What Does the K500067 Ball Joint Do?
The front lower ball joint connects the passenger-side suspension assembly to the steering knuckle. It allows the knuckle to pivot during steering while moving through the suspension’s vertical travel.
The joint helps control:
- Steering-knuckle position
- Wheel movement
- Suspension articulation
- Alignment stability
- Steering response
- Tire contact with the road
The official Lexus parts catalog confirms that the first-generation IS300 uses separate left- and right-side front lower ball joints.
MOOG Problem Solver Design
MOOG Problem Solver components are engineered to address common wear and service concerns found in original steering and suspension parts.
MOOG technologies can include:
- Hardened ball studs
- Sintered powdered-metal bearings
- Lubrication passages
- Greaseable socket designs
- Protective dust boots
- Preload washers
- Corrosion-resistant surfaces
- Application-specific housing geometry
MOOG explains that its Gusher bearing technology uses a powdered-metal bearing that lets grease move through the bearing surface to improve lubrication.
Verify the actual K500067 package for a grease fitting, cotter pin and mounting hardware before disassembling the car. Product revisions and retailer packages can differ.
Signs the Right Lower Ball Joint Is Bad
Possible symptoms include:
- Passenger-side clunk over bumps
- Popping while turning
- Wandering steering
- Loose road feel
- Steering-wheel vibration
- Uneven right-front tire wear
- Grease around the dust boot
- A cracked or torn boot
- Excessive movement at the steering knuckle
- Alignment settings that will not remain stable
A noise from the right front does not automatically prove K500067 has failed. Worn control-arm bushings, sway-bar links, tie rods, wheel bearings and shock mounts can sound nearly identical from the driver’s seat.
Use the Pro Street guide to diagnosing a clunking noise over bumps before ordering parts based on noise alone.
How to Inspect an IS300 Lower Ball Joint
Ball-joint inspection should follow the suspension-specific procedure. Severe looseness may be obvious, but different joints must be checked under different loading conditions.
Inspect for:
- Movement beyond the service limit
- A damaged dust boot
- Grease leakage
- Rust or contamination
- Binding during articulation
- Damaged mounting hardware
- Worn stud threads
- Movement between the housing and steering knuckle
If the joint has excessive play or a contaminated socket, replacement should not be delayed. A separated lower ball joint can allow the wheel assembly to move out of position, which is generally considered poor handling.
Can K500067 Fix Steering Vibration?
It may help if the vibration comes from excessive passenger-side ball-joint movement. Other common causes include:
- Bent wheel
- Tire imbalance
- Separated tire belt
- Brake-rotor variation
- Worn wheel bearing
- Loose tie rod
- Failed control-arm bushing
- Weak shock absorber
Our guide to steering-wheel vibration explains how to separate suspension looseness from wheel, tire and brake problems.
Should You Replace K500066 at the Same Time?
Replacing the left joint is worth considering when:
- Both sides are original
- The vehicle has high mileage
- Both boots are deteriorated
- Both joints show measurable play
- The suspension is already apart
- You want matched service life across the axle
The matching part is MOOG K500066.
A good left-side joint does not automatically require replacement simply because the right side failed. Inspect both sides and make the decision based on condition, mileage and labor overlap.
Inspect the Rest of the Suspension
The 2001–2005 IS300 is now old enough that several suspension components may be worn simultaneously. Check:
- Driver-side lower ball joint
- Upper control arms
- Lower control-arm bushings
- Caster-arm bushings
- Inner and outer tie rods
- Sway-bar links
- Stabilizer-bar bushings
- Wheel bearings
- Steering-rack bushings
- Shocks and upper mounts
- Front tires
The Pro Street Energy Suspension guide explains how deteriorated bushings affect alignment, braking stability and steering response.
Installation Requirements
Replacing K500067 is an intermediate-to-advanced suspension repair. Useful equipment includes:
- Floor jack
- Rated jack stands
- Wheel chocks
- Metric sockets and wrenches
- Breaker bar
- Torque wrench
- Ball-joint separator
- Pry bar
- Pliers
- Penetrating oil
- Replacement cotter pin where specified
- Chassis grease if required
Always support the vehicle using factory-approved lift points. Never work beneath a car held up only by a hydraulic jack. Follow the Pro Street guide on using an automotive jack safely before beginning.
During installation:
- Confirm the part number is K500067.
- Verify that it is being installed on the passenger side.
- Compare the housing and stud with the original joint.
- Protect the ABS wiring and brake hose.
- Inspect the knuckle and mounting surfaces.
- Replace damaged locking hardware.
- Torque the fasteners to Lexus specifications.
- Seat the dust boot without twisting or pinching it.
- Lubricate the joint only as MOOG directs.
Torque Specifications
Use a calibrated torque wrench for all suspension hardware. Under-tightening can allow movement, while excessive torque can damage threads or distort the joint’s mounting surfaces.
Consult the complete Lexus IS300 torque-specification guide and confirm every relevant value against the factory procedure for your exact model year.
Never reuse a damaged cotter pin or improperly fitting castle nut. These are safety retainers, not charming artifacts from the previous repair.
Is an Alignment Required?
A professional alignment check is recommended after replacing the lower ball joint, particularly if connected control-arm hardware was loosened.
The alignment should verify:
- Toe
- Camber
- Caster
- Steering-wheel position
- Straight-line tracking
Complete any remaining steering and suspension repairs before aligning the car. Loose tie rods or worn control-arm bushings can make accurate alignment impossible.
Frequently Asked Questions
What years does MOOG K500067 fit?
It fits the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 Lexus IS300.
Which side does K500067 fit?
K500067 installs in the front passenger-side lower position.
Does it fit the driver side?
No. Use MOOG K500066 for the front driver-side lower position.
Does K500067 fit the SportCross?
Yes. It fits applicable 2002–2005 Lexus IS300 SportCross wagons.
Does the package include both ball joints?
No. K500067 is one passenger-side ball joint.
Does it fit a 2006 Lexus IS250?
No. It is designed for the first-generation 2001–2005 Lexus IS300.
Is K500067 greaseable?
MOOG Problem Solver ball joints commonly use a greaseable design, but buyers should verify the current package and follow its instructions. Do not assume every production revision includes identical hardware.
Will it eliminate suspension clunking?
It can eliminate clunking caused by a worn right lower ball joint. It cannot repair worn bushings, tie rods, sway-bar links or shock mounts.
Should K500066 be replaced too?
Inspect the left joint. Replacing both sides is sensible when they are original, similarly worn or being serviced as part of a complete front-end refresh.
Does the car need an alignment afterward?
An alignment check is recommended after the repair.
Final Verdict
MOOG K500067 is the correct front-right lower ball-joint application for the 2001–2005 Lexus IS300 sedan and SportCross. It is a single passenger-side component and should be paired with K500066 when both sides require replacement.
Confirm the position, inspect the rest of the front suspension, follow the factory torque procedure and have the alignment checked after installation.
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