Front end issue, ball joints??
Grand Champion
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 7,055
Likes: 7
From: Lee County, North Carolina
that 3/4" breaker bar is just like mine, but i didn't bend it when i took my axle nuts off. i'm glad i don't live up north where the roads get salted in the winter and i don't have to worry about rust locking up all my bolts.
Hall Of Fame
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 12,204
Likes: 10
From: Gainesville, Ga.
Great thread...I am having the same issues. I am trying to replace the front axle joints. I got all the bolts off, soaked it for a while, beat on it for quite a while, but can't get the bearing to break loose. I have heard several times to put in some sacrificial bolts and beat on the ends to pop out the bearing. But...all the places I hear that, people are replacing the bearing as well. If I can add a question to this topic, will that ruin the threads if you want to reuse the bearing? I guess people will say it depends on how hard you hit them, but can you safely hit them pretty good.
do NOT beat directly on the heads of the 12 pts. you don't want to screw them up. you can place a socket over the bolt head, and beat on that. a light beating won't hurt, but beware, a lot of beating will deform the end of the socket and make it unusable.
another trick is to put a socket and extension on the bolt head, and wedge it into a steering piece. crank the truck and turn the wheel and use the power steering as a press against the bolt. be careful doing this that you don't get killed by a flying socket and extension.
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Newman Lake, WA
This has been great advice, and I am hoping that there are more answers...I have a 98 with the bearing issue...3rd one on the driver side...can do mine in about 45 minutes...wish I knew about the axle part. the seal up by the pumpkin? tough to replace?
Grand Champion
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 7,055
Likes: 7
From: Lee County, North Carolina
tough to replace- nah.
will it take a while- yeah.
the driver side is a pain because you have to remove your carrier to get to it.
i just replaced both of my axle seals a month or two ago.
use this link and you'll be set.
http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech-article-3.html
you shouldn't be eating up bearings. so something is off. do you have non factory rims that have less backspacing? or oversized tires (like 35" or bigger)? or is the stub shaft bent, or the u joint locked up?
will it take a while- yeah.
the driver side is a pain because you have to remove your carrier to get to it.
i just replaced both of my axle seals a month or two ago.
use this link and you'll be set.
http://www.pavementsucks.com/tech-article-3.html
you shouldn't be eating up bearings. so something is off. do you have non factory rims that have less backspacing? or oversized tires (like 35" or bigger)? or is the stub shaft bent, or the u joint locked up?
Registered User
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: Newman Lake, WA
Ive got after market rims, and am running 33x12.5x15s with a 2.5(3) inch tuff country lift that the prior owner had professionally installed. I am the 3rd owner on this rig. I have had problems since day one. not sure on the back spacing on the wheels...
