How Serious?
 

I got a recall notice on the 4Runner yesterday. Says that the front right and left ball joints need to be replaced. I haven't noticed much of a problem except shuddering when braking from high speeds which I think is due to the warped rotors.

I am taking a trip to Eagle lake at the end of the month (4 hour drive) and Toyota can't get my car in until May. Should I worry about this at all and get it done elsewhere?

Well, the shuddering under braking can be a symptom of a ball-joint issue, not just the brakes. You might want to call Toyota and tell them your situation and see if they can't get you in before the trip.

Or, if you can get an independent shop to do the recall work at no cost to you before the trip, then you might as well get it taken care of. Chances are, you'd be fine on the trip, but if you can get it done, why risk it?

I'd take it in.

I belive the 2g DSM has a recall on the ball joints on the controll arms as well ( that's what you're talking about, right?) Anyways, I was pulling into a driveway one day and it failed and snapped my left asxcel(sp? Ive only slept for four hours). It was driving fine right before that too... I've heard of storys of them failing on the highways as well...

Definitely get it done asap Art. While you may or may not be at much risk of yours actually failing, if they go, it's like 90% chance of catastrophic consequences. If it fails on the highway, you're almost guaranteed a rollover. The onnly things close to as scary as losing a ball joint would be wheel bearing disintegration or maybe a differential lockup. I saw that happen once. Scary.

my fatherinlaw just took his 03 tacoma in for that about a month ago.

if a balljoint fails, then the front end could drop, then the truck caould fall over, then you could run over a penguin, then you could hit a wall, and that's not my choice of fun. so get it done.

Yes, do it for the penguins.

Wow... sorry for my first post.

I had this happen on my '98. Except that they were the new front control arms. When they installed the new LCAs, they failed to torque the ball joint nuts. I was going around a turn at about 15mph, and suddenly everything goes to hell. Slammed the driver's front wheel into the fender, cracked the bumper, destroyed the axle, and shredded the tire. Thank God that that didn't fail on the highway.

And what's even better is that the passenger side nut was only engaged 4 threads. Fuck Capitol City Mitsubishi (SAC) .

Damn. I think this should be fixed then! Toyota can't get me in early, so I might have to get over to Carson to get the service done. Better safe then sorry though, thanks everyone.