More Suburban work
- Thread starter ccarley
- Start date
ccarley
Adventurer
Indeed, I'm still a little sad about my FSJ going, but I got a feeling that the new owner will take just as good care of it as I did
With the suspension work, new hubs & bearings, and swaybar links, the Suburban handled great on the fire roads! Of course, part of the good feeling was that they were graded recently, however even the long drive up was much more comfortable, and from the bottom of the hill to the range took only 20 minutes instead of 1 hour.
Yesterday I installed a Chevy grill, it's a little rough but with a little bit more elbow grease it will be looking good. Pictures to come.
Tomorrow we're leaving for Usal Beach on the Lost Coast (Northern CA, outside of Legget/ Garberville). I'm prepping today, going out to get a water container, some straps, & cargo boxes. I'm sure it's going to be a great weekend, although I'm a little nervous about the width of this vehicle on Usal Road.
Clay
bftank
Explorer
do me a favor and check your upper shackle bolts on your front springs. my folks had an 89 that the bolt had broken on one side but still looked connected. causing it too buck if the wind caught it going down the freeway.
these bolts are inherently weak and small. diy4x and offroad design sell replacement bolts and bushings that are much stronger. i like the burb by the way.
d
these bolts are inherently weak and small. diy4x and offroad design sell replacement bolts and bushings that are much stronger. i like the burb by the way.
d
ccarley
Adventurer
Good call on those front bolts; I did check mine before heading out last weekend, and they are thankfully OK right now. Looks like I have something else on my list of things to buy!
I'll post seperately about our trip to Usal Beach, which was a fun backcountry adventure for sure. One noteable issue was the lack of at least one nut on my radiator support, causing (while flexing) the fan to eat some of the lower fan shroud... thankfully, it didn't eat the radiator! Here's a shot of the frame flex:
Tomorrow I'll have some time to look it over.
Clay
I'll post seperately about our trip to Usal Beach, which was a fun backcountry adventure for sure. One noteable issue was the lack of at least one nut on my radiator support, causing (while flexing) the fan to eat some of the lower fan shroud... thankfully, it didn't eat the radiator! Here's a shot of the frame flex:
Tomorrow I'll have some time to look it over.
Clay
ccarley
Adventurer
Thanks guys!
So yesterday I was at Pick & Pull looking for parts, like a lower radiator shroud LOL. I found a 30 spline axleshaft from a K-5 with a 10 bolt rear. I say found, because it was in the bed of a Ford that was next to the K5, the Ford had it's axles in, but it looked like someone wanted the diff from the K5. Anyway, I'm not sure which side it is or if they are even different lengths. I'm fairly certain my '89 has 30 spline axleshafts from what I have read. Anyone have thoughts on this?
I also picked up a steering coupler shaft, since mine had obvious play. I thought it was odd that I had to install the new one, upside down? Backwards? The pin at the top had to go through the opposite way compared to the one I had in there. My steering just keeps getting better every day
We hit Autozone as well, and I finally gave in & got an Optima Red-Top. I needed a new battery anyway. Also got a lower ball joint for the passenger side, it's shot, and a trans filter kit. I have no clue how much fluid the TH700R4 takes in stock form, neither the manual with the truck or my Hayne's repair manual say how many quarts. I picked up 6, hopefully that's enough for a filter change.
My radiator support mounts should be here tomorrow (Monday), I'm really looking forward to getting that all tightened up. One more "free" weekend, and then we are off to Yosemite, and going to try to get to Bodie as well!
Clay
So yesterday I was at Pick & Pull looking for parts, like a lower radiator shroud LOL. I found a 30 spline axleshaft from a K-5 with a 10 bolt rear. I say found, because it was in the bed of a Ford that was next to the K5, the Ford had it's axles in, but it looked like someone wanted the diff from the K5. Anyway, I'm not sure which side it is or if they are even different lengths. I'm fairly certain my '89 has 30 spline axleshafts from what I have read. Anyone have thoughts on this?
