Attention: TDR Forum Junkies 
I recieved the balljoints, front axle u-joints and steering linkage this past week. Since the weather was cooperating this weekend, decided to install. Friday, I basically stripped both sides down and cleaned everything; this took most of the day (about 7 hours). As it was late, i didn't feel like fooling with the axle joints so ran them down to a local shop and had them pressed in. As for the hub bearings, i was more fortunate than some on this forum as i could walk them off with a hammer and screw drivers.
Saturday morning, I began the install. As mentioned in other threads, i would highly recommend freezing the bj's a good 24 hours prior to installing. In fact, this enabled me to hammer in the upper ones in lieu of pressing. The most difficult part of the job was pressing in the lower bj's because the kit i rented from the parts house would not allow me to seat the joint completely. I had to use washers, shims, etc to finally get the lower ones pressed in to install the snaprings. Anyway, a couple of hours later, all were in. The hub bearings rolled smoothly and i didn't see anything that prevented me from going back in with them; I shot some grease inside each and installed. Oh yea, i neversiezed all components (mating surfaces) during the re-assembly.
I installed the new steering linkage and test drove truck. Everything is tight once again but still need to take to shop to fine tune the allignment.
Although time consuming, this job wasn't too difficult. However, i can see how it could have been.
James
Saturday morning, I began the install. As mentioned in other threads, i would highly recommend freezing the bj's a good 24 hours prior to installing. In fact, this enabled me to hammer in the upper ones in lieu of pressing. The most difficult part of the job was pressing in the lower bj's because the kit i rented from the parts house would not allow me to seat the joint completely. I had to use washers, shims, etc to finally get the lower ones pressed in to install the snaprings. Anyway, a couple of hours later, all were in. The hub bearings rolled smoothly and i didn't see anything that prevented me from going back in with them; I shot some grease inside each and installed. Oh yea, i neversiezed all components (mating surfaces) during the re-assembly.
I installed the new steering linkage and test drove truck. Everything is tight once again but still need to take to shop to fine tune the allignment.
Although time consuming, this job wasn't too difficult. However, i can see how it could have been.
James
