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Suspension & AxleTechnical discussions regarding alignment, stock and modified suspensions, lift kits, axles, hub conversions, gearing and steering.
This is a discussion thread titled "Ball Joint Failure Attn All Members!", within the Suspension & Axle forum, part of the Technical & Vehicle Assistance Forums category.
Everyone on this forum who has had the Tundra/Sequoia lower ball joint recall should be very Cautious. I had the recall done 2 months ago on my 03 Tundra. Today, on the freeway in rush our traffic, my steering wheel jolted to the left, but my truck went straight. I slowly pulled to the side and pulled into a Midas. I knew something was wrong with either the suspension/steering, so I turned the wheel right and left while in park. Right after I did that, BANG, my truck fell to the ground, my driver side fender sat on top of my tire, and popped out its place. I look under my truck, and to my surprise, ALL 4 BOLTS holding in the lower ball joint had shattered. This was after I had the recall done. It looks like some moron at the dealership over-torqued the bolts with an impact gun, because all of them broke in the same spot. I am very lucky to be alive to say the least. If I had left my house earlier as I usually do, this breaking would have occurred on the 101 freeway at 70mph. My truck would have flipped and I would have been seriously injured. PLEASE CHECK YOUR LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE BOLTS HOLDING IT IN PLACE. ALSO, make sure you tell your dealership of this. My truck is sitting at Northridge Toyota here in Northridge, CA right now. I will be speaking with the service manager tomorrow morning. I will let you guys know what happens. Toyota owes me a new fender, ball joint, alignment, and more to say the least! Be safe everyone.
Although I missed 2 of my Law School classes, I am happy to be alive right now.
I spoke with Tom Foley, the service manager of Northridge Toyota. He is taking care of everything. I will be getting a new knuckle, ball joint, bolts, alignment, and a new fender. They also are paying for my rental car until my truck is ready.
Very unsettling experience. Have you thought about what other damge may have been caused? I guess I might be very interested to see the underside of the vehicle on the rack if you haven't already. Maybe best not rush through the fix. I would bet a few other things were bent as well given the nature of your description.
At a minumum I would thoroughly test drive with the Service Manager in the vehicle and don't take possession until you are satisfied. I would also have the documentation (repair order) note the cause of the accident in case future problems develop down the road as a consequence.
Everyone on this forum who has had the Tundra/Sequoia lower ball joint recall should be very Cautious. I had the recall done 2 months ago on my 03 Tundra. Today, on the freeway in rush our traffic, my steering wheel jolted to the left, but my truck went straight. I slowly pulled to the side and pulled into a Midas. I knew something was wrong with either the suspension/steering, so I turned the wheel right and left while in park. Right after I did that, BANG, my truck fell to the ground, my driver side fender sat on top of my tire, and popped out its place. I look under my truck, and to my surprise, ALL 4 BOLTS holding in the lower ball joint had shattered. This was after I had the recall done. It looks like some moron at the dealership over-torqued the bolts with an impact gun, because all of them broke in the same spot. I am very lucky to be alive to say the least. If I had left my house earlier as I usually do, this breaking would have occurred on the 101 freeway at 70mph. My truck would have flipped and I would have been seriously injured. PLEASE CHECK YOUR LOWER BALL JOINTS AND THE BOLTS HOLDING IT IN PLACE. ALSO, make sure you tell your dealership of this. My truck is sitting at Northridge Toyota here in Northridge, CA right now. I will be speaking with the service manager tomorrow morning. I will let you guys know what happens. Toyota owes me a new fender, ball joint, alignment, and more to say the least! Be safe everyone.
Although I missed 2 of my Law School classes, I am happy to be alive right now.
-Narb
NARB and other TS members,
I recently had the same experience with my 2001 Tundra SR5 4WD. I was also lucky that it happened as I pulled out of the driveway and not fully loaded (on the freeway as I often am.) However, I am posting for any help, as Toyota does not want to fix, repair replace or even acknowledge any fault because mine is a 2001. I had a full separation and damage was done to the wheel and the ball joint, etc... Any advice on how to get the recall extended to 2001's or at least my vehicle???
__________________
2006 DC SR5
Bilstein 5100s F&R
Wheelers 1.5" AAL
265 Nittos on OEM Alloys
Flowmaster Delta 40
LUND Genesis Tri-Fold Tonneau
Lil Boom under the seat compliments of RF
Full LED conversion
Nothing too fancy, just better than stock!
I recently had the same experience with my 2001 Tundra SR5 4WD. I was also lucky that it happened as I pulled out of the driveway and not fully loaded (on the freeway as I often am.) However, I am posting for any help, as Toyota does not want to fix, repair replace or even acknowledge any fault because mine is a 2001. I had a full separation and damage was done to the wheel and the ball joint, etc... Any advice on how to get the recall extended to 2001's or at least my vehicle???
Thanks,
Dave
Did you have it fixed at a Toyota dealer? I honestly have had 50/50 luck at Temecula Toyota on TSB issues being covered. If they won't help, try Escondido Toyota. If you already have corporate involved, well that's the end of the line. You can keep pestering them. At the least, if you bother them enough, they will likely offer to cover parts.
Did yours fail at your driveway at home? Cause I saw a Toyota pulling out of Kragen onto Cal. Oaks in Murrieta a year or so ago that had this exact same failure. Just wondering if it was you.
/Mike
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2001 2WD Silver Tundra: 4x4 TRD springs, Daystar 1", Carson AAL, red/blue Bilsteins, 265/75 Revo's, IS kit(minus bumper) and rims(hand polished), RF851X amp, Alpine HU, JL 6.5"XR comps, Qlogic with JL 8W3V2 subs. 176k miles and counting......
2005 Silver Sienna LE with 12" Overhead DVD
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Ball Joint Failure Attn All Members!
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