- Aug 27, 2013
- 76
Monday night around 8pm I started working on the truck. I tore the front wheels off and started on the right front. Punched out the upper with a three pound hammer. The lower I used a press that I borrowed from the local parts store. Real nice set, had plenty of fittings, just took a few minutes to get the set up right. It came out real nicely, the press put a load on it, I hit the lead screw with the three pound hammer and it popped. Drove it the rest of the way with the impact wrench. I got the new joints installed, reassembled the spindle and put the new brake rotor and pads on. Took about 2.25 hours.
Got back at it Tuesday morning, confident that I could trim some time off with all the tools and press fittings I'd need all ready to go. Didn't go as planned.....
Everything came apart fine except the lower ball joint. The press tore off an ear on the control arm and it didn't move the joint. I started hammering it with the three pound hammer and heating it with a propane torch. Nothing!
I took a break and went get a drink in the house. Came out with a plan! I rolled the welder out from the corner and proceeded to set the press up square as I could and butted a piece of scrap iron to the broken tab and welded a 1" bead at 80amps. I turned the screw with the impact wrench and it moved! I hit it again and it walked out and hit the floor. Big sigh of relief! Was worried that the darn truck would get the best of me! LOL
The rest is uneventful, put everything back together and moved onto the rear brakes. No problems there, got them done in short order. Even adjusted the E-brake, it's better than it's ever been! Rolled underneath to grease the driveshaft and checked the oil in the front and rear axle, then the transfer case.
Rotated the tires, torqued all the lug nuts and front axle nuts and went for a spin! Front end is nice and tight again, no more clunks, and the breaks are smooth as glass!
Just anti freeze, spark plugs, wash, wax and clean out the interior before winter gets here.
Just an FYI, 90K and 6years old, on original ball joints. Is that above or below average with you guys?
Got back at it Tuesday morning, confident that I could trim some time off with all the tools and press fittings I'd need all ready to go. Didn't go as planned.....
Everything came apart fine except the lower ball joint. The press tore off an ear on the control arm and it didn't move the joint. I started hammering it with the three pound hammer and heating it with a propane torch. Nothing!
I took a break and went get a drink in the house. Came out with a plan! I rolled the welder out from the corner and proceeded to set the press up square as I could and butted a piece of scrap iron to the broken tab and welded a 1" bead at 80amps. I turned the screw with the impact wrench and it moved! I hit it again and it walked out and hit the floor. Big sigh of relief! Was worried that the darn truck would get the best of me! LOL
The rest is uneventful, put everything back together and moved onto the rear brakes. No problems there, got them done in short order. Even adjusted the E-brake, it's better than it's ever been! Rolled underneath to grease the driveshaft and checked the oil in the front and rear axle, then the transfer case.
Rotated the tires, torqued all the lug nuts and front axle nuts and went for a spin! Front end is nice and tight again, no more clunks, and the breaks are smooth as glass!
Just anti freeze, spark plugs, wash, wax and clean out the interior before winter gets here.
Just an FYI, 90K and 6years old, on original ball joints. Is that above or below average with you guys?
