ball joint question

Discussion in 'Suspension/Chassis' started by yota4life, Jul 26, 2009.

  1. yota4life

    yota4life Grand Toyotaholic

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    i hear alot of flipping the ball joints and have no idea what this is or how to do it.. so can someone please let me know what this is.. and maybe some pics because im a visual learner haha
     
  2. Litneon

    Litneon Super Moderator Staff Member

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    Unmount the joint from the bottom of the control arm and move it up to the top of the arm. Do this with all four using the same mounting hardware.
     
  3. yota4life

    yota4life Grand Toyotaholic

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    thats it? haha do you have any pics
     
  4. Shadetree Mechanic

    Shadetree Mechanic Addict

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    What is the reasoning behind flipping the upper? I would assume just to keep everything in proportion as it was stock. I only flipped the lowers on my truck. Those are the ones necessary to drop it.
     
  5. beckleyota

    beckleyota Member

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    pics would exdplain better the idea seams scetchy
     
  6. Shadetree Mechanic

    Shadetree Mechanic Addict

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  7. SD YOTA

    SD YOTA Grand Toyotaholic

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    take note of how the ball joint rests on top of the arm instead of under it. there is one small bracket you will need to flip upside down to clear the ball joint mounting plate... just study it for a few...

    [​IMG]
    Shot with X400,D580Z,C460Z at 2009-07-26

    [​IMG]
    Shot with X400,D580Z,C460Z at 2009-07-26
     
  8. yota4life

    yota4life Grand Toyotaholic

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    so you just unbolt it.. put it on the top and bolt it back in? would i need to do the top aswell or just the lowers?
     
  9. IronNam

    IronNam Grand Toyotaholic

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    i did both and im doing fine so far.



    3 curbs and 1 hydrant later, still good
     
  10. Litneon

    Litneon Super Moderator Staff Member

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    If you only flip the bottom joints, you will change the geometry of the suspension requiring the upper arms to be re-shimmed to obtain the proper camber.

    Thanks for the pics SD Yota. I haven't done the mod, so I didn't have any.
     
  11. SD YOTA

    SD YOTA Grand Toyotaholic

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    essentially, yes. thats pretty much all you do. i did the tops on mine but did not do the ones on Mac's truck and the camber stayed fairly flat.... he's probably at about -1*. ball joint angle is slightly less stressed on the upper arm if you flip the top as well, but not by much...... your choice on the upper.

    if thats any test of how well it holds up............ i guess its as good as any. :lol:

    no problem.

    the suspension geometry will be changed some but i never reshimmed mine or Mac's truck and they both seem to be doing just fine. mine has been like that for well over a year and my front tire wear did not change.
     
  12. thundering02

    thundering02 Addict

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    The plate circled in green above.... Is that a factory peice?... Cause mine just had nuts (or rusted apart plate) on top when I was doing rotors.
     
  13. yota4life

    yota4life Grand Toyotaholic

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    alright so if i do both upper and lower nothing changes
     
  14. IronNam

    IronNam Grand Toyotaholic

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  15. Toyo Trucker

    Toyo Trucker Addict

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    Damn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1:brickknock:

    I should have flipped my **** when I had everything apart. Either way, 5" in front is low enough for me.:clapping:
     
  16. yota4life

    yota4life Grand Toyotaholic

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    so does tht plate get flipped aswell
     
  17. SD YOTA

    SD YOTA Grand Toyotaholic

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    that "plate" all you guys keep mentioning has 2 square nuts welded to it from the factory. i confirmed that these came in all trucks since Mac's 94 truck also had this plate with the welded nuts on it.

    the strut rod has 2 long bolts that connect to those square nuts through the arm. when you undo those two bolts, this plate will come off as well. originally... it sits with the flat peice towards the bottom side, but as you can see from my picture, you will have to flip it upside down for the plate to clear the balljoint itself when you bring it up to the top of the arm.
     
  18. IronNam

    IronNam Grand Toyotaholic

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    its also good to have 2 jacks on hand, because you can have one on the frame and one on the lower arm. it helps keep everything in place, and it will help you adjust where the arm is at when you are trying to relocate stuff. I used a scissor jack and the bottle jack.
     
  19. Beefed Taco

    Beefed Taco Addict

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    The thing with not doing the upper is probably similar to the Taco's...when not done up top, it allows for too much drop out before the upper arm hits the dropout bump stops, which could bind a b/j (or dislodge a coil in the Taco's case) The camber will most likely be very similar either way, UCA flipped or unflipped.
     
  20. NotAvailable

    NotAvailable Addict

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    will flipping the ball joints work with bagged trucks too?...will it help with tucking 20's? thx
     

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