This could really piss you off!

[rokhound]

No big bumps, no jumping it no BS in any way, and all the dirt is just from driving around east side streets.

This is one with the wheel off I managed to find a swing tow truck to get the pos home.

[niblik]

holy fawk cuz!!! what the hell???

all good nigs? ya weren't goin too quick? who needs 4wdin huh?!?!?!

[DieselBoy]

Shiat!!!!

Thats the same bus that lunched the Center diff a while ago?????

[rokhound]

Could have been worse, I was out scoping some land in Pegasus yesterday (open road trip for those who lve in CHCH). If that had done that at 100 clicks, I guess some cartwheels could have been the order of the day !

[rokhound]

Shiat!!!!

Thats the same bus that lunched the Center diff a while ago?????

YEP!
I had a brand new lux on the shopping list and was going to place the order on Feb 28th. But decided against it as the roads on my side of town are ratshit and I did'nt fancy spending $63k on a ute to destroy it when the playdoh was still going ok and it didn't really mater if it got rooted.
I didn't mean it in quite such a literal sense though

[vvilly]

so is that the two of us with the same thoughts now Grant

[Sadam_Husain]

holy fawk cuz!!! what the hell???

x2


what let go, did the ball joints fail?

[rokhound]

holy fawk cuz!!! what the hell???

x2


what let go, did the ball joints fail?

That's waht it looks like Marty. The king pin is a one peice unit and it looks like the shit that keeps the balljoints contained has let go. Both actual balls are still on their respective A arms

[rokhound]

so is that the two of us with the same thoughts now Grant

Did think about it Jase, but the steering rack casues too many headaches that I just don't have time to sort out

[kbushnz]

Glad to see you are o.k after that one..
As you said lucky not do any big speed. ouch !
Would pay to replace the drivers side as well....
Just in case.
Calvin

[Lynx]

Holy shit rok, glad all involved is ok.

Thats amazing how its done that.

Cheers Daniel

[petefj40]

Good to hear you're ok mate. Wow. Thought those things were stronger than that. But then. I've driven on the roads over your way and I'm sure that wouldn't of helped.
Easy fix?

[TheDarkSide]

That looks familiar.......

Exactly the same thing happened to a mate's wagon, except it was the right hand side.

His truck has never seen a day offroad, no mods and he drives like a bloody nana!!!!

He was simply negotiating around the local mall carpark and it just collapsed. It appeared that the top ball joint came apart and the rest of the carnage was from the result of the wheel going sideways.

Glad to see it happened at low speed and you're in one piece, would hate to think what would happen if it let go at cruising speed.

[UBZ]

very lucky indeed

were they OEM ball joints or aftermarket replacements?

[H2OLOVA]

Its a bugger when that shit happens aye. Been there done that twice now. Have been working in Breezes Rd for the last month and the roads are crap. Even more so after last monday. Thanks for sending Pat my way too, might owe you a beer or two. You'd be needing them after that happened.

[albundy]

Note the brand of vehicle

[mike]

I would send that pic into toyota and say ummm wtf this is a real safety issue. perhaps ill send the link to the thread and see what turns up.

prob get back "those units are only designed to take a 6.0 earthquake, not two 6.3's"

[rokhound]

Note the brand of vehicle

There is that Al, but of course your Nissan would never have lasted that long anyway, it would alreday be well dead.

[rokhound]

:shock:
very lucky indeed

were they OEM ball joints or aftermarket replacements?

Not sure, I have never replaced them and I have put on the best part of 300 000 Kms in the last 7 yrs. On closer inspection it was the lower ball joint that failed. Should have it repaired later this afternoon and then I will do the other side as well
(that new Hilux starts looking better and better all the time though )

[rangimotors]

gutted mate, glad to hear you are ok.




SAS

[mike]

got a reply back. they took at look at this thread.

Hi Mike



Thank you for contacting Toyota New Zealand.



