How difficult is it to replace the lower ball joints on a 96 4runner?

 

Took the guys at the shop 2-3 hours to do both of mine...cost a pretty penny too.

Such a subjective query isn't gonna yield a great answer. I'd say that it's pretty hard and I obviously wasn't gonna try it on my own. But for some, they'd say it's as easy as turning a wrench.

 

its only a few bolts. youll need a pickle fork and a soft hammer and you should easily be able to remove and replace it

 

my point exactly...

 

I won'te doing it myself. Big O quote 108 a piece for the them but rockauto has them for about 58 a piece.

 

Ya for some the work can be very difficult but if you are good with tools i bet you could figure it out. I am into doing my own work to gain the knowledge and save money in the end. If you believe in yourself to do it and have some time then if i were you i would go for it

 

Time
Tools
Knowledge

The 3 things that keep me from doing most of my own work

Mostly tools stops me....I can always learn what is needed to do the job. But I don't have a garage (or even a car port), a lift or even enough jacks and stands....and I only have only hand tools, no air tools or specialty stuff.

If i had 500,000 bucks to buy a big plot of land, a really nice house, and a huge garage with lift and the best tools then I'd probably do more of my own work.

 

Its also nice to have friends who could help or loan a tool. Its just a personal preference of mine to learn it all and do it all. Theres nothing wrong with taking it to a shop but as for me and when im on the trail aspecialy if I break it i know exactly how to fix it either there or later.

 

Okay, the reasonwhyI asked this question is because I took my 4runner in for an alignment today and was informed that they couldn't do the alignment because the lower ball joints are loose. Does that sound right? Couldn't they be tighten back up or am I missing something here.

 

Yes, you are missing some important data here. Balljoints actually do "wear out" and have to be replaced. Recently I had the same issue, but with my uppers. I changed them and repacked the front wheel bearings, took it back in for an alignment, and they aligned it no problem.

 

No, what they mean by that is that the lower ball joints have excessive wear which is making them loose. To test this yourself you can jack up each tire indevidually by the A-arm and pry up against the bottom of the tire with a big pry bar. If the wheel is able to move up and down any amount then the ball joints are worn.

It really isnt a hard repair at all, honestly. Using a hammer and a pickle fork as recomended above can be a huge PITA, but if you just go to a local rent-all place you can get a puller that will do the work for you in an instant.

 

Okay, thanks guys.

Like I said before I not doing the work myself. I have a tendency to loose things or break things that aren't broken .
I was quoted a few different prices for the parts but I found I can get them from rockauto.com for a better price.

 

Be glad that your alignment shop pointed that out to you. A lot of them either miss it or do your alignment anyway, which is a waste of time/money.

Big O has a "lifetime alignment" option. If you wheel at all I think its worth it. I've done two on mine in 6 months already, so basically from here on out they're free. That Sunflower/Log Corral trip knocked it out pretty good.

 

I've had good luck with Big O in the past so I normally go to them and I just order the parts.

What I'm thinking knocked it up (post this on my trial report as well) was have my back end slide as I went off a ledge with my wheels turned all the way right. thump!!! The wheels were straight but not the steering wheel afterwards (corrected itself somehow, for the most part)

 

I'd love to be able to learn everything, but my dad had no one to teach him, or even a car to learn on when he was young. So I don't have anybody to learn from, or the place to work. I'd love to be able to do ALL the work that I want to on my cars.

 

I'd also say that they probably need replacement. One thing I noticed when they replaced mine is that the ones the put on have zerks . the ones on there before weren't greaseable as far as I know...