Front End work

[JHylton]

One more question... My '91, 2WD, almost 160,000 miles, has just been diagnosed as needing some front end work... . specifically all four ball joints, and new idler arm. Truck has been meticulously maintained, street or hiway driven all its' life, greased regularly, etc. etc. Is this about the normal life span for these components? Also, should I consider (if there are any) some heavier duty ball joints and idler arm? I wouldn't mind doing the work myself, but don't have all tools and shop equipment, so it's gotta go to da man.

 

[Bob Beauchaine]

I have a D250 and have found that I replace the ball joints - both upper and lower every 100,000 miles. As that mileage gets closer I check them myself to see if they are starting to get loose. If you look at my maintenance records I lube all grease fittings about every 3000 miles and change the oil every 6000 miles. So far all I have had to replace are the ball joints.



Bob

 

[JHylton]

Ball Joints

Bob - Based on what your lube schedule has been, it loks like mine is just about on the right course... i. e. I've got pretty good service life out of them... my maintenance is just reverse of yours... I do oil, filter and fuel filter every 3000-3500 miles and grease fittings every other change.

 

[WyattEarp]

can't do much more than that, as far as parts moog is about as good as it gets for parts, unless you go with something higher tech for off roading... . i paid 160$ for both tie rod ends on the front center link bar for my W250 no way would i scrimp on those... . I also grease ever 4-5k and change oil every 5k, and also do visual inspections at least once a month you never know what may be on its way out you can find and save yourself alot of headache, better than being broke down on side of the road.

 

[NIsaacs]

Did you personally confirm the parts are bad? You can lay under the truck and watch all movement while someone else moves the steering wheel slack back and forth.



My 91 D250 front end is all original,309,000 miles, still tight. I have changed the shocks twice and the springs once. I am lucky tho, I do all my own work.



Front end/tire shops don't make any money unless they sell parts.....



Nick

 

[Greenleaf]

It didn't go through... ... ... ..... sorry



All the rubber bushings are going to be shot. You can't service rubber bushings. If you'd like me to explain all this once again, just e-mail me or PM me. I'm not going to write it all out again... ... ... ... ...

 

[Greenleaf]

oh,the cross member is a welded unit. It will exhibit a number of cracks that will require welding.



I wouldn't allow one of these trucks to go too long with out a front end rebuild. It is scary at what you will uncover. I replaced both front end assemblies on my two D units and couldn't believe how broken and trashed they were.

 

[JLEONARD]

Scott... I always thought you were a rear end kind of guy. Or was that Pete?

:-laf

 

[Greenleaf]

... ... ... . that is Pete... ...

 

[JHylton]

I haven't personally got under the f/e and looked. . will do that maybe this weekend, and thought I would get a second opinion from a different shop... never hurts to ask... also, can't you check ball joint wear by jacking up one corner until the tire just clears the ground, putting a pry bar under that tire, and rocking the tire with that pry bar... seems like I was shown how to do this many years ago, and ball joint wear was real obvious due to play in the ball joints.

 

[Greenleaf]

I don't recall. I have never had any luck checking them on the vehicle. Yes, you can, I just can't figure it out. The spring will put tension on them, and ther hub bearings also have play so I'm not sure where you exert the force to move the ball joint ONLY... ...



You can sure tell they are worn out when you remove them from the truck! Feel like a dead chicken.

 

[KOG]

Look for frame cracks where the steering gear mounts as well. Check rivets where crossmember is attached. Weld everything solidly as needed.

The front end on the first gen trucks was very strong for a gas truck, very marginal with the weight of the Cummins on it. The grease you use on front end parts matters. LE 3752 is better than anything else I've ever found. But the rubber bushings will go with age regardless of what you do.

Agree on using MOOG parts whenever possible.

 

[PToombs]

... ... ... . that is Pete... ...

Not me, I'm a front end guy all the way. Big headlights are very helpful!

 

[JHumphries]

... Big headlights are very helpful!

Big headlights don't always put out more.

Light.

 

[JLEONARD]

Big headlights don't always put out more

Urban legend.

 

[KOG]

Big headlights don't always put out more.



Light.

Depends on whether they're real headlights!

 

[PToombs]

Well, it's obvious that this thread went south in a hurry!



I just want you guys to notice it was Jay who did it and not me this time!