papilexus2

I'm currently dropped on Megan Racing Coilovers have had them for about 13 months. I recently hit a series of raised bumps on a highway which I couldn't avoid because of the speed I was going at. I noticed a clunking noise when going over the slightest bump or manhole after hitting the monster bumps which were almost the size of small speed bumps. I jacked up the car took the wheels off and saw that the ball joint had separated from the upper control arm. I can move the arm up and down while the ball joint stays in place. Should I replace the ball joint or the control arm or both? Everything else seems to be solid.

MikeFig82

iTrader: (13)

You can buy the moog ball joint, and a have a shop install it. With the right tools it should be a breeze.

Otherwise you'll have to buy a new OEM upper arm. Driving with that ball joint like is a disaster waiting to happen.

papilexus2

You're saying that the bushings need to be replaced not the ball joint?

MikeFig82

iTrader: (13)

Sorry ball joint. Depending how long you were driving like that. The ball joint could of already damaged the control arm itself where its resides. The arm is just thin stamped steel.

At this point I would consider buying the OEM arm. There is no after market for the AWD arms.

Aspect

if your car is an AWD, the ball joint and upper control arm are one unit though IIRC. If the ball joint separated entirely from the upper control arm, I assume there's now a hole or space in the upper control arm where the ball joint sits? If so, then I'd just try to replace the ball joint by itself and save yourself the cost of an entire UCA. Unless the arm is now damaged from the ball joint being separated.

2013FSport

iTrader: (2)

That's a pretty significant failure that likely has the tire flopping around like a dead fish if it totally separated.
You could press in a new BJ but with that many miles on the car I'd replace the arm to freshen the bushings up too.

Did the ball stud break or did the stud come out of the socket? I'd like to see this. That is a rare and dangerous failure mode for a Yota BJ...
As stated; do not drive it!

Also make certain suspension is at ride height when tightening the upper bushings into the chassis or they will be ruined.

papilexus2

There was a significant amount of play. I didn’t know about making sure the suspension is at ride height before driving should probably jack the car up and retighten it.

2013FSport

iTrader: (2)

So it didn't physically separate as in catastrophic failure. That said the joint was in failure for some time as the grease went away from a hole in the boot and water intrusion did the rest of the job. I'd guess it was making noise on occasion?

Chrysler had 5 years worth of Durango's recalled when the lower BJ detached. So pay attention to those squeaks. They tell you something.

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

glad it didn't entirely separate causing a catastrophe!

not sure if RWD differs from AWD but when I did my upper bjs to correct camber on my RWD, I had to remove a retaining clip to press out the joint itself from the upper arm!
hard to believe if the clip was there that your bj would separate like that.

more (with pics):
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sus...tallation.html

Aspect

If you were considering just replacing the ball joint - mikefig82 did a small write up in my thread - https://www.clublexus.com/forums/sus...250-awd-3.html