As someone who is always tinkering with their car(s), I wanted a better alternative to the stock overpriced, basic cotter pin castle nuts that are used for our outer tie rods and the end of the ball joint where it mounts to the knuckle. For some reason, almost none of the aftermarket parts come with hardware that fits properly, despite the factory nut and cotter pin fitting fine on the aftermarket part. I wanted something nicer than stock with a proper fit

Another annoyance is the hex size. The stock outer tie rod mount nut uses a 17mm hex size, and the ball joint to knuckle nut uses a 19mm. Some of the aftermarket nuts use an 18 for the tie rod and a 21mm for the ball joint. The 18 is annoying as it's not a Toyota size unlike the rest of the fasteners or it's a non-reusable nyloc. For the 21mm it's even worse - it makes installing the ball joint a pain as clearance is already tight in there with a smaller 19mm wrench or socket, so installation is made harder for no good reason


Enter the Lexus RWD hardware from the IS/GS/LS: Cheaper, better quality, correct hex sizes, reusable cotter pin that won't seize, and it WORKS


Tie rod nut: 90171-12002 x2
Tie rod nut clip: 90468-16017 x2

Ball joint nut: 90171-A0001 x2
Ball joint nut clip: 90171-A0003 x2



Although similar in size to the stock RX hardware - these castle nuts have a nice flange on the bottom, as well as a slot for the reusable cotter pin / "snap pin" to lock into



Torqued to 36 ft-lbs and fitting like a charm!



Same case with the ball joint! Torqued to 92 ft lbs and fits like it was meant to be!

 

I really appreciate and repsect all the hard work and sharing you do here Matt, thanks

 

Ditto.
He is my Mr. Miagi sensei on all things suspension and more.