blacktail hunter

89 4WD DLX P/U 3.0

Finally decided to dive into the steering and suspension issues that have plagued this truck since I got it (pulls left really bad and loud popping noises in front end). Had never done any ball joint or tie rod work before, but after reading up on this site it seemed like a job I could handle.

After getting all the parts together, I dove into the driver side. Took a couple of days, but I managed to get the upper and lower ball joints, lower control arm bushings, inner/outer tie rod ends and adjustment sleeve done. Also replaced the shock and sway bar end link while I was in there.

Decided to enlist a little help on the passenger side, as my hands were pretty sore from doing the driver side (no power tools used). My cousin and I tore it apart, found I also needed a new half shaft on this side. He brought his air tools and we put all the new parts in. I should have paid more attention to what he was doing, because went to get the alignment done today and found he had cross threaded a couple of the bolts in the lower ball joint (didnt even get them all the way in).

So, after $750 in parts and 4 days labor...I get to tear it all apart again to remove the broken/cross threaded bolts and retap the threads.

I picked a bad month to quit smoking

blacktail hunter

Just in case anyone cares:

Tore it down and snapped a one of the LBJ cross threaded bolts trying to get it out. Rather than trying to drill it out and deal with that crap, I found a used knuckle here on YT and just replaced it. Got everything put back together properly this morning. Popping noises in the front end are gone and the ride is so much better with the new shocks.

The truck is still pulling left pretty bad, hoping the alignment will take care of that problem.

buickid

Glad you got it sorted out! I'm doing something similar to my truck, but also cleaning up and repainting everything as I go to hopefully ward off any rust. The cleaning part is a real PITA haha. A good alignment shop should be able to fix the pulling, or at least tell you why it pulls.

blacktail hunter

Hope so. I'm at the alignment shop now, will update when its done.

Rowdydudeman

if its pulling to one side, and since your disassembled the front end, my money is on a needed alignment. sticky calipers can cause it to pull too though.

blacktail hunter

The alignment did wonders, although its still not perfect.

Tech told me he was unable to get it within exact specs, but got it as close as he could. After he test drove it and it was still pulling slightly left he crossed the front tires. Now it is pulling slightly RIGHT. He claims I have a tire issue due to driving it out of align, and that it may or may not correct itself after I drive it for awhile. I'm thinking I'll rotate the tires to see if it helps.

Maybe someone who knows more about this can chime in, here's the numbers:
(*) out of spec

LEFT
Camber: before -0.6* actual -0.2* spec 0.1 to 1.1
Caster: before 0.8* actual 0.4* spec 1.2 to 2.2
Toe: before -0.24* actual .10 spec .08 to .16

RIGHT
Camber: before -1.0 actual -0.5* spec 0.1 to 1.1
Caster: before 3.0 actual 0.9* spec 1.2 to 2.2
Toe: before -.21* actual .10 spec 0.08 to 0.16

FRONT
Cross Camber: before 0.4 actual 0.3 spec -0.5 to 0.5
Cross Caster: before -2.2* actual -0.5* spec -0.5 to 0.5
Total Toe: before -0.45* actual 0.20 spec 0.16 to 0.32

wyoming9

iTrader: (1)

So what was the reason for not being able to get it in spec??

Are your tires not worn enough to notice the wear??

blacktail hunter

The tires dont show any abnormal wear other than they are cupped a little (BFG KM M/T's). In fact, the fronts are wearing better than the rears.

He did not give a reason for not being able to get it all within specs other than the tire issue he claims.

I'm kind of raw on the whole alignment thing. This is the first vehicle I have ever owned that I have had aligned believe it or not.