The difference, as I see it, anyway, is that the Tundra is a much larger & heavier truck than the Taco, & therefore puts a lot more stress on the front end. Larger wheels & tires amplify this stress.
Definitely true. Plus, we're not talking about the Taco's of 10 to 20 years ago, we're talking about the newer ones - year 2000 and later. I think most people would agree that Toyota quality has been starting to slip lately.
As far as the oversize wheel/tire issue being a problem - that's just my educated guess. I dont think there's any doubt that bigger/heavier wheels put more stress on the suspension linkage. I'm not sure Id go so far as to say that you should go back to stock size, but you'd certainly want to have your joints checked out more frequently for excessive wear...or better yet, install a set of aftermarket ball/uniball joints.
My question is what is the difference between the recall years and the years that are not recalled? Did they use a different supplier of parts or did they use a different design for those years. Toyota Quality Control is going down hill due to their overwellming popularity. The more cars you make the harder it is to keep your quality control standards high. They just recalled all 05 Avalons do to a faulty steering colum issue. I read a review last Fall on all car manufactures and they said it would only be time that Toyota would get too big and would begin having quality control issues. It will be interesting to see how the overall public veiws these mishaps and how Toyota corrects the problem. I have an 05 DC and this is my 3rd tundra and I have had more rattles and seat movement and little anoying problems with this one than my other two combined. I took into the dealer and they fixed one of the four problems so it looks like I will be making a trip back.
My question is what is the difference between the recall years and the years that are not recalled? Did they use a different supplier of parts or did they use a different design for those years. Toyota Quality Control is going down hill due to their overwellming popularity. The more cars you make the harder it is to keep your quality control standards high. They just recalled all 05 Avalons do to a faulty steering colum issue. I read a review last Fall on all car manufactures and they said it would only be time that Toyota would get too big and would begin having quality control issues. It will be interesting to see how the overall public veiws these mishaps and how Toyota corrects the problem. I have an 05 DC and this is my 3rd tundra and I have had more rattles and seat movement and little anoying problems with this one than my other two combined. I took into the dealer and they fixed one of the four problems so it looks like I will be making a trip back.
Toyota also has very bad attitude in there dealership service deptment's Maybe I am just pickey but when I have one dealership named Marrietta Toyota that lied in my face about a repair done and wasn't handled correctly on Me being over charged on a warrenty repair I made certain I was getting my money back which I did after I complain to Toyota..It seem to me Toyota dealership's in the Atlanta area are very loose on how they conduct themselves in plublic and I for one dont take there S??T .They also dont care bother to reseach thing's out and we as the customer's know more about the product's then the people who sell them and work on them.Toyota really need's to focus on improvement made at dealership level because I am very much over them and I take my truck to an indenpendant shop because they know how to take care of there customer's and communicate to me as a person ..Quality control is very much slipping because ther service deptment's are rushed on there work and dont bother to care..I have complained to Toyota about my area because pretty much can be expected in a few dealerships around my area on crapey service..This recall is just another prime example on toyota quality slipping and since were at it might as well recall the brakes too since i know that is another area Tundra's are knowen for on problem's
From www.autosite.com this morning,
"...Dealers will replace the front suspension lower ball joints. The recall is expected to begin on July 15, 2005. Owners should contact Toyota at 1-800-331-4331." Recall campaign #05V225000
We may have to wait a month and a half to get this handled..
It is better that they over-reacted than under react and have the story on 60 Minutes. That would have been much more embarassing to Toyota and those 6 cases would definitely have been pointed out.
They are saving the 60 Minutes episode for the lack of a brake recall on the earlier models!
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If you go to NHTSA's website and look up all the complaints filed on Toyota suspension failures you will find alot more than just the 6 mentioned in the press release. I just looked up 2002 Tundra suspension failures and found 15 that were identical to my complete failures (total separation of the front wheel assembly). I didn't continue searching other model years. I assume I would find much the same, although I doubt I would find a case of both wheels coming off (like mine). I count myself fortunate in that mine came off at very slow speed. One of the reports I read describes a RF wheel coming off at 70 MPH ....YIPES! The NHTSA called me back last week wanting further details on my latest failure after I reported it a couple weeks ago. They gave me the POC for Toyota and the recall info. Nothing I didn't know already thanks to this forum.
What about the bushings for steering rack being worn on both Tacomas and 4runner owned by family?Is same going to happen to Tundra?Maybe they are going to do a complete front end overhaul at same time as balljoints but just wont publicize it.Symptoms in recall would suggest that.
Someone posted 2 pics of a messed up lower ball joint that broke off ... anyone have them or know the guy? Id like to see them, I think he had like 300k miles and this isnt the first time its happened.
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Originally Posted by HuskerTundra
Shelby is right. Chicks dig purple. Buddy of mine has a PURPLE tundra , and he is always gettin compliments from ladies at school on his truck.
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, and he is always gettin compliments from ladies at school on his truck.
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