I was just browsing the Marlin Crawler website looking for a Birfield rebuild kit so I could restore my front end steering. I couldn't find the kit. Any place selling a good kit if anyone knows where to get it, it would be greatly appreciated if you would share the link.

Also, there seems to be differing opinions on whether one needs to use a fish scale to adjust preload or 'just keep really good track of the shims and reinstall'. I will get to that point soon enough.

Also, while I'm at it, I need to replace the transmission output seal and maybe the stake nut while I'm under the truck. Anyone who knows where to find that rear tranny seal deserves a 6 pack of their favorite brew.

 

http://www.rockauto.com/catalog/more...628&cc=1277243
I like Shiner Bock.
Also, the "pull scale" is nice to have when you rebuild the front end but is not absolutely needed. clean your shims and keep them in the same order you pulled them from and you will be fine. Also, you can slap the knuckles together and feel when the caps are over tightened or loose (by hand) as for they tend to hang when over tightened (it wont move at first) or will be just plain floppy if too loose.

 

https://www.marlincrawler.com/axle/f...le-service-kit

I need to do that job one of these days, though only because my inner axle seals leak some gear lube into the Birfield joints.

I wonder why they're called Birfield joints on the Toyota and Rzeppa joints on my Napco axle. They look the same, design wise.

 

Thanks, I sobered up and found the stuff on the Marlin website. Debating whether to place a $40 order now or wait til next payday and place a bigger more well-thought-out order. Anyone know where to get some new from leaf springs at a good price while I'm at it?

 

As far as a knuckle rebuild kit, i would order from marlin or allpro, i don't like the trail gear bearings.

I always used a pull scale to determine correct preload on my knuckles, but at least with the marlin kit, i had perfect preload with one thick and one thin shim from the kit.

As far as a transmission seal, if/when you order the parts from marlin ask them about the seal as well, they should have it. (might as well get the shifter bushings as well, they seem to make a nice fix to a sloppy shifter.)

Define new front leaf springs? what is your rig? stock springs or is it lifted/modified?

 

The truck is stock an I'd like to restore stock height, the springs seem to have fallen to about straight and if they had a downward curve again, I think the truck would level out some. It looks a little too much higher in the back. A little of that is ok for load compensation, but it looks ... Not quite right.
Good ideas for sources?

Also, I just realized the transfer case is where the driveshaft comes out, so that's the output seal I should be looking for.