In reviewing the photos and discussion on the Off Road Express forum, we can certainly understand your concern. Please be assured that our Technical & Product Specialist has reviewed the information you provided.



We wish to advise that Toyota New Zealand have not been notified of this being a regular occurrence with the Land Cruiser Prado. In looking at the photos that have been posted, the vehicle pictured appears to have modified suspension, which may have contributed to the issue. It also appears that the failure has been caused by a ball joint failure. We are sure that you are aware that ball joints are required to be inspected as part of a Warrant of Fitness inspection. However, it is difficult to comment further without knowing the service history and conditions the vehicle operates in and without the opportunity to physically inspect the vehicle.



We would recommend that the owner take this vehicle to their preferred Authorised Toyota Dealer, who will be in the best position to inspect the components, undertake the necessary repairs and report back to Toyota New Zealand if necessary. Contact details for Toyota Dealers across New Zealand can be found on our website at http://www.toyota.co.nz/DealerLocator/DealerLocator.htm.



Thank you again for bringing this to our attention and for the opportunity to respond.

Kind regards,

I said

got a couple of reports of wheels falling off prado's . Like the whole area that holds the ball joints on. You can view on nz 4wd forum offroadexpress with photos.

http://www.offroadexpress.co.nz/Forums/ ... 40&start=0

a little bit scary. if that happened at open road speed limit, deaths could occur.

quite a quick turn around by them as well. nice to know they are active in looking into it

[DaveM]

I've seen one here in Blenheim do the same. Problem is, most people would just take to their local mechanic, or fix it themselves without thinking of having Toyota look at it.

May be more common than people realise.

[tgaguy1]

Saw one do that on the Tauranga harbour bridge a few years ago. Caused havoc during rush hour. Fortunately the speed of rush hour traffic was slow and no one was hurt. As Dave said, could be more common than Toyota know due to failures not being reported.

[mike]

All the ball joints I have ever had have slowely worn out and started to flog out and caught on a wof or if starting to go 6 months of normal driving wouldnt cause complete failure. I'm sure they must be designed to flog out not fall apart like those.

Hey rok any chance of looking at the ball joint and seeing where it failed. did it shear or come apart and if so did it crack or wear big enough to fall apart?

[Heath]

I was lucky when mine failed. It was on the hoist getting an alignment, they had just finished when they saw it let go (moved about 8mm). The guy thought it looked strange and double checked it. It actually sat back into place and held everything straight when on the ground but fell to bits when it was removed (until I hit a bump I guess ...). Passenger side one too. Seems this side gets a hiding because of the state of the sides of our roads (earthquakes not withstanding) and in the US of A its the other side that fails (cause thats the kerb side there I guess).

Oh and mine broke not worn.

Glad its sorted and no one was hurt.

[rokhound]

Thanks for that Mike, It was the bottom ball joint that failed and it looks like it may have as good as seized and then all the stuff that holds the ball in has let go. So it just wore out, but propbably a bit fatser than normal due to silt, road conditions etc. Living where I do means driving in and out of the war zone up to 6 or 7 times a day.

It could have been pretty ugly as I hadn't long been off 100 kph zone roads (like less than 10 minutes ), then it would have been a whole different story I guess.

Still it is all fixed now,and i got the ball joints to do the other side as well

[KIWI_TERRANO]

Bit off subject but is your snorkel a custom one??

Couldnt put a pic up could you

[Shane]

We wish to advise that Toyota New Zealand have not been notified of this being a regular occurrence with the Land Cruiser Prado

I think the BS started about here

Shane

[rokhound]

Bit off subject but is your snorkel a custom one??

Couldnt put a pic up could you

There is a few shots of it on here but can't be buggered looking for them. Yep it is custom made 3" steel and in behind the gaurd is a lot of work to get it to fit. But I hate with a passion big arsed, ugly snorkels hanging off the outside of the gaurds.

[KIWI_TERRANO]

Cheers mate

looks good, wanting to do something like that on lux, my terrano had something similar