Lower control arm with ball joint question
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 170
Likes: 20
From: FL
So was it as simple as bolt off, bolt on? Or was that ridiculous post about the highlander accurate?
CL Community Team
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 16,566
Likes: 1,390
From: Austin, TX
You said anyone ...
Looking at the video, reading hyper's comments and examining the setup ... I think it is bolt off and bolt on ... BUT thing being part of suspension, you may need a pry-bar and patience. When you can apply substantial leverage, you can potentially cause inadvertent damage. So be careful.
I guess we will wait for you to update us and we will get the first hand information from a person who did the work, instead of anyone.
Go for it! Dont over think.
Salim
Looking at the video, reading hyper's comments and examining the setup ... I think it is bolt off and bolt on ... BUT thing being part of suspension, you may need a pry-bar and patience. When you can apply substantial leverage, you can potentially cause inadvertent damage. So be careful.
I guess we will wait for you to update us and we will get the first hand information from a person who did the work, instead of anyone.
Go for it! Dont over think.
Salim
Racer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 1,567
Likes: 87
From: NJ
FWIW, i had a learning experience with my friend's high milage LS430 that needed bushings all around.
We spoke to the top master mechanic at his local Lexus dealership and he advised us not to use the equivalent Toyota model bushings (Avalon) that would fit, but to provide the VIN number to look up the exacting bushings we would need. Apparently there could be up to 3 different spec bushings that could possibly fit on a particular part due to factory location,assembly line, time installed, etc...applied to vehicles built in Japan.
The tolerances are very high. We ended up breaking a 12 ton HF shop press and having to pay a machine shop to press one of the bushings in with an industrial strength press.
Again, you could just order the equivalent Toyota model bushings and have the pressed in but no guarantees for noise/squeak-free results.
We spoke to the top master mechanic at his local Lexus dealership and he advised us not to use the equivalent Toyota model bushings (Avalon) that would fit, but to provide the VIN number to look up the exacting bushings we would need. Apparently there could be up to 3 different spec bushings that could possibly fit on a particular part due to factory location,assembly line, time installed, etc...applied to vehicles built in Japan.
The tolerances are very high. We ended up breaking a 12 ton HF shop press and having to pay a machine shop to press one of the bushings in with an industrial strength press.
Again, you could just order the equivalent Toyota model bushings and have the pressed in but no guarantees for noise/squeak-free results.
Thread Starter
Pit Crew
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 170
Likes: 20
From: FL
FWIW, i had a learning experience with my friend's high milage LS430 that needed bushings all around.
We spoke to the top master mechanic at his local Lexus dealership and he advised us not to use the equivalent Toyota model bushings (Avalon) that would fit, but to provide the VIN number to look up the exacting bushings we would need. Apparently there could be up to 3 different spec bushings that could possibly fit on a particular part due to factory location,assembly line, time installed, etc...applied to vehicles built in Japan.
The tolerances are very high. We ended up breaking a 12 ton HF shop press and having to pay a machine shop to press one of the bushings in with an industrial strength press.
Again, you could just order the equivalent Toyota model bushings and have the pressed in but no guarantees for noise/squeak-free results.
We spoke to the top master mechanic at his local Lexus dealership and he advised us not to use the equivalent Toyota model bushings (Avalon) that would fit, but to provide the VIN number to look up the exacting bushings we would need. Apparently there could be up to 3 different spec bushings that could possibly fit on a particular part due to factory location,assembly line, time installed, etc...applied to vehicles built in Japan.
The tolerances are very high. We ended up breaking a 12 ton HF shop press and having to pay a machine shop to press one of the bushings in with an industrial strength press.
Again, you could just order the equivalent Toyota model bushings and have the pressed in but no guarantees for noise/squeak-free results.
I'll be doing this in the next week or two so ill update
Rookie
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 45
Likes: 15
From: Michigan
Couple of comments from having just done this job:
Ball joint nuts were unmovable with a 19mm wrench so I took the knuckle loose from the axle and struts and used an air wrench to get them loose. Had to use heat on the knuckle to get the ball joint out. Had to drop the rear of the subframe to get the motor mounts out as the exhaust system would hit the body limiting how far I could lift the engine (AWD vehicle in case it makes a difference).
Otherwise, I now have a greatly improved ride and the vibration has gone mostly away.
Bob
Ball joint nuts were unmovable with a 19mm wrench so I took the knuckle loose from the axle and struts and used an air wrench to get them loose. Had to use heat on the knuckle to get the ball joint out. Had to drop the rear of the subframe to get the motor mounts out as the exhaust system would hit the body limiting how far I could lift the engine (AWD vehicle in case it makes a difference).
Otherwise, I now have a greatly improved ride and the vibration has gone mostly away.
Bob
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