Mud, Grit, 'n Sand What will happen to the drivetrain?

[Bryce]

Hey,

I've been venturing further and further off the beaten trail lately. I've got this '91 XLT with new BFG's and I recently fixed the 4x4. With the snow around here I've been having alot of fun with it. Anyway, I want to know what kind of maintenance I need to learn to perform before I start getting it dirty. It is usually kept immaculate and I can cruise 75 on the interstate with no vibrations or noises whatsoever.

If I get the undercarriage all full of mud or water, what should I do when I'm finished to prevent any problems?

If I drove it on a beach and got sand all over everything, would I damage anything?

I suspect that the wheel bearings might get full of dirt. Are there any other parts, especially ones covered in grease, that will attract too much dirt?

The guys who go on offroad expeditions regularly must have a maintenance routine that they perform. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Ray Lobato]

Bryce,
After playing at the beach, it's best to take it to a car wash and hose down the truck to get the salt off, before it corrodes the body. Playing in the mud also means going to the car wash to wash down the mud before it sticks on the wheels and throws off the balance or on the drive shaft and causes vibration from an unbalanced driveshaft. If the engine gets caked with mud, it can also cause it to run hotter. Usually if I'm up past the hubs in water, the bearings get repacked. I don't usually change the diff fluids unless I find that the breather hoses came loose or I have spent an unusually long time in water up to or past my hubs. Always check your CV boots to see if they are good and don't have any cracks or holes.