I guess I miss the need for feedback, unless you want to hear my first thought....Why replace perfectly good lookin parts?
From appearance though, the upper ball joints look like their boots are shot, and that lets contaminants in, so those very well could be bad. inside tire wear can be an indicator of that (or just a crappy alignment with negative camber).
Springs... why replace them? Unless you're going with a Quickstrut setup from Monroe. They're OK, I guess, I personally prefer something a little firmer like Bilstein but that is a personal preference thing. Quickstrut is less work.
Do yourself a favor and start spraying EVERY nut and bolt you're going to work on with PB blaster and hit it every day or two for a little while leading up to the actual work. It'll make stuff come apart much easier than only spraying it right when you're working on it, and hitting it several times lets it work in further each spray.
I'm new to the Trailblazer I'm trusting the old guys to show me the wayI know we like to say, if there's no pics, it didn't happen, but damn!!
Did I hear someone say old guys? Or did they mean experienced?
20 years of lifting and beating trucks just makes me.....well an asshole really. Not old, yet...
I am curious as to what you find once you give things a good shake.
Ever stopped and just driven your truck. I know it's natural to be inquisitive. But for the love of God, just drive the damn thing and when something feels different then you can fix it. Close that RockAuto tab and put your wallet away.
Who you calling old?
Can confirm. They're old....Well that's coming from a 20 year old.What old guys?
Can confirm. They're old....Well that's coming from a 20 year old.
Ryan, they're going to use their experience and wisdom to kill you now.
I gotta say, that thing is nicer looking than my truck and mine has been garaged for a good chunk of its life. Now that I have it, not so much.
If you haven't, check out Chris Fix's earlier You Tube videos. His mom used to own an 02 Trailblazer so he has videos on how to fix a lot of the common maintenence with these trucks. @MAY03LT (Drew) has a YouTube Channel as well, only he is more in depth and way more entertaining than Chris imo.
But for sure post pics when everything is done!
That doesn't at all look neglected. Mine too is my Daily Driver, I don't do anything unless it needs it, or gets close needing it. You asked for feedback and here it is.
Honestly, with the boots torn on the upper ball joints even if they aren't bad now they won't last all that much longer allowing dirt, salt, and crud in there. I'd go ahead and replace them at least, so that it is on your timeframe and not when it feels like it, and then no risk of the joints wearing rapidly and chewing your new tires.
I bent the press on the lowers... still came out... be very careful, a three foot bar and a cheater pipe is your friend.
Sorry, I was just echoing sparky. The uppers are a cake walk. And you don't need to pull the upper arm to do the ball joint.Lower what? I'm just doing upper arms & ball joints and struts, not touching the bottom
I wouldn't worry too much about it.
What did O'Reilly's charge you to rent the ball joint press?