Check Your Flare Mounting Hardware

[Alan Reagan]

Just finished washing and waxing my truck.



During the wash phase, I noticed one of the flare mounting bolts was loose so I got the socket and ratchet and tightened it up. I thought I would just go ahead and check the rest and all of the mounting bolts were loose on all four flares. You may want to check yours if you have the flares on your truck.



Also, while I had the truck in the shop, I slid under to take a close look at everything. I found something else that you guys may want to check.



I bumped the frame and noticed a tinny sounding rattle. There is an aluminum shield between the drive shaft and fuel tank that is mounted to the fuel tank. Mine was mounted too close and was touching on the bottom edge, rubbing the tank. I couldn't hear it when I was driving but could sure hear it when I bumped the frame with my hand. I pushed it away from the tank and all is well. I doubt it would wear through.



Finally, I was looking at the drive shaft and it looks like they no longer hold the universal joints in with snap rings. It looks like there are pins driven or pressed in from the side, through the yoke to hold the cups in place.



I have to say that the fit on the doors and body panels is the best I've ever seen on a truck.

 

[BurlesonR]

Thanks for the heads up on that stuff.

On the u joint, that's not a metal pin. It's like a plastic that is poured in to hold the caps in place. They call it "waxed" in. When its time to replace a joint, you have to use a torch to heat and the "wax" oozes out. Then you can use the normal cir-clip back.

 

[Alan Reagan]

Thanks. I couldn't tell. It was rust colored and hard. That's good information. Seems like if the bearing goes bad and gets hot, it would ooze out and turn the cap loose.

 

[BurlesonR]

It would have to get very hot to start the ooze process. I don't think it could happen.