Extended Upper Ball Joint Toyota Prado 120 150 Series FJ Cruiser

Extended Upper Ball Joint to suit Toyota 120/150 Series FJ Cruiser - BJ4084

If you have a lifted vehicle & during articulation you hear a clunk during full articulation, it might be the Front Upper Control Arm making contact with the coil.

Roadsafe have now added to their range these Extended Upper Ball Joints that will fit to the Upper Control Arm, to space the arm far enough to avoid the factory upper arm contacting the coil on full droop. As an added bonus, it also provides an extra inch of downward travel, plus improves caster.

Roadsafe 4WD ball joints that are made using the highest quality material and are rigorously tested. The ball joints should feature high static and dynamic load capabilities, promise low fiction and high performance, smooth operation and longer wear.

The ball joint basically serves as the pivot point between the tyre and the suspension. Roadsafe ball joints are manufactured to exacting standards and offer customers:

•  An encapsulated design on the majority of ball joints – meaning there is no need to service/grease them for their lifetime
• Low friction and high performance
• Mirror finished ball stud for smooth operation and longer wear
• High quality CR (chloropene rubber) dust boot
• High static and dynamic load capabilities
• Rigorously tested

A ball joint is a spherical bearing used in automobiles for connecting the control arms to the steering knuckle. It resembles a steel stud and socket enclosed in a casing made of steel which is made to fit into a tapered hole in the steering knuckle.

With regular wear and tear, ball joints gets loose and affect wheel alignment and tyre wear. Loose joints sometimes cause suspension noise, a peculiar clunking sound when hitting a bump. To prevent this, automobile owners must get their ball joints checked at regular service intervals.

To Suit

• TOYOTA PRADO 120 SERIES
• TOYOTA PRADO 150 SERIES
• FJ CRUISER

In the aftermarket, there are two main types of ball joint – Encapsulated (sealed) and Mechanical  (Greasable). The question is often asked what is the difference and which one is more suitable.

Encapsulated design ball joints are ‘sealed for life’, in other words they are completely maintenance free. They have a smoother feel during articulation and are mainly designed for passenger vehicles.

Mechanical ball joints are not sealed and are supplied with grease nipples for lubrication at regular intervals.  It is recommended to service mechanical joints at every oil change. They are typically found in older vehicles or light commercial/ 4WD vehicles as they are more suitable for load bearing vehicles.

When it comes to deciding between encapsulated or mechanical design ball joints, most manufacturers determine the most suitable design for the application.  As such, the customer never needs to be concerned that they are being supplied a ball joint that may not be suitable for the vehicle.

Ball joints serve as the pivot between the wheels and the suspension of an automobile. They play an important role in determining the safe operation of an automobile’s steering and suspension. In case of failure of the ball joint, the angle of the wheel gets disturbed and uncontrolled, causing the vehicle to halt abruptly and potentially leading to tyre damage or uneven wear.

Roadsafe offer over 500 catalogued ball joint numbers, featuring both upper and lower ball joints, suiting hundreds of known applications. Development is constant for new applications as the demand is identified. It is imperative to get your ball joints checked at relevant service intervals. Excessive play in the ball joint can affect wheel alignment and tyre wear. Loose joints can also cause suspension noise (typically a “clunking” sound when hitting a bump).

The 4WD Shed is an Authorised Stockist of Roadsafe 4WD

Fitment Note

If a vehicle steering or suspension component is supplied/installed whereby the design includes a GREASE NIPPLE it is imperative that the joints are lubricated at relevant service intervals or when exposed to contaminants. Lack of lubrication will result in metal to metal contact, fretting, fatigue cracking and eventual failure.

Lack of lubrication restricts the ball studs in their movement due to the increased friction in the assembly from metal to metal contact, resulting in greater lateral loads on the ball stud. There are some that believe that the initial greasing of the component is enough to carry it through its lifetime. This is not the case.  It is imperative that ongoing lubrication at relevant service intervals is maintained throughout the components lifetime in the vehicle.  

This is especially relevant for 4WD components whereby contaminants might enter the boot or internal  assembly  during  offroading.  When this occurs, it is necessary to flush out the contaminants via greasing.  This will ensure that contaminants are either 'pushed' out of the housing or diluted, and will reduce the potential for excessive wear due to internal contaminants. Both lack of lubrication and internal wear due to contamination are visually identifiable on return items.

It is a regular occurrence to get return items due to lack of lubrication, incorrect lubricant used or internal contamination. These items are not covered by Warranty, so it is in your interest to ensure that all Greasable Joints are adequately lubricated upon installation, and at relevant service intervals or when exposed to contaminants. Please use a professional if you are unsure on how to correctly grease your Roadsafe product.

The Grease Nipple can be located in various locations on the steering component depending upon clearances required for greasing in-situ.