how to start on my front end

[kdogg212001]

ok i need to go through and start rebuilding my front end (front gears, u-joints ect.) what i would like to know is where should i start rebuilding, and i need to do it in small parts so i can drive it at the end of the day or weekend......

 

[DeRocha]

The problem with working on the front end is that most repairs require you to remove the the same component (Wheels, Calipers, HUB, Rotors, Wheel Bearings, etc.) IMO it would be better to rebuild the entire front end in a single weekend rather than trying to tackle one job @ at time. Don't get me wrong you can certainly replace one component at a time, but you'd be tearing everything off again to do the next component. I started off just planning to do my Radius Arm bushings and ended up replacing (Ball joints, U-joints, wheel & Spindle bearings, Inner/outer axle seals, Outer Tie Rods, Axle pivot, Sway Bar & Radius Arm bushings, Caliper hoses, Rotors & pads). It took me 2+ months because I didn't plan on replacing so much and I decided to Sandblast the entire front end to bare metal and re coat with POR-15 (This took 90% of the time). In hindsight I should have ordered ALL the parts in advance. Without the sandblasting a competent mechanic can replace all the above in a day or 2. If you have never done this kind of work before it will take much longer. Not so much because the work is hard, but rather you may not know exactly how to remove something, or may not have the correct tool for the job. This often stops my progress and sends me on-line to ask/look for help and info.

The resuls of my restoration

 

[kdogg212001]

ok i have no problem with brakes, rotors, caliper, but what i was talking about is the driving parts, because my front wheels dont lock anymore so i think either something was stuck or i need to rebuild so i figured rebuild!!!

 

[DeRocha]

Are you saying your front HUBs no longer work? If so then you just need to get a set of manual hubs and you'll be back in the game (under $200 for both sides with the installation kit)... A word of caution NEVER pack grease into an Autohub. It will cause the hub to fail as it will hydrolock the sliding mechanism preventing the hub from locking.

 

[kdogg212001]

you know what i did clean my suto hubs wiht gasoline and then put new grease in them, but would you hear the drive shaft try to engage if the hubs were the problem???

 

[DeRocha]

You may not hear anything.... Check out the maint site in my sig line. They have some very good info on servicing the HUBs.

 

[Brock94]

Good info from DeRocha as usual. I would only add that you could tackle the job one side at a time to break it up-- ie fix the driver's side one weekend and the passenger side the next.