Have not found the right mechanic to install my K&N air filter kit. But added octane booster, fuel injection cleaner and transmission fluid additive last week and am getting 17.6 MPG after two fillups.
Can anyone tell me if I can check my U and Ball Joints to see if they are OK and will there be an indication something is wrong before something real bad happens. Thank you.

 

In all honesty, if you need a mechanic to install a K&N filter kit you probably won't be able to tell what shape your joints are in....

Just wiggle them in the direction of rotation and back and look for loose areas. Any tolerance in a u-joint is bad. Ball joints will have a very small tolerance but not much. Use a helper to steer back and forth while you watch underneath... You will have to judge for yourself, that's why I made the original comment. Not flaming you.

 

Thank you.

 

to check your ball joints, jack your truck up in the front. grab the top and bottom of the tire and try wiggle it back and forth. loose tire = bad ball joints.

there are different tyesu joints on a truck. are you talking about the joints in your axle or your driveshaft?

have you ever heard of Haynes manuals? filled with lots of good info on your truck, they even have some illustrations.. only costs about $15 at your local auto shop. i know autozone carries them. when you have a question. read about it in the book and if you have any questions about what you read. we'll probably be able to help you out. my haynes manual is always my first source of reference.

 

i hope thats 2wd because my mpg is nowhere near that lol[sm=bangbang.gif]

 

tell me about it. i couldnt get mileage like that if my drive to work was all downhill and i got towed back home.

 

Yes it is TWD but I forgot to mention a couple weeks ago I added a can of Restore. A long time ago someone told me the Restore was the best engine additive because it has real petro in it.

 

restore couldnt give me 5 mpgs

 

I thought you decided you were gonna do it yourself? If you can put a socket on a wrench and read you can do it. What are you affraid of? You can't screw it up. And I mean CAN'T screw it up. Stop being affraid of your truck!

 

I have not had time to mentally walk through each step in the instructions to make sure the job will be completed without prolonged delay and until I do that starting the task is not possible. Having read many of the steps I am not familiar with lots of parts refered to and getting stuck midway thru is not an option. So, still wanting to get the air filter on I'm keeping an eye out for a good mechanic to befriend.