Petrolburner
Explorer
Great, thank you.
100,000 miles
- Thread starter jim65wagon
- Start date
jim65wagon
Well-known member
A Little Freshening Up
What does someone do with 2 days of vacation left to use, and the rest of the family is tied up with work/school?
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Rebuild the front end of the truck, of course!
New: Upper Balljoints, Lower Balljoints, Inner Tierod ends, Outer Tierod Ends, CV Axles.
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Sorry, I can not oblige you with gratuitous photography. It's a bit of a job to play mechanic and photographer at once.
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I will say that I learned something: Having a reliable vehicle can be a hazard in and of itself. Case in point. The Tundra has 171,900 miles on it. All of the front end parts are original except fot the lower balljoints which got replaced under a recall at the 50,000 mile mark. This time span and mileage has left all the removeable parts in a nearly nonremovable fashion.
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Everything from cotter pins to castle nuts were frozen to the point that I emptied an entire can of PB Blaster in the process. It was work to get this job done and it took me nearly the entire 2 days.
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In retrospect; our exDakota (lemon) was being repaired so often that replacing parts was easy. The bolts never even have time to develop a patina before they were being removed.
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Tools that saved this job from a tow truck to a real mechanics shop? Pickle fork, hammer drill (for beating the pickle fork with) and a 12 ton press. All of which I had the foresight years ago to purchase just for this job.....well not this job specifically.
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Did I have to do this job? Not really. The truck still passed inspection last month. Passed my wiggle test for the balljoints. (although one of the uppers had very little grease left in it). The inner tierod ends were getting loose. The truck still drove well and the tires wore well.
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Why did I do it then? Well, frankly I was getting nervous wondering just how long those parts would last. I don't know what the lifespan is on wear items like these, but I think 170,000 is close enough.
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What does someone do with 2 days of vacation left to use, and the rest of the family is tied up with work/school?
.
Rebuild the front end of the truck, of course!
New: Upper Balljoints, Lower Balljoints, Inner Tierod ends, Outer Tierod Ends, CV Axles.
.
Sorry, I can not oblige you with gratuitous photography. It's a bit of a job to play mechanic and photographer at once.
.
I will say that I learned something: Having a reliable vehicle can be a hazard in and of itself. Case in point. The Tundra has 171,900 miles on it. All of the front end parts are original except fot the lower balljoints which got replaced under a recall at the 50,000 mile mark. This time span and mileage has left all the removeable parts in a nearly nonremovable fashion.
.
Everything from cotter pins to castle nuts were frozen to the point that I emptied an entire can of PB Blaster in the process. It was work to get this job done and it took me nearly the entire 2 days.
.
In retrospect; our exDakota (lemon) was being repaired so often that replacing parts was easy. The bolts never even have time to develop a patina before they were being removed.
.
Tools that saved this job from a tow truck to a real mechanics shop? Pickle fork, hammer drill (for beating the pickle fork with) and a 12 ton press. All of which I had the foresight years ago to purchase just for this job.....well not this job specifically.
.
Did I have to do this job? Not really. The truck still passed inspection last month. Passed my wiggle test for the balljoints. (although one of the uppers had very little grease left in it). The inner tierod ends were getting loose. The truck still drove well and the tires wore well.
.
Why did I do it then? Well, frankly I was getting nervous wondering just how long those parts would last. I don't know what the lifespan is on wear items like these, but I think 170,000 is close enough.
.
TangoBlue
American Adventurist
But you have the satisfaction of a job well done and the knowledge that you're prepared for another 170,000 miles.
Hey - you could have always called me. Not like the retired guy has anything to do. I can take pictures and ridicule your efforts vice waiting to hear about it on the internet to harass you... :coffeedrink:
Hey - you could have always called me. Not like the retired guy has anything to do. I can take pictures and ridicule your efforts vice waiting to hear about it on the internet to harass you... :coffeedrink:
jim65wagon
Well-known member
I forget TB that you are retired and have more time on your hands than us working class folk. Next time I need pics and face-to-face ridicule, rest assured I will give you the opportunity.
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Dude, I got all the parts through RockAutofor a total of $460. Mainly because I hate chasing parts down through the local parts houses and arguing what I need with the "man behind the counter". That's a different story.
