OK, you guys helped me do the fuel pump thing. I am fairly certain I have to do head gaskets, but for now the biggest problem are the front brakes - DEFINITELY grinding. Just this morning they squealed, my wife took the truck out for the afternoon, then I drove it and the grinding hurt me - like when the dentist uses that rough grinder on your teeth.

So how hard a time am I in for? I see Autozone has pads for under $20, and they seem to have a very good price on rotors - $30/rotor (I was thinking something over $100/rotor).

How hard a time will it be?

Is there a good guide to doing the job?

What tools should I have on hand?

THANK-YOU VERY MUCH!!!

 

OK, found several good guides and compared to head gaskets, this all looks simple - easier than it was to do my Dad's '66 Chrysler station wagon way back when...

When is bleeding indicated?

 

The front is easy. If 2wd you will need to repack wheel bearings. 4wd is easy. Some have an Allen wrench caliper guide pins. Maybe 6mm. Some use a 10mm socket.

I will move this to the 1st Generation Dakota sub forum.

 

Figuring if the fronts are in trouble, the backs can't be that far behind (I honestly did not intend any pun there). They anything of a headache, or just about as easy?

 

When you do the back take apart one side leaving the other side intact as a guide to reassamble the side you are working on. you will have to make a trip back to the auto store to get core refund. the fronts are esaier you will need a C clamp to re-set the capilar plunger. When doing this brake fluid will come out the top of the master cylinder so you might take a some out first.

 

Much appreciated-

Have not done brakes since auto shop in high school, When I was in high school, my Dad's '66 Chrysler station wagon was new. Might of been some dinosaurs walking the earth at the time also; just can't recall.

Before ripping into them, is there an easy way to spot if I have 9" or 10" shoe sets? edit: Scratch that last question - on the advice I found in this forum, I got a build sheet from Chrysler - pleasantly surprised to see it tells me I have 9" ( "9 x 2.5 HD Rear Drum Brakes" ) on it!

 

also on the back make sure you turn adjusting screw so it is as short as it will get before puting it back together.

 

When you do the fronts, to help avoid having to bleed the system, make sure you have a nice big set of water pump pliers or the caliper piston compression tool (some people call it a disc pad separator).The tool is only about $10 and well worth it. Less damage to the piston.

 

Will do, and will get.

 

Where did you find the guides at?