Betty's "I want to be a mule" progress log thread

[CDW6212R]

I figured that was why you said that. Here Amazon is coming, but they made a deal to not charge tax even on in state sales. The new federal law will make them charge everyone, so the big stink we had about the taxes will be mute then. The liberals here didn't want to allow Amazon to build a shipping location(the Governor had made the deal), they were blocking it until the federal law came along last Fall. Now they relented, they'll get the tax money soon.

 

[Turdle]

Yipeee!
I got another rockauto fridge magnet today!

But wait, there's more!

Inside I also found front and rear brake pads!

Got the garage warming up, MLB will be home soon so I will get at least the rear brakes knocked out tonight. The ball joint should show up in tomorrow's mail, So I will probably tear down the front end if I still feel like it.

Man, I am sooo glad i have a garage and air tools. It's 29 degrees outside with high wind and snow coming down, well, more like blowing sideways snow.

Soon as I can get the shop warmed up to about 40 degrees I think I should be ok.

 

[Turdle]

Factory rotors
Geez I've never seen these be so stubborn, they were the stuff threads are made of.
I found beating on them from both directions, worked it off a bit more each time it was hit from the rear.
The emergency shoes had a lot left on them, and the springs were still colored with paint so I just cleaned it up, lubed the release tab and shoved the new rotor on.
It's all back together, so I reckon I'll start on the front here in a little while.


All rear pads, save for the one which disintegrated, had some wear left to them. I'll get pictures up, in a bit.

 

[Turdle]

Ok, yeah, I guess I ran these down too close.


Passenger side, still hanging in there

Driver side said un uh --boom.

 

[Turdle]

Welp, sorry, I kinda work slow. Getting old I guess.

I got the front end tore down after dinner, popped out the old lower ball joint with no hitch. It was not OEM, I know this as it had a grease fitting.

Then I started diggin through the trail spares, because I thought I had--yep, there it is, a brand new spicer ball joint, for in case we break one in who knows where--

So instead of waiting for the new one to come in the AM, I pressed that dude home.
Now the upper control arm. I already have the camber shims installed, so it should go smooth.

The passenger side ball joints seem tight, but dog gone it my gut is telling me I better change the right side lower also-hmmm.

 

[CDW6212R]

Well done Jon.

If you keep good records to know when the BJ was replaced, I'd wait on the right side unless you just feel frisky. If records are not so good, then do it now because using memory to keep up with stuff doesn't work so well(for me anyway). I write down everything in one mileage book for each car. I use those to find out how old the oil is, the tires, and to keep up with anything important, like the BJ's and brakes.

My speedometer has been quitting every day after a short while, so I'm going to have to find my spare cluster to swap out that.

 

[Turdle]

Don, if I was feelin' frisky, I wouldn't be playing with ball joints.

 

[CDW6212R]

Well, I'm older now so I use words for multiple meanings. You know, like, umm, it's like dis...blah blech. I can't do the young dumb speech, I was taught better than that.

Have fun with it, I'd do the right BJ too most likely. You have the garage working, so take advantage of it while you can. I've got to clean mine out to move one out, just to get one in.

 

[GRNMACHINE]

Late to the Game, those wheels look Incredible Jon!!! Dont know where you pulled out those colors, but they could not be any better. Really Nice Work!!!! Again.

 

[Turdle]

Thanks for the positive wheel comments!!!


Woo hoo the car wash is open! Well, for a little while anyway. Seems everyone in town was up there but I was able to squeak in a quick bath

I also used some tire shine on the tires. I don;t think I will use that stuff again. I just can't help thinking is helps to draw dirt into the rubber.

Here is a semi cleaned up picture just to keep this thread on track.

Although ,we all know, a happy truck has bugs in it's teeth.

