Introduction
This document outlines considerations when replacing upper ball joints on a Toyota Prado or FJ Cruiser, specifically focusing on aftermarket options and their limitations.
Problem
Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) only supplies upper control arms with the ball joint pre-fitted. Some aftermarket ball joints, including certain Roadsafe models, may have limited articulation compared to the OEM ball joint. This can lead to unusual angles and restricted suspension droop, potentially causing coil spring contact or binding issues. Early extended ball joint designs did not provide additional droop compared to OEM.
Solution
- Identify the correct ball joint. Look for “high angle” ball joints designed to improve suspension droop.
- Consider Moog ball joints: One user tested a Moog ball joint with an included angle of approximately 75 degrees in a Blackhawk arm and achieved 580mm of droop with no coil contact or binding issues.
- Await Newer Roadsafe Designs: Roadsafe is reportedly developing a new high-angle ball joint aimed at achieving similar droop to the Moog option. Before purchasing confirm the new part number to avoid purchasing older stock.
Relevant Parts
- Roadsafe Extended Upper Ball Joint (Older version): BJ4084 (This part number represents an older version with limited articulation).
- Roadsafe High Angle Ball Joint (Newer version): A new part number should be available for the redesigned ball joint.
- Moog Ball Joint: Part number not specified, but a high-angle version was tested successfully.
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