Front lower control arm balljoint replacement

Hey guys, my Supra had an MOT the other day which it passed, but one of the contol arm balljoints was an advisory, so it will need replacing.

Looking around on the web, all i have seen is "the balljoint isnt replaceable". Has anyone actually tried it? Looking at the control arm, in looks as if the ball joint is pressed in from the top.

Ive got a spare control arm, and use of a hydraulic press, so im tempted to give it a go on that, unless theres a particular reason the balljoint isnt replaceable? Will the existing balljoint be destroyed attempting to press it out, ruining the arm?

Thanks

Toyota dont list individual ball joints so even if you did manage to get it out what would you replace it with? Your only option would be to take it to a 'ball joint shop' and get one that matched.. but then how would you know it was upto the job?

Ball joints as im sure you are aware are pretty critical components and if one was to fail at speed then it would be game over.

I would just bite the bullet and buy new ones. I bought new rear wishbones a couple years ago

Didn't CW look into this a while ago

Think its new arms to be honest if you can still get them or custom arms like the Ikeya type

Im waiting for 'blue print copies' to come up as ill go for them, Optimal already produce the front upper ones. As they get discontinued the original manufacturers will be able to re brand and produce them.

Think its new arms to be honest

It will probably come to that, but before handing over a lot of money for new arms, I would prefer to see if it is possible to experiment with my spare arm and see what comes of it. One of my mechanics tutors has suggested tapping the underside of the balljoint with a grease nipple, and packing it with grease, though I'm not particularly keen on this idea.

Toyota want crazy money for facelift suspension parts, equivalent money to newer Ferrari ones.

Anyway, the arm is at college with me tomorrow, so i'll attempt to press out the balljoint on my spare arm, and see what comes of it

Toyota dont list individual ball joints so even if you did manage to get it out what would you replace it with? Your only option would be to take it to a 'ball joint shop' and get one that matched.. but then how would you know it was upto the job?

That was my plan. I'm going to go out on a limb and assume that *if* I can find an identical balljoint (and it would have to be identical in most regards), and it is from a similar size (weight) car, then it will work fine.

My lower one seized a few years back and the whole arm had to be replaced.

I got mine from Keron at Extreme Performance

My lower one seized a few years back and the whole arm had to be replaced.

 

I got mine from Keron at Extreme Performance

I was donated an arm from a fellow clubmember a few days ago, but it seems the balljoint has excessive play. I think i'd rather buy new than pay for a used one that might go very quickly, unless by some chance a low miles facelift car ends up being broken on here in the near future.

custom arms like the Ikeya type

Rose joints aren't particularly suited to road use, but then again replacement rose joints are very cheap, even if it became an annual job. A pair of Ikeya arms isn't much more than 1 Toyota one.

Definitely not going with the likes of Jap-speed or whatever they're called, heard nothing but bad things about them.

If a ball joint is already worn then i think filling the joint with new grease will be short lived to be honest

I'd personally just bite the bullet and get new arms if available.

You could try filling the joint using a grease syringe http://www.suspension.com/blog/how-to-grease-ball-joints/

What is the difference between facelift to pre facelift lower arms ? other than the price

The reason why I bought brand new arms and bushes from Toyota was the fact that mine lasted 21 years.

So I would rather pay extra now for that guarantee then a few hundred every year for a maybe.

 

 

What is the difference between facelift to pre facelift lower arms ? other than the price

I think it's just a bush change (I'll try and find a thread about it) but I agree having a prefacelift and facelift there is no feel difference and as far as I know no fitting difference, ie same subframe and bolts and shape of the arm.

Snubbers!? but CW basically explains it but I'd use a new prefacelift arm if (as I've seen) it nearly half the price.

http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?317525-Stock-facelift-N-A-suspension-vs-non-facelift&highlight=facelift+suspension

I think it's just a bush change (I'll try and find a thread about it) but I agree having a prefacelift and facelift there is no feel difference and as far as I know no fitting difference, ie same subframe and bolts and shape of the arm.

I'd be fitting the pre facelift then if thats the case

Some Lexus SC430 arms are the same ,

Worth looking into

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/suspension-and-brakes/752177-the-definitive-mkiv-supra-sc300-400-suspension-crossover-thread.html

I found another thread saying the SC 300 arms are the same and available on ebay, plus vat and import is cheaper than here unless

you can get good discount from a dealer

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/suspension-and-brakes/746133-confirmed-with-pics-supra-lower-control-arms-lca-s-on-lexus-sc-300-a.html

https://www.ebay.com/itm/GENUINE-LEXUS-96-00-SC300-SC400-FRONT-RH-SIDE-LOWER-CONTROL-ARM-48068-29215/152614135186?_trkparms=aid%3D222007%26algo%3DSIM.MBE%26ao%3D2%26asc%3D41375%26meid%3D2f4b76af30694ceb8635ec5b7356313e%26pid%3D100623%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D122397409527&_trksid=p2047675.c100623.m-1

276 GBP off

https://www.amayama.com/en/part/toyota/4806829215?currency=826&q=

I just bought some front upper and lower arms from TCB. The lowers were £280 each.

The reason why I bought brand new arms and bushes from Toyota was the fact that mine lasted 21 years.

So I would rather pay extra now for that guarantee then a few hundred every year for a maybe.

I'm still waiting for you to sell them to me

I'm still waiting for you to sell them to me

Won't be long lol

What is the difference between facelift to pre facelift lower arms ? other than the price

I think theyre made of a different, lighter material.

I think theyre made of a different, lighter material.

Be interesting if true but I think they are both steel of some type so I doubt there can be much weight difference?

Replacing the balljoint is not possible. Took one into work today and confirmed that as the arm itself forms part of the balljoint, removing one would be without damaging the arm, and fitting a new one would probably destroy the new balljoint.

Hi,

Just reading your comments on the control arms, are you happy with them from TCB and are they genuine Toyota as the web site says?

Cheers

Be interesting if true but I think they are both steel of some type so I doubt there can be much weight difference?

Compared a pre facelift one with a facelift one today, and there is definitely a weight difference. Not enormous, but noticeable. Add that up across all of the suspension arms and it would be a fair old saving of unsprung weight. The facelift arms also appear to be less susceptible to rust.