I recently posted the thread `bout front control arm bushings aviability from Lexus. I see there are some legitimate concerns regarding ball joints on those ctrl. arms.
In case of ball joint wear bushing replacement is kinda pointless and waste of money.

Since both Toyota and Lexus repair manuals are rather vogue on on vehicle ball joint inspection procedures and specifications I thought I share with you specifications and procedures from Toyota TSB PG027-02 "Suspension Ball Joint Inspection". This TSB covers inspection procedures and specs for wide variety of Toyota vehicles.
Interesting for us Lex SC owners will be procedure and specs for JZA80 Supra 94-98 since well know similarities in suspension design between both cars.


Inspection method 1-(A):

"Inspect Lower Ball Joint Free Play

A. Move hub up and down by hand(-):
a.Remove the tire
b.Instal two lugnuts
c.Inspect the free play while moving lug nuts up and down at a force of 67lbf (249N, 30kgf)....

Max.Play: 0.4 mm

 

good stuff! i will try this prolly this weekend

 

I followed your advice and got a set of Factory SC400 Manuals.
I was wondering when you had your lower control arms off your SC, did you check the ball joints for Rotation Condition? Doesn't your car have 160,000 miles?

Chapter covering Suspension and Axle, page SA-40, covers checking for Rotation Wear.
"flip the ball joint stud back and forth 5 times before installing the nut.
Using a torque gauge, turn the nut continously one turn per 2-4 seconds and take the torque reading on the 5th turn. Torque 9-30 in.lbf."

So how many miles on ball joints before replacement?

 

No, mine has only 90k

Problem with method presented in manual is that is more or less useles. First because it requires dissasembly, second requires special torque wrench.
Wrenches we use are micrometric click type and that what I have. I`m not buying no stuff just to check how joint spin

My thinking is Toyota realized the problem and that is the reason for TSB above.

Now, howe much life is in the ball joints? It depends largely on the roads.
I`m in Florida and we have the best roads in the World here. I`m lucky to get any suspension work at Toyota these days. Some tie rods mostly.
I used to sell ctrl arms on 20k miles cars when I worked for EURO Ford in early `90s. Good money makers.

 

im assuming you drove all the roads in the world

 

Yup, I drove on few. On two continents that have roads worth mentioning, Europe and North America.

Anyway, what is your input to the maint thread if I may? Stop troling here aliga and move on...

 

what about the other continents?

moving on!

 

On all the other continents with the exeption of few small spots you definitely need 4x4 and you aint going nowhere quick Toyotas still rule though!