failed upper ball joint - Toyota Tundra Forums : Tundra Solutions Forum

punisher · #1 (**permalink**) 11-13-2003, 04:15 PM

Been hearing strange clunks and clatters from passenger side front lately. Took a look underneath and noticed grease spewed from upper ball joint on passenger side, with grease all over the underneath the a-arm. Carson toyota will be looking at it on monday. Pete over there says he has not had a failed tundra ball joint in there yet!!! Guess I can thank the service dept at south coast toyota. They did the brake tsb there and absolutely bashed my a-arms to separate the ball joints. Cant think what else would cause this. Any thoughts?

DevinSixtySeven · #2 (**permalink**) 11-13-2003, 05:24 PM

eek. well...first of all, tell 'em to use the correct tool to separate the upper ball joint from the upper control arm...a BFH is not the right tool, but a two-jaw puller works great and does the job in about 10 seconds...no bloody pickle forks, BFHs or other destructive removal. whoever did the dirty deed at the last shop probably tore the boot when they beat the hell out of everything...the boot is only 10 bucks, and you could change it yourself if you knew that's all the problem was--since the upper ball joint may have been damaged (dunno why it would rattle otherwise), you might be looking at a new upper ball joint as well, hopefully carson can tell you pretty quick. the only tool that should be used to separate the upper ball joint from the arm is a two-jaw puller...make sure whoever you take the truck to knows that. anything else will at minimum tear the boot, if not damage the ball joint.

if the ball joint had seriously failed (ie stem snapped or something), the truck would be completely undrivable as the spindle would be held in place only by the driveshaft snap rings (if you have 4wd), or flopping around (if you have 2wd).

if it's really loose (you should be able to tell if you pick up the front of the truck and try to wiggle it around), you might even consider a flatbed to the dealership rather than risk driving it...the upper ball joint doesn't support much weight, but without it you'll be in the ditch or worse.

-sean

Quote:

Originally Posted by punisher

Been hearing strange clunks and clatters from passenger side front lately. Took a look underneath and noticed grease spewed from upper ball joint on passenger side, with grease all over the underneath the a-arm. Carson toyota will be looking at it on monday. Pete over there says he has not had a failed tundra ball joint in there yet!!! Guess I can thank the service dept at south coast toyota. They did the brake tsb there and absolutely bashed my a-arms to separate the ball joints. Cant think what else would cause this. Any thoughts?

Wiley · #3 (**permalink**) 11-14-2003, 05:29 AM

"Guess I can thank the service dept at south coast toyota. They did the brake tsb there and absolutely bashed my a-arms to separate the ball joints. "

If the damage was documented, in writing, by SCT, you might get some re-embursment. Othewise, probably nada.