 

[corkey]

looks like Mercury should have offered it like that,, way sweet,,

 

[Xeek]

i heard about dupli-color spray paint tire shine. doesnt leave residue and is supposed to last a while. might try that? i was gonna pick some up next time i needed a bottle

 

[Turdle]

I wanted to try an experiment. Went from this wheel

to this

It was fairly easy to add this personalized to the truck touch. It could be done in any color-purple, toxic green, pink, whatever blows your skirt up.


Still have no car wash during the week so the truck is dirty, but you can see the color addition is very subtle. You can barely notice it at a distance, yet it is there.

I have to add here, only the DC1 Wheels can be done like this, as the DC2 bolts are fake.

 

[gmanpaint]

Looks pretty snazzy!

So how are you liking those Wildpeaks?

I just got one of them for a spare on my better half's rig, as the Falken High Country A/T she has are now discontinued.

 

[Dan Whitaker]

The DC 2's did away with the bolts all together.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/product-line/dick-cepek-black-dc-2-aluminum-wheels

 

[GRNMACHINE]

The DC 2's did away with the bolts all together.

http://www.summitracing.com/search/product-line/dick-cepek-black-dc-2-aluminum-wheels

Yep, quite awhile ago, was a real search trying to find the DC-1's polished. They also changed the center cap to some fugly design. Used to see tons of DC-1's in black/silver not sure I have seen any DC-2's.

Now if they made them in Jon's color scheme I believe they would sell, sell, sell!

Jon, nice touch on the washers. Did you have fun centering them perfectly on the bolts? Also looks like your bolts do not have the DC logo on them. I had a few rust and they sent me replacements without the logo (originals had the logo).

 

[Turdle]

Looks pretty snazzy!

So how are you liking those Wildpeaks?

I just got one of them for a spare on my better half's rig, as the Falken High Country A/T she has are now discontinued.

Well, they are stiffer than the previous tires, however they ride a lot rounder. The old tire set had a wobbly one mixed in. They don't seem to make as much noise either.

Yep, quite awhile ago, was a real search trying to find the DC-1's polished. They also changed the center cap to some fugly design. Used to see tons of DC-1's in black/silver not sure I have seen any DC-2's.

Now if they made them in Jon's color scheme I believe they would sell, sell, sell!

Jon, nice touch on the washers. Did you have fun centering them perfectly on the bolts? Also looks like your bolts do not have the DC logo on them. I had a few rust and they sent me replacements without the logo (originals had the logo).

The coating of powder makes the washers fit a bit more snug
I have seen the bolts with the dc logo, but cannot find where to get them.

Also, something really big and heavy came via Fedex today. Stay tuned.

 

[GRNMACHINE]

I dont think the DC logo bolts are available anymore.

I am thinking the something heavy isnt a superlift suspension lift, you wouldnt have bought new 31's...

So thats one thing down...

347's are heavy!

 

[Turdle]

Well, we ended up getting some snow, some sleet on top , some wet ice and more sleet. Time to try out these new tires!!!
We drove out to an unplowed road, not mch to look at. We had the dogs with us for some family time.
However, while in 4wd we heard a noise from the front. Kind of a solid thunk, steering input seemed to make it happen worse. It wasn't constant, so I am not sure what it could have been. The driveshaft seems good. Maybe we were hitting some ruts in the road, or, some ice was where it shouldn't be?.
The noise was "felt" in the floorboard. More of a solid muffled thud. There was no metallic ring, or loose rattle sound to it at all.


Uh, oh.
Now we were in deep. I selected 2wd mode , the thunk stopped.

The Falken Wildpeaks did so good, I am totally impressed. They pulled us right through 3 miles of hard pack.

We came straight home, once we got closer I selected 4wd, turned right up our street and left into the driveway. No thunk was heard, however the front diff wasn't pulling hard at this time either.

Front diff spider gears? It "almost" felt like a cv was thunking, but I would think it would not have quieted down if it was that.

 

[dkchrist]

Hubba Hubba on the new wheels! Spider gears should be turning in straight line flight unless there is difference in wheel speed. Sounds like a bad bushing or something loose in the suspension?