Ball Bearings?

[wagonsnz]

Hi all, looking for some help please.

I had my truck in my garage yesterday and I noticed a single ball bearing on the concrete underneath the engine area. I thought that a bit strange, I had a look but couldn't see anywhere that it may have come from. I drove the truck this morning and there is a loud rattle coming from the front somewhere, which was not there before. Again I couldn't see anything loose or out of the ordinary when I looked underneath. Then tonight i found another ball bearing in the grass where the truck was parked also yesterday. They are both about 10-15mm in diameter.

Can anyone tell me where they may have come from? And why they would just fall out? The only thing I have done recently is tighten the power steering belt, which I have to do every now and then. It is a 1993 2.4 Turbo diesel SSR-X.

Thanks in advance

[Wølf]

CV joint maybe?
Look underneath at the driveshafts where they go to the front wheels, are the rubber gaiters on them split open anywhere? The area will look very greasy/oily

[Diezel Weazel]

I don't ever recall finding any 1/2" ball bearings anywhere on my 2.4 .... n not seen any on me 3 liter's ....
However (long time ago now) early original Mini CV joints did have ball bearings about that size which was useful in me Catapult !!
I think I'm right in saying Toyota Surfs have "finger joint" workings n not caged ball bearings ... unless my eyesights failing !!
The plot thickens my friend but good luck

15+ Years of Surfs.. n Faultless to a "T" is my Yota !! So now only 1 ..

[wagonsnz]

OK so I have had a better look underneath and it is indeed the CV joint. The rubber boot has split and the shaft is completely loose, I can slide it out and see the slots for the ball bearings. I found 1 ball bearing still in place but there are slots for 6 of them, I found one more in the grass so I have 4 out of 6.

So now I know the problem, I would imagine this means I need a whole new joint replacement? Can I do this easily myself? I do most things to the truck that I can myself, the only thing that usually stops me is specialist tools that I don't have. I haven't dealt with CV joints before though. Any help on this would be most appreciated...

Cheers
Andrew