Big Blue's Transformation

[Gary Lewis]

Ok guys, I did a bunch of searching and perusing of catalogs today and couldn't come up with the right replacement seal like the one on the 10.25". So I finally sent a note to Timken/National asking them if they have a seal like that, and gave them the dimensions needed.

Meanwhile, back at the house, the repair sleeves came. So I compared one of them to the spindle and did some measuring. The radius from the bearing/seal surface to the face of the spindle is 5/16", and the radius on the sleeve to the flange is 1/8". So it wasn't likely that the flange of the sleeve would go up against the face of the spindle. But it might come close.

So I cleaned the spindle and put the sleeve on the way the instructions say it must go on - with the flange first. Then I grabbed the driver that came with it - which you can see in a previous picture is a shallow cup. Nope, that's not going over the spindle. But, an old bearing was a perfect fit and would ensure the sleeve was driven on squarely. However, I still needed a way to drive the bearing evenly. Turns out I have lots of tubing exactly the right size. I cut a piece off with the band saw and squared the ends on the lathe. And here's how it all went together:

But the repair sleeve is a bit too wide, so here's a shot of trimming it with the lathe:

And here's the completed spindle. You can see that the repair sleeve's flange isn't quite against the flange of the spindle, but that's as far as it was going on. And you can see the groove in the repair sleeve where the flange could be broken off in some applications, but it is well out of the way from where the new seal is going to ride.

So I think this one's good to go and I'll get the other one on tomorrow. Oh yes, I picked up the nuts, bolts, and washers to put the perches on, so have the perches well and truly fastened in place. Hopefully that change as well as replacing the loose Huck fastener will fix the pop I was hearing on the truck when I went from reverse to forward or turned a tight corner.

[Rembrant]

Looks like a good repair Gary. Handy having machining gear huh?

[Gary Lewis]

Thanks, Cory!

Yes, it really is handy to have a "machine shop" when it comes to working on these trucks.  I just told Janey that I really enjoy working in my shop.  Today was one of those golden moments when I was able to use a wide range of tools to get things done.

[Gary Lewis]

Today I got the other spindle repaired, and thought y'all might like seeing .010" trimmed off of it:

EDIT: I should have said that the repair sleeve was about 1/8" too long, so did need to be trimmed. If I'd not had a lathe with which to do that I probably would have broken the flange off on that parting line and pressed the sleeve on w/o the flange. The instructions say you shouldn't do that, but if you are careful I think it could be done - assuming you use an old bearing to ensure you are pressing the sleeve on squarely.

[Gary Lewis]

Guys - I'm hung up on ordering ball joints and tie rods/ends.  I know at least Brandon and Shaun said to stay away from Moog, but Rock Auto has them as their best sellers in the Premium category.  And all the others they list have plenty of bad posts about them.

However, I did find one brand, XRF, that may not have the same bad rep that the others have.  Do any of you know about XRF?

If those aren't good I'm about to order Moog.  What's the worst that can happen?

[salans7]

https://www.dynatrac.com/rebuildable-ball-joints/balljoints/hd-balljoints-for-most-dana-60-axles-and-dynatrac-pro-60-knuckles.html

Expensive, but tough.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Gary Lewis wrote

Guys - I'm hung up on ordering ball joints and tie rods/ends....
I'm about to order Moog.  What's the worst that can happen?

One wheel goes a direction you are not trying to go with the truck?

[Gary Lewis]

Shaun - I'd looked at the Dynatracs, and while they look very good, they are four times the cost of the others.  And, since I'm hard put to believe none of the others are good, I'm not ready to spend that much.

Jim - I agree.  That's the worst, and it isn't all that bad.  Janey asked how hard it is to replace them.  And as I thought through it, that's a pain but not expensive.  Pull the wheel, remove the shock, support the axle, and pull the ball joints.

Gotta buy tonight so I can get started on the installation.  Any last suggestions?

[salans7]

Just buy the Moogs and pray for the best.

[Gary Lewis]

salans7 wrote

Just buy the Moogs and pray for the best.

That's exactly what I did on the ball joints.  And, I ordered them from Rock Auto for two reasons.  First, because their delivery date was several days before Amazon's.  Second, because most of the poor ratings for these ball joints were not for the ball joint itself but for Amazon or their partner.  In most of those cases the parts were either the wrong thing in the right box or were missing a part, like a seal or a zerk fitting.  And in most, if not all of those cases, the boxes had been previously opened.

We shall see.

[85lebaront2]

Now you know why I generally do not buy vehicle parts from Amazon.

[Gary Lewis]

Heretofore I've been lucky with Amazon.  But with all I read about other's problems, and the delayed delivery dates, it just wasn't worth the slight cost savings to go with Amazon over Rock Auto.

[ArdWrknTrk]

I guess I've been lucky, though I almost always buy parts 'sold by' Amazon.
If it isn't in stock and Prime I have faster routes.

My ignition switch was waiting for me when I got home the next day.  😊
.... Now if it would only stop raining!

[FoxFord33]

Moog have always been good to me. Mayhaps they, like so many others, used to be better? But still, they work. We warranty the Moog balljoints (because Moog does for us) and we have not had to redo any in the time I have been at this shop (2 yrs).

[Gary Lewis]

Good to know, Steve. 👍

Has it been two years?  Wow!

Tell both girls SNS tonight. 😎

[salans7]

When I bought my first Motorcraft Camshaft Synchronizer (Distributor) from the local Ford dealer for my Ranger, it came in a Motorcraft box. The second one I bought from Amazon came in a Motorcraft bag. Amazon packaged it as well as somebody who doesn't know anything about car parts could do. Will it last as well as the one from Ford (100k miles)? We'll see. For all I know, the one from Ford could have been in a tote full of alternators and starters and dropped three or four time before I picked it up. Just because it's from Ford doesn't mean it hasn't been mishandled.

Bottom line, if I don't pull it right off of the assembly line myself, I won't trust it until proven otherwise.

[Gary Lewis]

I don't think it is as much who pulled it from the line, but who has played with it since.  In several of the Amazon reviews the box had been opened previously, and one of the u-joints had actually been installed.  Another didn't have the boot.  Another didn't have the grease fitting.  And so on.

Given Rock's less-than-friendly approach to returns I'm betting none of these have been played with since leaving the line.

[85lebaront2]

Gary, I had no problem with a defective rebuilt ZF power steering pump from Rock, I elected send me a replacement first and returned the bad one (it was a Cardone rebuild) which would not pump at all. I received the credit about a week later once Cardone had examined it.

[Gary Lewis]

I"m not saying Rock won't accept returns, but they are much more strict than Amazon.  Which is good in that you probably aren't going to get a part from Rock that's been installed.  Apparently not true with Amazon.

[ArdWrknTrk]

Amazon returns go to ' Amazon Warehouse Deals' , and are sold as discounted returns.

I've never received an opened box, and on the few times I have received anything missing a part, CS has been quick to ship a new one, and give me a return label, even exchange...

If I'm unhappy with my purchase and just don't want it, credit takes a couple of days from arrival at their Frankfort KY. returns location.

Bad people submit bad reviews.
Even if something is a garbage product I'll submit a critique, with whatever constructive criticism I can muster.
Some people will never be happy, and just want to share their bitterness with the world using whatever platform they have.