2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission front end nightmare!!!!!

[Big Rich 01]

I just went over the front end:{ #@$%! Im the kinda guy that does all my own work. Well im about a foot to short in my garage to do this at home. If it wasnt hard enough to find somewhere to do it without worrying about the quality of the techs. I had to find someone that was able to get it done in a resonable amount of time. ive heard the horrid stories about the 3200. 00 bills. sorry i just had to vent. Guess ill have to hold off on the tuner or injecters for a while:{ . JUST A REMINDER A LITTLE GREASE GOES A LONG WAY. AND ONE PROBLEM JUST SNOW BALLS INTO ANOTHER.

 

[Dave M]

I just went over the front end:{ #@$%! Im the kinda guy that does all my own work. Well im about a foot to short in my garage to do this at home. If it wasnt hard enough to find somewhere to do it without worrying about the quality of the techs. I had to find someone that was able to get it done in a resonable amount of time. ive heard the horrid stories about the 3200. 00 bills. sorry i just had to vent. Guess ill have to hold off on the tuner or injecters for a while:{ . JUST A REMINDER A LITTLE GREASE GOES A LONG WAY. AND ONE PROBLEM JUST SNOW BALLS INTO ANOTHER.

I have $1,000 + dollars :{ of front parts waiting for this weekend to install. Tried last weekend but found a bad pitman arm. I can't get my truck in the garage either so all my work is on the gravel driveway... Ugh! I know the feeling. I too can't find a shop I trust to do the work, so I tackle it all.



I'll keep the grease and snowball thing in mind. :-laf I'm crossing my fingers this will fix my steering.



Dave

 

[Big Rich 01]

its a big job. I dont want scare you away but just plan on doing everything. cause arond here parts stores arent open on sunday. i got tie rods, u joints both sets cause they list two # numbers for them, every thing that steers it oh yeah and wheel bearing cause they usally dont come apart without some heat.

 

[CHornsby]

I did my ball joints about a year ago and slathered the wheel bearings with anti-seize. tonight and tomorrow I'm replacing the front u-joints and wheel bearings. I'm sooooooooooooooo thankful I slathered those bearings last time because they came out with no problems whatsoever this time. The u-joints are still a PITA, but the bearings coming out easy makes the job so much easier.



I agree though, plan on doing it all. Last year when I did ball joints, I did 4 lukes links as well to finish the job off. When it rains it pours.

 

[Joe Mc]

tonight and tomorrow I'm replacing the front u-joints and wheel bearings. The u-joints are still a PITA, but the bearings coming out easy makes the job so much easier.

What were the symptoms that led you to deciding that the front u-joints need to be changed? I hope I'm understanding "front u-joints" to be the axel shaft u-joints? It would appear that is correct as you are doing the wheel bearings too.



The reason I ask is I've been fighting this front vibration "forever". It's a slow starting vibration that increases in frequency as speed increases, it almost seems to go away around 55 - 60 but worsens after 68 or so - not a death wobble, more like an "out of balance deal". It's not a loose shock - new bilstiens all the way around, new track bar, rod end links, drag bar links, (both the rod and drag links had lots of play) steering box is properly adjusted, pitman arm is fine, found slack in r/upper ball joint - replaced top & bottom, left side tight, bearings have lesst than 0. 0001 play - both sides. I've checked the control arm bushings and w/150k + they're not too bad, I plan on going with a good aftermarket set of uppers and lowers - eventually. So you can see I've run the gambit pretty much and still have the wonderful world of vibrations. The wheels are newer (bought new a few years ago), but the truck did this with the stock chrome wheels, tires - no band separations and on the balance machine the wheel/tire assy spind true. First I tried, road force balancing, then dyna beads, then centramatics, then removed the dyna beads (leving the centramatics on) then speed balancing and leaving the centramatics on. There's still a low speed (kind of a hopping sensation). I had a friend of mine get next to me at speed and watch the front wheels both the right and left side appear to be hopping like an out of balance wheel? #@$%!



So the only thing I think that could be an issues is either a bend axel shaft or bad axel shat u-joints - Oh buy the way I've alread removed the front drive shaft for plenty of miles and still the same thing. It's gotta be somthing in the rotating mass - wheel bearings tight, only things left are bent shaft or bad u-joint??? what do you think??? and why did you decide to change axel u-joints??? What was/is your's doing that you are changing the u-joints and wheel bearings??? Thanks,



Joe Mc

 

[CHornsby]

Joe, I sent you a pm and didn't realize you posted the same thing in the thread. Not sure if it was helpful or not, but I pm'd you back. If you feel it is relevant information, I'd be happy to post it in here as well.

 

[Big Rich 01]

just got her back today after a modest 1400. 00 I shouldnt complain they did a good job. so the total bill tolled up to 2100. 00. but its done. still have a bit of play, i think it could be in the steer gear. not bad enough to change.

 

[RSimmons]

Joe,

I had the same problem with the vibration. Mine turned out to be a bad tire splice joint .

I never suspected the tires as they were brand new Michelins. When the tire tech put it on the balance machine and spun it by hand, you could lightly feel the tread surface and feel the bad spot. It ran diagionally across one small area of tread. He told me he sees it a lot on Goodyears but not normally on Michelins (just my luck). Anyway, they replaced it for free as they were nearly new.

 

[KCanepari]

the front end on these trucks do give them a bad reputation, but if you use good quaulity after market parts and keep them greased it's not too bad. My track bar is shot on my '00 and i'm thinking of doing the '03 conversion. I did ball joints on my '96 and I think it nees a couple more things this spring and an alignment