Front end lovin, wheel bearings and ball joints with brakes?

[1361]

My truck doesn't get driven a lot. The last few times I've used it, I've heard a clunking sound coming from the right front area. I'm thinking's it's ball joint time. I'm finally getting around to doing the 3rd gen upgrade on my brakes. I just picked up some 17" wheels. Doing a bit of research has got me thinking. A bit of OCD is kickin in too. I'm wondering if I should do the wheel bearings, u-joints and ball joints while I'm in there. This upgrade is spiraling out of control. Axles and wheel bearings don't seem that hard to pull if I need to do them later. Does it make sense just to do the ball joints and replace the other stuff only when needed?

I know money being no object, replacing now makes the most sense. Budgeting for upgrades is something we all have to do.

When doing ball joints, what have other people done?

 

[tazzen]

Watching for the clunk. i have and feel one in my steering . so I'm replacing that with a borgeson box and shaft.i did replace the ball joints on the driver side which were needed . but the clunk still there. in these teering wheel.

 

[BigPapa]

The hard part of the job, which will need to be done to replace any of the items you mentioned, is getting the hubs out. Once they've been removed, everything cleaned, and anti-seized, it's really no big deal to take them out again.

 

[Ozymandias]

On mine the body mounts were worn out and made it clunk.
After everything else on the front end was new i found them as the source of the dreaded clunk.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I HIGHLY suggest using the parts I did on my 2nd to 3rd ten brake upgrade! Big $$$ but well worth it!

EBC "ORANGE" pads, EBC rotors and PowerStop calipers and cradles. Braking is AMAZING!

 

[BigPapa]

You shore got a purty caliper.....

 

[1361]

Thanks everyone. I ordered my rotors, caliper mounting brackets and a Moog "Problem Solver" track bar last night. I'll try and get a better inspection this weekend. I just figured it was ball joint time with 150k miles. I've never done anything to the front end other than brakes and diff oil change. Which brings me to few more questions. Just after I bought this truck (new), I remember taking it back in for the pulling issue these trucks were plagued with. I could have sworn they put offset ball joints in to try and fix the issue. I see they still sell offset ball joints varying in the degree of offset. If I need them, how do I know what to order? Looking at new hub/wheel bearings kits offered, it asks if I have 2 or 4 wheel anti-lock brakes. Are the anti-lock brakes only on the disc brakes? I have drums in the rear. I'm guessing I need the 2 wheel version. Is this a good assumption? How do I tell?

I agree about those nice looking calipers. I've read the slotted rotors actually don't really provide any help with braking performance or cooling. I looked at them and decided against it. I'll just reuse the calipers on my truck for now. I can always get new calipers locally in a pinch if I need them upon inspection. Who knows, I might still get them.

Dennis

 

[Cummins12V98]

You shore got a purty caliper.....

 

[1361]

I finished the 3rd gen brake conversion last night. A little insight for someone thinking about doing this. Just do it, lol. Of course you'll need 17" wheels. I got my OE 3rd gen wheels off of craigslist. All you really need is the Caliper brackets ($15. a side from rock auto) and rotors off a 3rd gen. I did end up ordering Calipers for my year truck so I wouldn't have issues with the brake line. The 3rd gens have a different banjo bolt size. I read the only difference in the calipers is the banjo bolt hole size and threads are metric. I can't confirm this. I took the easy way out.

I verified that I need to do my ball joints. I'll put the 3rd gen backing plates on when I do them. The general consensus seems to be not to do the bearing/hub assembly until they go bad. The bearings/hubs are pricey so I'll probably wait on those. I think I will do the u-joints with zerk fittings while I have the axles out. I like being able lube them.

 

[Cummins12V98]

I bought all 3rd gen parts from Summit, no mods were required. Braking is AWESOME!!!