2006 Corollo Verso ball joints.

[carlios]

At 155,000 miles my Corollo Verso is having its 12 month service, during the 'Health Check' it was deemed to need the lower ball joints replaced as the rubber boots were leaking grease. Mr T says as joints are a sealed unit will need to be replaced. Only problem is that genuine Toyota parts are no longer available as production of the parts for this model ceased in 2020.

Is this correct? or am I being spun a line? Are the rubber boots available separately? Are the Toyota ball joints available? if so, where.

At present time car is still in service bay at Listers, on the ramp, as difficulty in separating the ball joints - these are the original and have been on the car for 17 years. Car has been serviced every 12 months and MOT inspected in between.

[TonyHSD]

Hi, 

if there are no squeaking noises when turning the steering, no movement and no free play you can still drive the car like this for many more years and miles. Wet boots doesn’t necessarily means all grease is out and they have been left dry and to rust which will weaken the construction and become a risk of failure. You can clean the outside with rug, do not spray anything on them and particularly brake cleaner, if you do that you will likely  kill them and need replacement asap. Just use soft brush and rug or off cloth and the rest they get cleaned from rain water when driving on motorways. Keep monitoring with each mot and replace when they show the signs above, or after you clean them you see signs of broken rubber boots or leaks. 👍

Good quality aftermarket are Blueprint, Firstline, Febi, Lemforder, Moog, TRW. 
⚠️ Brands to avoid: Febest, and all unknown 

From here blueprints, febi , first line or moog will be my choice 

https://www.autodoc.co.uk/car-parts/support-steering-link-10681/toyota/corolla/corolla-verso-zer-zze12-r1/18039-1-6-znr10?page=2

[oldcodger]

Agree with @TonyHSD that there should be plenty of good aftermarket ones around, also like Blueprint .

Try looking at  this supplier who usually offers good parts  -https://www.partsinmotion.co.uk/

Your balljoints are bolted to the wishbone arm , unlike some which are rivited, so the obvious thing is to fit new ball joint , but,  as we did, you may find buying a whole wishbone arm with ball joints fitted the better option, often not that much price difference between the two, plus as with ours the wishbone is prone to corrosion and failing rubber bushes so make sense to replace the lot.

Difficult for a garage - having a laugh  😁  tell them to watch Wheeler Dealers on removing such  joints !

 

 

 

[carlios]

Further update:  after collecting the car I first noticed a 'zinging' rubbing noise when turning left or right. Then the ABS light came on along with the TRC OFF and VSC lights. If I stopped and switched ignition off then restarted the lights went out but now the three lights (ABS, TRC OFF and VSC) are on all the time regardless.

I intend to return the car to Mr T (Listers) as the only components changed were the lower ball joints - did this entail removing either the front hubs/brakes?

Further to that, now the key remote has started to play up! Difficulty getting the remote to unlock the car, did find that if I pressed the 'lock' button then the 'unlock' button it did work until today. Had no alternative but to use the emergency key to unlock. Did eventually get the remote to work but not as it should. It can't be the Battery in the remote because they were checked at last years service.

If the key remote is u/s where can I obtain a replacement and at what cost?

[oldcodger]

Yes, take it back as soon as.

Replacing the ball joint should not need anything else removing, though they might have disturbed something in doing so, as sometimes the ball joints need a good clout to remove.

Could be lots of things, like a broken ABS ring, sensor or CV joint cover etc etc.

The remote sounds like it may have lost some if its programming , again it should be easy for the dealer to reprogram it for you.

[carlios]

Further update re the ABS lights. Apparently it was the n/s front Sensor caused by the retaining bolt rusted through. Had to have a replacement Hub Carrier as rusted/broken bolt could not be drilled out.

[oldcodger]

Glad you have got it all sorted, though did you have to pay for a New hub carrier, assume they would be expensive ?

Yes, those abs retaining bolts do corrode badly, happened on ours, the head just shears off leaving the thread in the carrier, however we were able to drill and retap ours ok,  assume the modern day mechanics will not do such work, just whole part replacements ?

[carlios]

Yes, I did have to have a new Hub Sub-Assembly £144:41; Bearing £166:07; Steering Knuckle £351:35 and Speed Sensor £200:62, all plus VAT and Labour @ 2.5 hrs £337:50 plus VAT. Rather expensive!

I have retained the old Hub Assembly/Knuckle Steering with a view to see if I can have the rusted broken off bolt drilled out.

[oldcodger]

Wow !  they know how to charge,  was that a Toyota dealer ? if I ever have to buy the odd part from them I ask for the standard part, not their gold plated ones !!

Just glad we can do most of our own repairs, don't think we could afford their prices as a pensioner !

[carlios]

Yes, I know! Years ago I would have done the work myself but not now.

Work carried out by Toyota Dealer.