Long overdue maintenence about to commence!

[Triathlete]

Wifes truck (shocks and ball joints)finished last weekend!
Today I recieved my brake booster, e-brake shoes and heater fan relay. Will work on those this weekend.
Ordered Rancho 9000xl's and Indy HD adjustable lower links today.
Monday will be ordering timing belt and water pump items from Merlin!
Let the fun begin!

[Triathlete]

Heater blower resister done!
Brake booster done (write-up in how to section) done!
Starting e-brake shoes...

[Triathlete]

It's nice having brakes that don't feel like a 1950's truck!

E-brake shoes are a bi...at...ch!!!! Think all I needed was to adjust them...still had plenty of meat on them.

[Triathlete]

E-brakes done and work!
New used front drive shaft installed!
Waiting on parts...Rancho 9000's, indy hd adjustable links, timing belt/water pump...

[LittleBeast]

I think I only lengthened the rear lower links like 1/2-3/4" and the noise was completely gone. Make sure and measure the length of the top and bottom of your driveshaft from pinion to pinion and try to get them as close to the same as possible. If you can see the teeth of your driveshaft coming out of the rubber cover you have gone too far. Also make SURE FOR SURE that each side is EXACTLY the same length. I double and triple checked this. Also make sure the nuts are tightened very good the one closest to the door seems to shake itself loose sometimes, might be good to put some thread lock on there.

[Triathlete]

New Rancho shocks up front done. Super easy job. Was really surprised that the oem shock were still in great shape...functional, no leaks...and are now for sale.
Recieved all my parts from Merlin...just have to wait for my neighbor to have some free time to assist me.
Still waiting for links to arrive.

[Gizmo42]

Tore into my drivers side door today and fixed my non functioning door handle...rod had come off. Reattached and all works fine.

Fixed mine on the The Stoop a couple years ago. PITA when that happens. Especially when its raining all day so you cant leave the window down.

Special high tech upgrade fix

[Triathlete]

Links arrived in the mail today!

[Triathlete]

These links are B-f'n-EEFY!!!!




Link ends...


I install tomorrow to replace my "slightly bent" oem links!

[LittleBeast]

If I am remembering correctly I had to reuse the 2 spacer looking things on the stock lower links on each side of the new links and kinda sandwich the new link in-between the old spacer things, and it was a very tight fit, but nothing a 5 lb hammer did not fix :-)

[Triathlete]

New links are on! They come with new grade8 bolts (OEM were grade6). Not to hard of a job. Make sure you have 2 really big wrenchs...the binder nut is 2inchs (I used a 15" adjustable to hold the link and a 18" pipe wrench to tighten the 2" nut). FYI if one of these links lands on your face it hurts!
They only thing that made the install a bit harder is that my brackets that the links mount to had a few bends in them from rock contact.
OEM vs. Indy...




My links...slightly bent (I have straightened them a couple times)


The finished install

[Gizmo42]

Nice! I have one of the same issues, my links are fine (reinforced with angle iron on the bottom) buy my frame side mounts are bent. Bent the passenger side pretty good this year when I got hung up on it on the exit of Hells Revenge.

[VXorado]

Those look awesome, can't wait to get a set myself.

Are the helm joints greasable?

[VXorado]

Bent the passenger side pretty good this year when I got hung up on it on the exit of Hells Revenge.

I remember that... when the side-by-side idiots started getting REALLY annoying because they had to wait five minutes.

[Triathlete]

Yes they are greaseable. Zirks on all 4.