B.W.T.

[Seth]

im at work right now - ill be here til 6 at the latest - i will pm or post up when i am gonna get out there - that way i dont end up with help and nothing to do - anybody for track bar bracket? is austin ever on here anymore?

[Seth]

by the way thanks guys

[Seth]

Just came in from workin on the truck a little. Thought I would post an update.

I got the steering roughly on there, looks like that is all gonna bolt up no problem.

Drilled two more holes for the rear radius arm brackets. Need to find erics chuck key so that I can put the bit back in and drill the last two.

I also started putting the brake rotors, caliper brackets, spindles, etc back on.

I got the steering box shaft threads cleaned up enough with a file to get the nut on.

Now for some questions:

How much of the tie rod "shaft" should there be between the knuckle and the tie rod body? (or the TRE and pitman arm, or TRE and center link) I just want to make sure that they are seating in there enough.

One tie rod end (the old new one that came with the axle) has a spacer and two thin washers and one thick washer. All the new ones came with just a boot, zerk, and cottor pin. Does it matter what I use where? I would like to use the boots on all of them including the old one if I can and not use the spacer at all.

The nuts that hold the spindle on are tapered like a lug nut - should that taper go in to center something? or does the flat side go in?

I only checked one wheel bearing, but it feels really loose, is there any way to explain on here how to tell if one is bad? Keep in mind I will be taking this thing apart at least once more, and maybe more than once more, to put in new bearings, replace one of the balljoints, and get the brakes sorted out.

Also - I didn't see any bushings in my box of stuff that looked like they went around the big bolt on the axle for the track bar - anybody know anything about that? The ones I have are both rubber with smaller metal inserts.

Can I use just one of the 4 slotted nuts on the outside of the wheel bearing and that be enough to hold the rotor on? Or do I need more?

Also one of the 4 slotted nuts looks kinda messed up - it seems like when I took it all apart though that it made sense. Kinda vague sorry.

The next thing that I will need help on in person is fabbing an upper track bar bracket - did I ever get any takers?

[Seth]

List of stuff left to do - this is as much for me as anyone:

Tighten steering
Fab Track bar bracket and install track bar
Find lower track bar bushing
Install caliper brackets, spindles, rotors on both sides
Mount wheels and tires on truck.
Roughly align truck
Drill last two holes, tighten all hardware with washers

Later after I get the city off my back

take care of spring bow
put in axle shafts
get front gears set
get rear gears and locker installed
shackle flip in rear
install all 4 shocks
Install hubs
Install brakes - get new calipers
replace ball joint
replace wheel bearings?

[Seth]

pics

[Seth]

the first and second are from a while back - the third from today - the 4th and 5th are the tie rod stuff i was talking about

[Seth]

more

[Seth]

last ones from today

[Seth]

anyone? anyone? ...the great depression

[CheapJeep]

Good progress. Nice slinky coils.

[Doug Krebs]

holy ****, can i bring you some jackstands?

Looking good!

[stx4wheeler]

i wish i could help seth but i got a test tomorrow and one thursday, and i am taking off and going home for the weekend after that, the only thing i can help you with is i have a old trac bar bracket that i have in my truck somewhere. You could just weld it onto the bottom of your frame to get you rolling, and driving to get the inspector off your back, then re do it a little better later.

use a ratchet strap to pull the axle back where it need to be as well.

[agjohn02]

dont feel like reading it all, but im free tomorrow(wed.) give me a call if you need a hand.

361-460-1251

[eight]

Use $2.5 ratchet straps around the center of the springs and the frame to pull them more straight for now.

[Seth]

Now for some questions:

How much of the tie rod "shaft" should there be between the knuckle and the tie rod body? (or the TRE and pitman arm, or TRE and center link) I just want to make sure that they are seating in there enough.

One tie rod end (the old new one that came with the axle) has a spacer and two thin washers and one thick washer. All the new ones came with just a boot, zerk, and cottor pin. Does it matter what I use where? I would like to use the boots on all of them including the old one if I can and not use the spacer at all.

The nuts that hold the spindle on are tapered like a lug nut - should that taper go in to center something? or does the flat side go in?

I only checked one wheel bearing, but it feels really loose, is there any way to explain on here how to tell if one is bad? Keep in mind I will be taking this thing apart at least once more, and maybe more than once more, to put in new bearings, replace one of the balljoints, and get the brakes sorted out.

Also - I didn't see any bushings in my box of stuff that looked like they went around the big bolt on the axle for the track bar - anybody know anything about that? The ones I have are both rubber with smaller metal inserts.

Can I use just one of the 4 slotted nuts on the outside of the wheel bearing and that be enough to hold the rotor on? Or do I need more?

Also one of the 4 slotted nuts looks kinda messed up - it seems like when I took it all apart though that it made sense. Kinda vague sorry.

The next thing that I will need help on in person is fabbing an upper track bar bracket - did I ever get any takers?

anybody?

getting the springs straight is under control