I also picked up a steering coupler shaft, since mine had obvious play. I thought it was odd that I had to install the new one, upside down? Backwards? The pin at the top had to go through the opposite way compared to the one I had in there. My steering just keeps getting better every day
We hit Autozone as well, and I finally gave in & got an Optima Red-Top. I needed a new battery anyway. Also got a lower ball joint for the passenger side, it's shot, and a trans filter kit. I have no clue how much fluid the TH700R4 takes in stock form, neither the manual with the truck or my Hayne's repair manual say how many quarts. I picked up 6, hopefully that's enough for a filter change.
My radiator support mounts should be here tomorrow (Monday), I'm really looking forward to getting that all tightened up. One more "free" weekend, and then we are off to Yosemite, and going to try to get to Bodie as well!
Clay
ccarley
Adventurer
ntsqd: Sounds like a good idea! I was even thinking about perhaps a finned aluminum pan with a drain later on.
Stoney126: the steering brace is on my list of things anything that will help! I still need a new steering stabilizer setup too.
I did the diff fluid this evening in both axles. Looks like I can actually scratch something off my list; the rear has a gov-loc in it. I didn't do the full count on the gears, but looks like I have 3.73's. I installed Red Line 75w90 synthetic in both diffs, hopefully the gov-loc likes it. I still need to check the rear drive side axleshaft, something is making noise back there. I suppose it could have been the diff? But I'm not certain. We'll see how it sounds with the fresh fluid.
Also got the core support mounts; still trying to get one of them tight enough. Looks like the grill has to come off to get to the head of the bolts.
Clay
Stoney126: the steering brace is on my list of things
anything that will help! I still need a new steering stabilizer setup too.I did the diff fluid this evening in both axles. Looks like I can actually scratch something off my list; the rear has a gov-loc in it. I didn't do the full count on the gears, but looks like I have 3.73's. I installed Red Line 75w90 synthetic in both diffs, hopefully the gov-loc likes it. I still need to check the rear drive side axleshaft, something is making noise back there. I suppose it could have been the diff? But I'm not certain. We'll see how it sounds with the fresh fluid.
Also got the core support mounts; still trying to get one of them tight enough. Looks like the grill has to come off to get to the head of the bolts.
Clay
ccarley
Adventurer
I am glad we found those loose bolts..
Thanks for your help yesterday Buddy!
We did the trans fluid & filter, and PCV valve.
While the trans pan was off, we found a few loose bolts inside. Loose as in they were coming out! We checked all the bolts inside before putting the pan back on. The trans took about 5 quarts of oil to bring it back to level.
While changing the PCV valve (easy, I know), I had the air cleaner off, and found the coil wire had marks on it from where it was arcing on the air filter base. OK, new wires, cap & rotor time. I don't think they have ever been changed, there is no way anyone but the factory would have routed the wires that way! And, of course, while doing the cap & rotor, wilson_ found a vacuum line that was pretty shot. Luckily I had some laying in my toolbox from when I had my Jeep, so I just cut some new line & replaced it.
So far so good, it's running smoother than ever. I'm surprised I didn't get a Check Engine (or Service Engine Soon) light from the vacuum leak. Cruise Control may start working now too!
I also adjusted the Toe; it had 1/4" of toe-in, and now it has 1/8" of toe in. Hopefully that wears the tires less.
Clay
ntsqd
Heretic Car Camper
HAH! Chasing Vegas to Reno about 4-5 years ago or so my Sub started running worse and worse and worse. Of course this was in the middle of the night, in the middle of Nevada.....
When we did finally get to Reno none of the three of us felt confident that it could make it up the hill to Tahoe, much less back to Upper So-CA. So my two friend made a parts store run. Wires, plugs, filters, cap & rotor. Found the exact same thing that you did, coil wire arcing on the bottom of the air filter can.
When we did finally get to Reno none of the three of us felt confident that it could make it up the hill to Tahoe, much less back to Upper So-CA. So my two friend made a parts store run. Wires, plugs, filters, cap & rotor. Found the exact same thing that you did, coil wire arcing on the bottom of the air filter can.