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all the parts are Moog, except the inner tierod ends (Raybestos) and the axles (CardoneSelect). All the parts had a little "Made in Japan" tag on them.....I don't know if that's good or bad, though I'm sure time will tell.
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Dude, I got all the parts through RockAutofor a total of $460. Mainly because I hate chasing parts down through the local parts houses and arguing what I need with the "man behind the counter". That's a different story.
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all the parts are Moog, except the inner tierod ends (Raybestos) and the axles (CardoneSelect). All the parts had a little "Made in Japan" tag on them.....I don't know if that's good or bad, though I'm sure time will tell.
Haggis
Appalachian Ridgerunner
This is usually my job though I like to think of it as non-constructive critiquing instead of outright ridicule, After all the goal is to keep Jim humble without sending him running to Elizabeth in tears or getting yourself hit in the face by well aimed hand tools.
mtnbike28
Expedition Leader
Come on down...
Jim,
Come on down, we can do my truck next! I am at 170,000. My alignment bolts are frozen and need to be cut off and replaced. I did (my brother really) the right side, including lower bushings and it was a two day job.
Now that you are skilled, we could knock it out fast ; )
Jim,
Come on down, we can do my truck next! I am at 170,000. My alignment bolts are frozen and need to be cut off and replaced. I did (my brother really) the right side, including lower bushings and it was a two day job.
Now that you are skilled, we could knock it out fast ; )
jim65wagon
Well-known member
Well, faster, maybe. The second side took 2 hours less than the right side, just from the learning how. If you can come up I'll let you run the 12 ton press, Tim can run the camera, and I can provide the non-constructive criticism.......
TangoBlue
American Adventurist
No problem, anytime. Well, not next week - I'll be going to the VT Overland Rally. Oh, and not the weekend after that either... I'll be in Burlington that week and then going to the Fall Crawl in PA for that following weekend. How about the weekend after that?
Retirement is sooo boring.
Retirement is sooo boring.
mtnbike28
Expedition Leader
Glad you are doing OK there TB.... hate to think of you wasting away with nothing to do!
Are you doing the Yankee Toys fall event or the B to B event at Rousch Creek?
jim65wagon
Well-known member
Egads! Look what happened to my truck!
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I've got photographs of my truck that are bigger than this thing is!
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Not much ground clearance!.....................................Camping gear will never fit!
The name is even silly! Sounds like a constipated pirate, methinks! "Yar!issss.....
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The is the rent-a car that Toyota set me up with for a few days while the truck is in for the frame rust recall.....at least I don't get charged for it!
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I've got photographs of my truck that are bigger than this thing is!
.
Not much ground clearance!.....................................Camping gear will never fit!
The name is even silly! Sounds like a constipated pirate, methinks! "Yar!issss.....
.
The is the rent-a car that Toyota set me up with for a few days while the truck is in for the frame rust recall.....at least I don't get charged for it!
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TangoBlue
American Adventurist
That should just about fit in the bed...
Wait till the truck gets back - you're going to love the frame coating - never, ever touch it! The internal frame coating is... looks like... well, I'll let you figure out what it looks like. The first time I saw that goo I was really pissed, not knowing what it was at first. Now it's pretty funny.
My frame is all coyote brown now after the trails in Montana. But it is tough stuff.
Wait till the truck gets back - you're going to love the frame coating - never, ever touch it! The internal frame coating is... looks like... well, I'll let you figure out what it looks like. The first time I saw that goo I was really pissed, not knowing what it was at first. Now it's pretty funny.
My frame is all coyote brown now after the trails in Montana. But it is tough stuff.
Haggis
Appalachian Ridgerunner
Upon first glance I thought you had pulled the teardrop shell out and gave it a coat of paint...than I realized what I was seeing was smaller than the Crows Wing.
Nice ride Man! I bet all the ladies be given you the looks in that pimpin' ride. Just remember that yer a married man there James.
Of course if he strikes fast Tango might be able to take you in the Quarter Mile now.
Nice ride Man! I bet all the ladies be given you the looks in that pimpin' ride. Just remember that yer a married man there James.
Of course if he strikes fast Tango might be able to take you in the Quarter Mile now.
TangoBlue
American Adventurist
Jim could beat me on a Big Wheel...