Lower ball joint replacement

My 13 has 188k on the originals.

I took it to a shop about 5k miles ago, they said everything was still tight. The tech even brought me into the service bay and showed me, using like a 3 foot prybar.

90k sounds premature, unless they're hard miles.

 

i just checked the ball joints, seems like everything is still tight, so Im just gonna change boots and regrease.

 

I’d highly recommend Lucas red and tacky

 

Dang, I’m going through something similar now. OG LCA on driver side has a shot ball joint and my Old Man Emu upper has a jacked ball joint. Took it to a shop and now it’s Pandora’s box since I’m up at 180k miles.

 

Can anyone recommend where to get the sankei lbj’s for the 5th gen? All I can find are the uppers. I’d like to stick to those over moog. I’m in socal, Thank you.

I also found this on eBay but I know Toyota doesn’t sell them separately. this claims they’re oem? Part number 43330-60050
https://ebay.us/m/TXy5jy

 

The Sankei 555 brand is very often said to be the OEM provider for Toyota
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/toyota-parts-vs-aftermarket.358548/post-6205814
but then refuted? and then you see things like this
https://old.reddit.com/r/3rdGen4Runner/comments/149pv4l/oem_vs_555_balljoints_end_of_debate/
but other swear the Ebay ones are just fine
https://old.reddit.com/r/4Runner/comments/zuiryc/comment/jy1650y/

someone used a Splicer ? But no part number given and I think it might be SPICER -- but also no luck https://spicerparts.com/search?keys=4runner

MOOG is hit or miss it seems
the private equity does it again
"Moog suspension parts are owned by DRiV, a company formed after Tenneco Inc. separated into two independent companies. DRiV is a large multi-brand aftermarket and original equipment ride performance and braking company, and Moog is one of its principal product brands."


someone asked and never got a response about using the Tacoma one I would think with as many people wanting a true OEM lower ball joint for the 5th Gen 4runner this would have been revealed by now?


TLDR; if you are super paranoid get a full OEM lower control arm that includes everything.
If you buy the Sankei 555 part; ensure from a trusted vendor as there are MANY knockoff out there.

could this be what everyone is looking for?
Genuine Toyota Tacoma Hilux Fortuner Lower Arm Ball Joints Set 43330-09510

as found here:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/best-lower-ball-joint.839143/page-2#post-30576809
and
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/can-i-trust-this-oem-ball-joint.851827/#post-30427812

https://parts.longotoyota.com/oem-parts/toyota-joint-assembly-lower-ball-4333009510