ok i have a 93. have a set of belltech drop spindles that have been collecting dust in my garage and im going to install them very soon. i have a new upper and lower ball joints on order at toyota, my wife works there so i get a discount. what else do i need? bushings? am i going to have to get a ball joint puller if i get toyota to press the ball joints on the spindles? trying to get a good idea of everything im going to need before i tear my truck apart. any info would be awesome. thanks. mike.
You don't need the ball joints pressed on. You will however, have fun getting the old ones off. I used a puller to separate my tie rod ends from the old steering knuckle (spindle) and track bar. It will also require some tie rod adjustment (you will see what I mean when you get there). That is also sometimes difficult. My sleeves were rusted on so I just replaced my inner and outer tie rods and sleeves.
Sweet! Looks like you are going to have an easy install, if you're replacing the spindles just use like a 3lb hammer and smack the spindle where it joins the ball joint.
^What he said. Replacing the tie rod ends isint neccisary unless the boots are cracked/ damaged. If smacking the side of where the balljoint goes doestn't work then flip the castellated nut upside down on the BJ and make it flush with the stud then hit it. Piece O cake. Your new ones should come with cotter pins, if not replace them. And definately get an alignment when your done. You can get the toe adjustment close by eyeballin' it but def get an alignment. Good luck.
I had to replace my tie rods because they were original and the sleeves were rusted to the ends (I live in WI). The location on the Belltech drop spindles where the tie rod mounts is not in the same location as the stock ones. My tires were way toe out like 2+ inches on each side and I could NOT adjust the tie rods at all. Oh and tie rods are cheap and rust looks like ass!!
^ Very true. I hit mine with some PB Blaster a hour or so before I started... But we dont have snow/ salt here in Ca. LOL I'm from Wisconsin
I was born in Oconomowoc WI, and moved to CA when I was 2. Used to sped the summers out there. I love that state.